Japan, Classic “Kasuga” Lantern, finest shirakawa granite stone, 84″ high and 18″ wide at base, six pieces, Meiji to Taisho period (1890s-1920s)

The monumental and well proportioned carved stone lantern fashioned in six parts with a simple finial Hohju, conical and ridged representational roof kasa, monkey themed  carved square shaped light chamber Hibukuro, simply carved mid platform nakadai, simple crane’s leg shaft sao, and base kiso hand carved of a granite stone and with  good patina from  age.

Provenance: old Japanese garden, Nagoya, Japan

Stone  lanterns, Ishidoro were introduced to Japan via Korea and China in the sixth century AD. They were used initially in temples and later shrines as votive lights. About the 16th century stone lanterns were adopted for secular purposes and designed and placed in the gardens of tea houses and private residences made famous by tea master Sen Rikkyu 千利休 (1522-92). Kasuga lantern is a style of lantern named for the Kasuga Grand Shrine- a centuries old Shinto Shrine located in Nara, Japan and famous for its abundance of stone lanterns leading up to the shrine. Other lantern variations including this scarce “monkey” themed and multiple roof ridged lantern were introduced over the past two centuries. Lanterns crafted from shirakawa granite are considered to be the finest quality lanterns.