Japan, a fine antique large sized hand cast bronze round lantern- an orb with exquisite details from the Taisho period- one of the finest we have handled in recent years.

May be suspended from its sturdy top bronze loop handle or from its accompanying 15 inch chain. It may also be placed on any surface on its tripod heavy cast feet.

Handsome green patina.

The striking and well proportioned old lantern is fashioned in solid bronze as roof kasa and light chamber or base Hibukuro or kiso all with patina from good age.

Notice its superior details including fine diaper surfaces , two pairs floral motif and diamond grills on four sides. The top boasts an important opening to allow night light to freely flow up into the clouds.

Heavy hand cast.

Dimensions: 25 inches tall from lantern base to top of chain; bronze lantern only is 10 inches tall and 9.5 inches diameter

Provenance: Old Kyoto find

Hand cast. Hard to find this quality today for the discerning garden or sculpture collection

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity. We are members of NAJGA- North American Japanese Garden Association.

Our gallery based in Newport, Rhode Island USA has been dealing in authentic Pre-Columbian, Japanese and fine Asian art, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. Our president personally travels across America as well as Japan and Europe each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique work of art to ensure its old age, authenticity and quality condition.

About Japanese lanterns.
Japan’s lantern tradition is a concept that was imported from India and has existed in Japanese temples and gardens since the 7th century.
They were originally conceived as entrance lighting and guardians to temples and pagodas and when lit served as an offering to Buddha. Some of the earliest stone lanterns were carved with Buddhist images on the firebox and usually had compartments for an oil lamp or candle. Later on, they became more secular in nature, and their use evolved as functional and decorative elements in traditional Japanese tea gardens where they served as a spiritual source of light for evening tea ceremonies. Often carved from granite stone, today’s vintage survivors serve as fashionable aesthetic elements in modern day Japanese and Asian inspired gardens. Today, during festivals and ceremonies, rice paper is often cut to fit stone lantern windows to increase reflection of candles placed inside them. Soon these paper lenses disappear and for one special evening and event, the glow is surreal.