Dating over one hundred years ago comes this dainty Japanese antique Meiji period “basket ring” form hand lantern in a simple 12 horizontal ring tapered presentation. An unusual find. we found this lantern in an old Northern Japanese collection. It would be ideal for holding your favorite lighting device or perhaps for presenting flowers or green vines- endless possibilities.

This handsome old “basket ring” round lantern is the first of it’s kind we have ever seen.

In a convenient portable size and displaying perfectly formed rings attached to four vertical metal bars, it may be suspended from the loop seen at the top or installed on its flat bottomed base on any surface. The convenient twist off base cap allows access to insert your favorite lighting device.

The original weathered dark patina is from appropriate age.

Dimensions: 10 inches tall to top of loop and 6 inches wide at its mid point

Good garden candidates- these are ideal accent sizes for a small outdoor or indoor Zen or Tea garden.

Provenance: Old Japanese collection.

Many of our customers place led or tea lights inside the main section making a romantic and enjoyable decorative accent for entertaining friends and family. It’s a perfect choice for your indoor or outdoor garden space.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity.

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.

History of Japanese lanterns:

In Japan a to¯ro¯ (lantern) is a traditional lantern made of stone, wood, or metal. Like many other elements of Japanese traditional architecture, it originated in China. In Japan, toro were originally used only in Buddhist temples, where they lined and illuminated paths and lighted lanterns were then considered an offering. In its complete, original form the lantern represents five elements of Buddhist cosmology: Bottom touching the ground, represents chi, the earth, the next section represents sui, or water, ka or fire, is represented by the section encasing the lantern’s light or flame, while fu¯ (air) and ku¯ (void or spirit) are represented by the last two sections, top-most and pointing towards the sky. These last two sections express the idea that after death our physical bodies will go back to their original, elemental form.