One of our finest lanterns

A beautiful handcrafted heavily hand cast and finely detailed larger spherical lantern with high relief designs of flying birds and popular bamboo – the first of this larger spherical size and extraordinary design we have owned- one of the best antique bronze lanterns we have seen.
A band of four cast flying birds, perhaps finches, decorate the upper reaches on all four views of this lantern.

The old antique link chain included is a bonus.

Impressive dark original patina from appropriate old age. Heavily hand cast for convenient portability. It’s original patina from past use highlights this lantern’s past importance . It may be suspended from its loop and/or chain or may be placed on any surface on its three bottom legs. The twist off door on base accesses interior to place your favorite lighting device.

A rare antique lantern find in fine condition. A good old example dating to the early 20th century/ late Meiji period, circa 1910

For the finest display garden and a genuine collector work of art.

May be comfortably set upon a favorite table or garden surface or suspended from its loop and chain.

Dimensions: 11 inches tall with hanger and 11.5 inches diameter.

Quality: Finely crafted and possessing original old dark patina.

Good garden candidate, this is an ideal accent size for a small outdoor or indoor zen garden.

Only one.

Provenance: Old Shiga garden collection.

About bamboo significance:

Bamboo signifies great strength. It’s importance is notably economic and culturally significant in South Asia, Southeast Asia and East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a versatile raw product. Bamboo, like wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures. Bamboo’s strength-to-weight ratio is similar to timber, and its strength is generally similar to a strong softwood or hardwood timber

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.

History of Japanese lanterns:
In Japan a toro¯ (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, to¯ro¯ 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.
Yukimi-do¯ro¯ or legged lanterns have as a base not a post but curved legs and a wide umbrella with a finial. Relatively low, they are used exclusively in gardens and the traditional placement is near water. The umbrella can be round or have from three to eight sides, while the fire box is usually hexagonal. Yu-loosley translated means water reflection. It was probably developed during the Momoyama period, but the oldest extant examples, found at the Katsura Villa in Kyoto, go back only to the early Edo period (17th century).