From our recent Japanese acquisitions travels.

This unusual hard to find old Japanese red kurama stone lantern is known as an Obakedouro “Spirit lantern.”

It comes from an old Nagoya garden and was crafted from rare red kurama granite, a now extinct stone.

It is the finest lantern of its kind we have had the pleasure of handling, that’s why we call it “best in class.”

Call, message, or email us to reserve this kurama lantern as it is one-of-a-kind.

This stunning, unique large hand-carved, solid stone lantern was originally cut from a large mountain iron rich red boulder called “kurama” stone. Red iron Kurama stone was historically once sourced exclusively from one northern Kyoto region. However that source had been terminated decades ago and this rare stone is no longer available. Please note the patina that many parts of this six piece lantern exhibit from appropriate old age.

Dimension: 60 inches tall, six pieces.

It’s unique qualities represent some of the finest old world Japanese craftsmanship found today.

Best in class.
This rare lantern would make an ideal choice for any quality outdoor installation whose owners would appreciate and want “best in class”.

Call or message, email us to reserve this kurama lantern as it is one-of-a-kind.

Many of our customers place LED candles inside the main sections making a romantic and enjoyable decorative accent for entertaining friends and family.

One-of-a-kind .

Lifetime Guarantee of Authenticity. All our Asian works of art are accompanied by our lifetime guarantee of authenticity. We are members of NAJGA- North American Japanese Garden Association.

We have been dealing in fine authentic Japanese art and antiques including screens, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for many years. Our president personally travels to Japan each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique to ensure its old age, authenticity, and quality condition.

Brief History of Japanese lanterns:
Japan’s lantern tradition was imported from India yet has existed in Japanese temples and gardens since the seventh century. They were originally conceived as entrance lighting and guardians 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. Today’s vintage survivors serve as fashionable aesthetic elements in modern day Japanese and Asian inspired gardens.

There are four main categories of antique Japanese stone lanterns. Tachi-gata are pedestal lanterns such as the famous Kasuga lanterns, ikekome-gata are the so-called buried lanterns, oki-gata are small often portable lanterns, and yukimi-gata are sometimes commonly mis-described as “snow viewing” lanterns but in fact were often installed near water. Finally “spirit” lanterns assembled from natural stones were popular in mountainous areas of Japan and are thought to repel ill spirits via the round firebox/portal.