Beautiful classic lantern.

Here’s a beautiful and unique way to accent your indoor or outdoor garden space with this rare treasure from Japan.

From an old Japanese Nagoya garden comes this authentic hand carved antique stone “Rikyu” Stone Lantern, 19th century, 64 inches high and 23 inches wide, six pieces.

This rare lantern features the Japanese classic folded umbrella style fire box- a classic look unmistakably Rikyu!

This is only the second lantern of this style we have seen in over twenty years of business.

Period: Edo period, 1850

History Of Tea Master Rikyu:

Sen no Rikyu by Hasegawa Tohaku. Sen no Rikyu (???, 1522 – April 21, 1591), also known simply as Rikyu, is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese “Way of Tea”, particularly the tradition of wabi-cha. He was also the first to emphasize several key aspects of the ceremony, including rustic simplicity, directness of approach and honesty of self. Originating from the Sengoku period and the Azuchi–Momoyama period, these aspects of the tea ceremony still persist today. (Thank you Wikipedia)

Quality: Its a nice old one with outstanding patina and still bears traces of old root encrustation on its surface emblems of good age.

This modest size and style lantern would make an ideal choice for any intimate indoor or outdoor installation.

Many of our customers place oil candles inside the main sections making a romantic and enjoyable decorative accent for entertaining friends and family. They are a perfect choice for your patio or outdoor garden space.

This lantern is one-of-a-kind and comes from an old Japanese Nagoya area garden.

Only one available.

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. 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.

We have been been dealing in authentic Japanese antique 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 ornament to ensure its old age, authenticity, and quality condition. After accumulating a group, they are imported to Vermont and Maine in large containers. This method keeps shipping costs low and enables us to offer them to you at reasonable prices. We carefully pack and ship to clients all-over the USA and at reasonable shipping costs.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity: All of our Asian works of art come with our Lifetime Authenticity Guarantee.

We have been dealing in authentic Japanese and Chinese Fine art, antiquities, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for 25 years. The president personally travels to Japan and China 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. After accumulating a group, they are imported to Vermont and Maine in large containers. This method keeps shipping costs low and enables us to offer them to you at reasonable prices. We carefully pack and ship to clients all-over the USA and at reasonable shipping costs.