Light up your starry evening- first we have seen

This charming “Starry Nights” teapot lantern is a first for us!

Its handcrafted , heavily hand cast and numerous finely detailed perforations offer incredible light reflections through its imaginative 360 degree “stars” craftsmen perforated designs when you place your favorite lighting device inside. The bottom twist off cap offers easy access. The pair of iron handles signifies an antique comparison with the old iron teapots of yester year. It is easily one of the most intriguing and well designed Asian lantern renditions we have had the pleasure of owning.

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 handles or may be comfortably placed on any surface on its round flat bottom . The twist off door on base accesses interior to place your favorite lighting device.

A rare 1920’s lantern find in remarkable fine condition.

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 handles.

Dimensions: 8 inches tall with handles and 7 inches wide.

Quality: Well crafted and possesses 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.

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 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).