First we have seen, unique

An innovative designed Japanese “Pole House” Lantern – this one recalls special architecturally designed homes with bottom poles for elevated construction over water.

Signed on its underside by one of Japan’s top old time makers , Ryo-un.

Outstanding Japanese design merges with fine art in this beautiful larger-scale antique handcrafted bronze lantern.

The prolific artistic pierced side panels burst brilliant night light in all directions!

This lantern was hand crafted and hand formed – a brilliant and unique sculptural accomplishment – the first motif like this we have ever seen. It can be installed in your special indoor display or favorite outdoor garden space. Our clients often insert LED or candles by placing them inside the lantern through the convenient side panel door.

Dimensions: 11 inches high from bottom of lantern to top of solid bronze suspension loop and 11 inches wide

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

Unique…Only one.

Provenance: Old Nagoya garden collection.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity. All our Asian works of art are accompanied by our 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, 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).