Unusual find- A first In this simple yet handsome Yukimi round top “snow” lantern – petite size- and uncommon motif with unique “double cloud” firebox design.

Japan, this handsome quality old and petite “Yukimi Snow” motif tea garden lantern is a rare smaller size not usually found. It would look delightful nestled in a flower pot or small niche on your deck, patio, or favorite garden spot.

In a convenient portable size and displaying a round top with its original fire box- it may be installed on any surface. Just insert a LED or tea candle through its base for a romantic light source.

Best part is the uncommon size: approximately 7 inches tall to top loop and 5.5 inches wide

Good garden candidates- these are ideal accent sizes for a small outdoor or indoor Zen or Tea garden. Would also be a good accompaniment to a bonsai display.

History of Yukimi lantern:

Yukimi-doro or legged lanterns have as a base not a post but from one to six curved legs, and a wide umbrella with a finial either low or absent. Relatively low, they are used exclusively in gardens. The traditional placement is near the water, and a three-legged lantern will often have two legs in the water, and one on land. The umbrella can be round or have from three to eight sides, while the fire box is usually hexagonal. Yukimi denotes water reflection. In the west they are sometimes referred to as “snow viewing” lanterns- as snow might build on their broad rimmed top during a wintery event.

This form 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 .

Provenance: Old American Japanese garden.

Many of our customers place LED or candles inside the main section making a romantic and enjoyable decorative accent for entertaining friends and family. It’s a perfect choice for your indoor or outdoor garden space.

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

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, toro 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.