The first we have encountered.

The first design like this we’ve seen – this rare lantern is a spiritual representation of five earthly and celestial elements. And the brilliant night light which bursts from its pierced side panel is fantastic.

The sculptural five layered tower lantern Goju-no-to is fashioned with five hexagonal (5) roofs and finials -Hoju- representative of five elements known as earth, wind, fire, water, and ethereal space. The base represent stepped altar and it includes a vertical hinged door on its lower band that allows convenient access to insert your favorite LED or lighting device.

This beautifully hand-cast lantern sculpture would make an exceptional visual statement and substantial conversational choice for your special garden location.

All hand-cast with fine original patina from good age.
In a convenient portable size, it may be suspended or installed on any surface.

Dimensions: 15 inches tall to top of loop and 7 inches wide.

This handsome rendition would make an excellent garden candidate and stellar conversational display for all your friends, family, and community to joyfully appreciate. Its an ideal accent size for your favorite indoor or outdoor space. LED or candle access is comfortably reached through the hinged vertical door lower front.

Photographed in natural day light.

Provenance: Old American garden.

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.

In the meantime enjoy the photograph of the five story Sensoji pagoda at Sensoji temple, Tokyo, Japan (PHOTO)

History of Asian 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.