Tower lanterns- from our recent garden acquisitions,

The first we’ve seen . This pair (2) of sculptural five layered tower lanterns Goju-no-to are fashioned with five hexagonal (5) roofs and finials -Hoju- representative of five elements known as earth, wind, fire, water, and ethereal space. The bases represent stepped altars and each lantern includes a vertical hinged door on its lower band that allows convenient access to insert your favorite LED or lighting device.

Their windows allow brilliant night light to burst through from their pierced side panels!

These beautifully hand-cast lantern sculptures 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, they may be suspended or installed on any surface.

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

These handsome renditions would make excellent garden candidates and pleasant conversational display for all your friends, family, and commmunity to appreciate. They are 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) and the magnificent Portland Japanese stone garden pagoda (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.