A beautiful heavily hand cast iron lantern of simple but compelling Japanese mountain Kusaya or Minka house design with jointed roof line and Japanese enigmatic “X” open work fire panels- the complete ensemble could suspend from your indoor or garden space.

It can be installed in your favorite indoor or outdoor space and await your favorite lighting device such as led lights photographed..

This is the first example of this handsome design and form we have seen.

Attractive reddish brown patina.

Dimensions: 6 inches tall to top of loop and 4.5 inches square

Heavy hand cast .

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

Only one.

Good condition with no repairs or damages.

Provenance: Old Nagoya garden collection.

Lifetime guarantee of authenticity. We are members of NAJGA North American Japanese Garden Association.

We have been dealing in fine authentic Japanese antiques including screens, garden ornaments, lanterns and water basins for many years. Our president personally travels to Japan each year to meet his network partners who assist him in finding best examples. He personally inspects each antique 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).