Description:

East Asia, Japan, early Meiji, ca. 1880 CE. A finely carved wooden zushi - a petite Buddhist shrine - featuring a lacquered exterior in a hue of espresso brown and a lustrous, gilt interior portraying a crowned Buddha on a lotus throne, flanked by a pair of bodhisattvas, Samantabhadra on the left and Manjushri on the right. Rendered in impressive detail and carefully hand-painted in shades of green, brown, red, and black, the intricate interior shows Samantabhadra mounted on an elephant, while Manjushri sits atop a lion. All 3 figures sit in lotus position and wear lengthy robes and tall headdresses. The interior of the shrine boasts a stunning heavy gilding. Buddhist statues in Japan frequently reside in such zushi - wooden shrines with doors that can both reveal or conceal the deity within. Some scholars trace this Japanese interpretation of a Buddhist practice to Shinto shrines, where it is rare to find a statue, and they are always concealed. Size (when open): 11.8" W x 7.3" H (30 cm x 18.5 cm); (when closed): 5.7" W (14.5 cm)

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection

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Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.

#169028

  • Condition: Some chipping and minor losses to enamel on exterior. Loss of right hand of Buddha, both hands of Manjushri, and right hand of Samantabhadra. Hinges to door slightly loose. Nicks and abrasions throughout, as well as fading and chipping to pigment on interior. Otherwise, excellent with nicely preserved gilding and great patina.

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March 3, 2022 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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