Nichiren Buddhist shrine containing a sculpture of Kishimojin in demonic appearance, her hands folded in prayer. Kishimojin, or Kishibojin, or Kariteimo, is a complex deity. Originally, she was a demon who stole and killed other people’s children in order to feed her numerous own children. After Buddha Shakyamuni made her see how she made people suffer, she repented and devoted herself to protecting all children. Instead of the flesh of children, she fed her own children pomegranate henceforth...

Circular hand shrine, or zushi, in two halves. Inside, one half shows the bodhisattva Kokuzo carved in relief with a sword in the right (to cut through ignorance) and a wish-granting jewel in his left hand. He sits on a lotus base, placed on a rock. Details of the carving and the background painted in gold, black, red and malachite green. The other half shows a lotus pond, a rock and a cloudy sky painted in delicate lines of gold and silver, heightened with black...

Shrine with the very rare image of the death of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, called nehan-zu, and his entrance into the state or perfect peace, called nirvana or nehan. The Buddha lays stretched out on a rectangular lotus base, his head resting on his right arm. Although normally in nehan-zu one will see gathered around the bed 52 kinds of beings, human and animals mourning the Buddha, there are none present in this zushi. From the ceiling of the case hangs a curtain of sorts...

Buddhist shrine with sculpture of the bodhisattva Myoken, deity of the Polar Star and of the Big Dipper.
He is dressed in Chinese garment, standing on the back of a kida (a beast that is half turtle, half dragon-snake), holding an enormous sword. Behind his back a nimbus with seven discs, representing the seven stars of the Big Dipper. To the left of the rock base the head of a snake pops out. (Probably a snake was wound ”around” the giant turtle and broke off...

Buddhist shrine containing the deity Uga Benzaiten surrounded by Fifteen Children (Jugodoji), all sitting and standing on a rock formation. In the foreground are the ox and the horse, a boat laden with rice bales and the snake god Ugajin. Hidden between the jugodoji is the tiny figure of Amida Buddha.

In this shrine Benten appears in her eight-armed martial form holding various weapons (wheel, bow, spear, sword, club, lock, and arrow) and the wish granting jewel (all of them missing)...

They are carved from a single piece of wood. They are hollowed out on the back to probably receive a column. They had to be at the entrance of a temple and supported the portico. The wood is cracked and blackened by time. I think they are Edo period Japanese, but they may be earlier. They are two magnificent creatures with a powerful and fierce appearance. The fact that the wood is excessively weathered makes me think they were outside the temple, at the front door...

Large zushi of square shape with double doors. Outside black lacquer and bronze hard ware, finely engraved with meandering flowers, inside gold lacquer. Inside a sculpture of the deity Benten, or Benzaiten, in her appearance with eight arms. In her hands she holds sword, jewel, bow, halberd and wheel. Other attributes are missing. On her head she wears the typical crown with torii, referring to the island of Enoshima, where the big Benten shrine is...

Fairly large shrine with three carved figures: Shichimen Daimyojin, Kishimojin and the patriarch of the Nichiren sect, Nichiren. All are positioned on a rectangular base. Although all three can be connected with the Nichiren sect, the formation is a rather unusual one, leading to the assumption that the pieces were carved to the specific order of someone, for a very specific reason. The crest on the outside of the zushi (tachibana branch in well) hints in the same direction...

Plain wooden sculpture of the deity Shichimen Daimyojin...

Plain wooden sculpture of the founder of the Nichiren sect. He is sitting, holding both his hands with the palms up. He is positioned on a rectangular elevation, decorated with water whirls and gilded over lacquer on the sides. Plain wood, carved in a slightly facetted way that gives texture to his garment and skin. On the back in black ink inscription reading "Nichiren". On the bottom inscription in black ink, partly covered by paper. Japan, Edo period, 19th century.
Height 4 11/16 in. (12...

Finely carved wooden figure of Gyochu Kishimojin, the hands folded together in prayer, standing on an upside down lotus leaf, positioned on a rocky base. Plain wood, carved in a slightly facetted way that gives texture to his garment and skin. The base and the lotus gilded over lacquer. Inscribed on back: Kishibojin, opening of the eyes, Nichiren. Inscribed in black ink on bottom of lotus leaf: Hirono Naomasa. Japan, Edo period, 18th century.
Height without base 7 ¼ in. (18.3 cm).
Le...

Shrine with the exquisite carving of the eleven headed Kannon, holding the vase with the flower in the left hand, a rosary in the right. Dark wood. The garment, finely carved with pleats and scarves, decorated in gold with flowers and geometric designs. On the crown 8 of the 11 heads (three missing), with individual faces. The accessories on the chest and the crown in gilded metal. Kannon is standing on a nine tiered base (six tiers hexagonal, three tiers, the lotus, are round). Excellent piece....

Shrine with inside the figure of the bodhisattva Jizo. He sits on a lotus base, positioned on a rock, his left leg hanging down, the foot resting on a small lotus base. In his left hand he holds a sacred jewel, in the right he formerly held his staff. The rock is placed onto a six tiered hexagonal, elaborately decorated base. Inscription on back of case in ochre colored lacquer, indicating that inside is a sculpture of Jizo, that an offering of 6 to (108 liters ??) was made, that the name of the...

Pair of Important 18th Century Edo Period Cricket Cages of museum quality, made for upper class or royalty. They are exceptional in every way. The Bamboo bars and Mother of Pearl inlay are of the finest Japanese craftsmanship, as are the Wisteria wood cases and red lacquered feet. Work like this is extremely rare and highly treasured in Japan. This is a unique opportunity to own an extraordinary work of Japanese art. 9 inches (23cm) tall x 8.25 inches (21cm) wide x 5.75 inches (14.5cm) deep....

Museum Quality Early 18th Century Edo Period (circa 1700) Gilded Japanese Sculpture of Amida Nyorai Buddha. Seated cross-legged in the lotus posture, hands joined in the mudra of contemplation, eyes all but closed in meditation, we are gazing upon the sculptor's vision of Amida enthroned in paradise. The elaborately carved lotus upon which he sits is itself a symbol of the attributes of the Amida Buddha: gentleness, openness, and purity. This is a large, rare and exquisite example, fabulously ca...

Edo Period (circa 1750) Large Japanese Wood Sculpture of a Shrine Horse, a gift from an upper-class family to a shrine. Images of Horses are highly prized in Japan. It is commissioned and presented to protect a newborn male child. Rising up on its back legs, set to gallop, it strikes an animated, exciting, and beautiful pose that sets it apart from the usual static poses that these horses have. The curves of the sculpture are masterfully rendered to convey the sense of action and spirit in this...

Reddish brown shrine with three very fine sculptures: Benzaiten in the middle, to her right Daikoku, and Bishamon to her left. Benten is seated on a lotus, depicted in her 8-armed appearance, holding a jewel, her other attributes are lost. On her head a crown with jewels and the snake-shaped Ugajin. Bishamonten stands on a demon and holds a pagoda, his staff now lost. Daikoku stands on two rice bales and holds a hammer and a bag. All of them on separate rock shaped bases. Excellent carving with ...

Pair of Exquisite Gilded 18th Century Japanese Angels Wood Sculpture. One angel has her scarf unfurled and caught in a tree. The other is up in the clouds in heaven. Legend has it the angel’s scarf is caught in a tree and did not allow her to heaven. A young man passing heard her and fell in love with her, but was distraught at her sadness and released her scarf so that she could fly back to heaven. Angel with scarf: 5 inches (13cm) long, Angel on clouds: 6 3/4 inches (17cm) long, height of bo...