Seated Buddha kebutsu originally attached to the mandorla of a large-scale seated Buddha image, sculpted from wood and finished in lacquer and gilt, joined-block construction, inset-crystal eyes, complete with a more recent mandorla and plinth made expressly for the Buddha figure. Minor old loss and repairs.

Overall height, including mandorla and plinth: 50.1 cm
Height of Buddha figure only: 27.9 cm.

A notably good kebutsu with significant age.

Seated Amida Buddha with hands placed centrally on the lap in the Amida jo-in concentration mudra, joined wood-block construction, open-work mandorla, lacquer and gilt finish, and eyes of inset crystal. Early-Muromachi Period ca. 1450. Minor old loss and minimal restoration.

Height, including mandorla and plinth: 67.2 cm
Height of Amida figure only: 34.1 cm
Width of plinth: 39.6 cm
Depth of plinth: 33.7 cm.

An exceptional piece, with good size and significant age.

Hokyointo stupa sculpted in four parts from a relatively soft, lightweight sedimentary stone. Muromachi Period ca. 1500. Old loss. Uniform lichen accumulation overall.

Height: 62.5 cm

A uniquely Japanese stupa form, the hokyointo takes its name from the Hokyoin Darani sutra, copies of which were placed inside early, i.e., Heian Period (794-1185), stupas in this style, typically made from wood or gilded bronze...

Standing Bosatsu (probably Kannon) nagarebutsu (lit. flowing Buddha) sculpted from a single piece of wood (ichiboku-zukuri), originally finished in lacquer and gilt. Late-Heian Period ca. 1100...

Granite mitatemono (lit. recycled thing) mizubachi (water basin), originally part of a hokyointo pagoda. Nanbokucho/Muromachi Period ca. 1350—1500. Very minor old loss...

Forearm/hand fragment of a bosatsu (bodhisattva) sculpted from a single piece of wood. Early-Muromachi Period ca. 1400. Very minor old wood loss, with traces of the original ground and polychrome.

Length: 15. 4 cm

An exquisitely rendered forearm/hand fragment originally attached at the right elbow joint of a bosatsu, indicated by the double-bracelet motif at the wrist, of approximately 75 cm in height (if a standing depiction) or 45 cm (if a seated depiction).

Wooden fragment of a standing bosatsu. Traces of lacquer-based ground treatment. Late-Heian Period ca. 1000—1100.

Height: 72 cm
Width: 20 cm
Depth: 4.5 cm.

By the late-11th century, the yosegi-zukuri joined-block construction method was widely employed by Buddhist sculptors trained in the traditional Kyoto/Nara workshops...

Wooden fragment of a seated male Shinto god. Late-Heian/early-Kamakura Period ca. 1100—1250. Old loss, due largely to extensive insect damage; faint traces of original polychrome.

Overall height, including Edo-Period wooden stand: 47.0 cm
Height of Shinzo figure only: 32.8 cm.

A thoroughly classic example of late-Heian/early-Kamakura Shinto sculpture.

Stone gorinto (lit. 5-tiered stupa) sculpted in four parts from a medium-weight volcanic stone. Muromachi Period ca. 1450. Very minor old loss.

Height: 63 cm
Width/Depth of base: 22 cm

The gorinto is a uniquely Japanese style of stupa comprising five geometric forms, which correspond (from bottom) to earth, water, fire, wind, and ethereal space...

Gorinto (5-tiered stupa) sculpted in one piece from tuff, a sedimentary stone composed largely of volcanic ash. Nanbokucho Period ca. 1350—1400. Minor old loss. Heavy lichen accumulation overall, with dark-brown dessicated insect egg-sac shells clustered on one of the four sides.

Height: 45...

Standing Kongara-Doji sculpted from a single piece of wood. Early-Muromachi Period ca. 1400, very possibly earlier. Old loss; traces of whitish gesso-like ground treatment.

Height, including wooden stand: 18.5 cm
Height of figure only: 16.8 cm

Kongara-Doji is one of Fudo-Myo's two child attendants. This example shows abundant signs of significant age.

Sentai Bishomenten sculpted from a single piece of wood, a rare extant example from a 1,000-piece production commissioned by Nara's Shin-Yakushiji Temple. Early-Muromachi Period ca. 1350. Old loss to the wood and heavy soot patination overall.

Height, including wooden dais: 26.0 cm
Height of Bishamonten figure only: 19.5 cm.

Seated Buddha fragment in wood, yosegi-zukuri joined-block construction, lacquer and gilt finish, and eyes of inset crystal. Nanbokucho / early-Muromachi Period ca. 1350, possibly earlier.

Height: 18.7 cm
Width: 10.0 cm
Depth: 6.5 cm

A highly desirable fragment.

Stone gorinto (lit. 5-tiered stupa) sculpted in four parts from tuff, an igneous stone composed largely of volcanic ash. Kamakura Period ca. 1250. Minor old loss and variegated lichen accumulation.

Height: 113 cm
Width of base: 45 cm
Depth of base: 45 cm

The gorinto is a uniquely Japanese style of stupa comprising five geometric forms, which correspond (from bottom) to earth, water, fire, wind, and ethereal space...

Stone water basin (Jap. mizubachi, or chouzubachi), originally part of a gorinto (five-tiered stupa). Kamakura/Nanbokucho Period ca. 1300. Excellent condition.

Height: 18 cm
External diameter: 26 cm
Depth of basin: 7 cm.

An atmospheric water basin, featuring four deeply incised bonji (Sanskrit characters) associated with the Diamond-World Dai-Nichi Buddha (Skt. Vairocana).

Isseki gorinto (single-stone five-tiered stupa) sculpted in one piece from granite. Nanbokucho Period ca. 1350, possibly earlier. Minor old loss, with desirable lichen accumulation overall.

Height: 80 cm
Width: 18 cm
Depth: 18 cm

The gorinto is a uniquely Japanese style of stupa comprising five geometric forms, which correspond (from bottom) to earth, water, fire, wind, and ethereal space...

Isseki gorinto (single-stone 5-tiered stupa) sculpted in one piece from granite. Early-Muromachi Period ca. 1400, possibly earlier. Very minor old loss, with light lichen accumulation overall.

Height: 59 cm
Width: 17 cm
Depth: 15 cm

The gorinto is a uniquely Japanese style of stupa comprising five geometric forms, which correspond (from bottom) to earth, water, fire, wind, and ethereal space...

Gorinto (5-tiered stupa) sculpted in four separate pieces from basalt. Early-Muromachi Period ca. 1450, possibly earlier. Very minor old loss.

Height: 57 cm
Base: 19 cm square.

The gorinto is a distinctively Japanese style of stupa comprising five geometric forms, which correspond (from bottom) to earth, water, fire, wind, and ethereal space. The Japanese Shingon sect of esoteric Buddhism views the gorinto as a symbol of Dai-Nichi Buddha, who, underlying all things, manifests himself in t...