Antique Japanese Granite Stone Lantern / Taisho-Showa Era / Garden Ornament

Details

Description

This is an old stone lantern made in Japan. Although its exact year of production cannot be stated with certainty, … Read more This is an old stone lantern made in Japan. Although its exact year of production cannot be stated with certainty, judging from its overall presence and the degree of weathering, it is thought to have been made sometime between the Taisho and Showa eras.

A stone lantern, or ishidoro, is a type of Japanese stone object that was originally used in temples and shrines to hold votive lights. Over time, it developed into an element of scenery that adorns tea gardens and Japanese gardens. Although it is essentially a tool for light, simply placing one brings a sense of quietness and dignity to a space, and it has long been cherished by the Japanese for this reason. A single lantern set in a garden reflects the changing of the seasons and the play of light and shadow, creating a scene that symbolizes the aesthetic of wabi-sabi.

From top to bottom, this lantern is composed of several parts: the hoju, the jewel-shaped finial at the very top; the kasa, the roof; the hibukuro, the fire chamber that holds the light; and the base that supports it all. The fire chamber has an opening cut into it, evoking the memory of a flame that was once lit within.

This piece appears to have been made in the image of the renowned "Misaki lantern (misaki-doro)" found at the Katsura Imperial Villa in Kyoto, which was built around the mid-Edo period. With its rounded, softly shaped form and the fine balance of each part, it carries a gentle and calm impression that larger lanterns do not possess.

The material is granite. Because this granite contains a slight amount of iron, its surface takes on a faint brownish tone, giving it a warm coloring. For the finish, a technique called "mishiri finish" has been used. This is a surface treatment in which the stone is carved by hand using a chisel and hammer to create fine unevenness, producing a soft and gentle texture that machines cannot achieve. The slight irregularity unique to handwork, combined with the character of the stone surface aged over time, creates a rich expression that changes depending on the angle from which it is viewed.

As it is a relatively small size, it can be placed with ease in any setting and in any size of space, whether a spacious garden, a small courtyard garden, an entrance, or an indoor display. It harmonizes well with a Japanese-modern space, and even displayed simply as an object it holds a strong presence.

As you can see in the photographs, there are some small chips due to age, but overall it is in good condition. We hope you will enjoy the calm and settled presence that only a stone lantern that has quietly passed through many years can offer. This is an item we highly recommend.

Size: Diameter 28.8cm × H51cm
Weight: 32.85kg
Item No.: SC172

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