Japan Important Early Temple Lions Hand-Carved Stone Pair of Old Kyoto

Japan a tall early antique stone temple mythical Shi Shi Temple Foo Dog Lion also known as Komainu hand-carved in sandstone. Dimensions: 23 inches high and 10 inches wide and 16 inches deep Age: great age dating to the middle Edo period (1800-1840). Old and original patina with aged and substantial traces of encrustation still visible. Ancient repair. These Older Buddhist mythological Komainu like this example are infrequently found in not only this impressive size, but in this early age. Today these are often seen guarding entrances to Japanese Buddhist temples and shrines. About Shishi Komainu Ah and Un: Temple Shishi are traditionally depicted, one with mouth open (Ah) and one with mouth closed (Un). Ah is the first sound in the Japanese alphabet...

Just discovered and coming from a Shinto Shrine deaccession, and now in our Kyoto warehouse. Call or message us for details or to reserve. Japan an early and superb pair (2) of myt...

Large work of garden art, 18th/19th century, 200 years old Japanese stone rectangular plaque Jizo Bosatsu in unusual "double Jizo" Desojin panel form. It stands tall in a fine m...

From our recent Japanese acquisitions. Japan, a hard to find heavily hand cast frog or toad -kaeru- sculpture weighing almost 4 pounds, circa 1920 It is mar...

From our recent Japanese Acquisitions trip to Kyoto. A fine pair of antique curious Japanese cast bronze sensuous cats beautifully handcrafted in an attractive and unusual style. Cats were originally domesticated because they hunted mice that would eat stored grains, protecting the food stores. It was a beneficial situation for both species, cats got a reliable source of prey, and humans got effortless pest control. This mutually beneficial arrangement began the relationship between cats and humans which continues to this day. In Japan, there are also cats described as Maneki Neko, also referred to in English as the good fortune or good luck cat...

Japan an important life-size , early period sculpture of a muscular working man dated to 1939 and entitled "Seaman with a Cape", by mid century master sculptor Koga Tadao...

Often referred to as “Fu Dogs” in western culture, these handsome stone sentinels are iconic gatekeepers seen throughout China and elsewhere in Asia. Traditional symbols of protectio...

The features of this stone Foo lion has been softened by being exposed to the elements for many centuries. Still a very handsome sculptural specimen made from carved stone, it is kno...

Rare pair of large Chinese carved stone foo dog guardian lions. Originated from a house of a mandarin (a public official in the Chinese Empire), located on The Silk Road. Here they were placed in front of the gate, with the gate doors mounted on the base behind the lions. The pair consist of a male with a ball on his back, and a female holding a puppy. The ball represents the world and the puppy represents nature or a nurturing spirit. One stand lightly carved with a horse, the other with a deer. The front of the stand is carved with camel...

A large & important pair of rare antique 19th century Indian Polychromed & hand carved stone Dvarpala (temple door guard) statues, circa 1850. Each statue is hand carved as a male Hindu four armed temple guard, the guards holding a mace (Gada) and one hand on a dagger (Katar), another hand holding a lotus flower to represent spiritual enlightenment. Each guard stands crossed legged on a plinth decorated with an elephant, both statues retaining old and yet brightly colored polychromed decoration, the statues are approximately 3/4 lifesize. They are a true pair facing each other and would have flanked either side of the temple door entrance, they are large and very heavy, each figure weighs about 300lbs. A rare & important pair of carved 19th century stone temple guards...

A large pair of unique and very decorative 20th century ceramic Imperial Guardian Lions, commonly known as Foo Dogs. Decorated in the Majolica style bright green and yellow toned ove...

Japanese rosewood hand carved pedestal. Japan, circa 1920 Measures: Height 24", width 19".