1950's Japanese Monarch Butterfly Garden Outdoor Lantern

Description

1950's Japanese Monarch Butterfly Garden vintage outdoor Lantern.
DIMENSIONS: Height: 8 in. Width: 11.25 in. Depth: 5.5 in.
A beautifully … more 1950's Japanese Monarch Butterfly Garden vintage outdoor Lantern.
DIMENSIONS: Height: 8 in. Width: 11.25 in. Depth: 5.5 in.
A beautifully designed and iconic "Butterfly Wings" garden lighting lantern.
Japan, a fine hand cast and unusual iron lantern in the form of a Japanese Monarch Butterfly that may be suspended in your favorite indoor or special outdoor space. And just marvel at its gorgeous night light that bursts from all sides.
This is an old vintage heavy hand cast, attractive eye catching lighting butterfly lantern. It boasts a handsome dark smooth patina- cleaned and oiled. From atop it's iconic designed head and wings, the prolific artistic pierced two sided wing panels burst brilliant night light in all directions! An early example, this Japanese garden lighting lantern has bold sculptural nature design - identical on both sides- and is impressive craftsmanship that makes this extraordinary garden art for your special indoor or outdoor garden space. This "Butterfly Wing" garden lantern will bring joy and warmly welcome your guests. In a convenient portable size and displaying exceptional decoration, it may be suspended from the loop seen at the top or installed on sturdy four footed base on any surface. Heavy hand caste craftsmanship will hold up well in challenging weather conditions.
Warm original dark old natural patina from appropriate age.
Quality: The lantern exudes high quality craftsmanship original patina.
Good garden or indoor candidate- this is an ideal accent size for a small indoor space or outdoor garden.
Like many other elements of Japanese traditional architecture, it originated in China. In Japan, to¯ro¯ were originally used only in Buddhist temples, where they lined and illuminated paths and lighted lanterns were then considered an offering. In its complete, original form the lantern represents five elements of Buddhist cosmology: Bottom touching the ground, represents chi, the earth, the next section represents sui, or water, ka or fire, is represented by the section encasing the lantern's light or flame, while fu¯ (air) and ku¯ (void or spirit) are represented by the last two sections, top-most and pointing towards the sky. These last two sections express the idea that after death our physical bodies will go back to their original, elemental form. Yukimi-do¯ro¯ or legged lanterns have as a base not a post but curved legs. Relatively low, they are used exclusively in gardens and the traditional placement is near water. It was probably developed during the Momoyama period, but the oldest extant examples, found at the Katsura Villa in Kyoto, go back only to the early Edo period, (17th century).
DIMENSIONS: Height: 8 in. Width: 11.25 in. Depth: 5.5 in. less