A VERY RARE BUDDHIST RELIQUARY IN THE SHAPE OF A PAGODA.

A VERY RARE BUDDHIST RELIQUARY IN THE SHAPE OF A PAGODA.

Japan, dated 1698, height 81.5 cm.

Dismountable in four parts. Fire-gilt copper sheet with delicate incised ornamental decor, base with woodcore. Engraved inscription on hexagonal pedestal: "Genroku jûichi sai tsuchinoe tora rokugatsu hi sharitô shi Miyajima Hanjirô Fujiwara Seiji kore o saku Rakuyô jû." (Made by the Master of pagoda reliquaries, Miyajima Hanjirô Fujiwara Seiji from Rakuyô (Kyôto), in the 11th year of the Genroku era with the cyclical zodiac characters, tsuchinoe tora (1698), on a day in the 6th month). Added Buddha figure in square lower body. Original interior reliquary lost. Minor traces of age/wear.

For similar objects see: Pagoda reliquary (kondôhotô) at Saidaiji in Nara, around 1270, National Treasure or, Stupa reliquary (sharitô) on a turtle at Tôshôdaiji in Nara, Nanbokuchô period (1336-1396), National Treasure.
Provenance: Swiss private collection, purchased with Dr. Robert Bigler in 1998 (invoice available), before U.S. private collection.