Butsudan, Shrine - Gilt lacquered wood, Lacquered wood, Mother of pearl, Metal - Large impressive and nicely detailed gold&black lacquer house shrine (butsudan). - Japan - Taishō period (1912-1926)

A very large beautiful and nicely detailed black lacquered house shrine 仏壇 (butsudan) . One of the best butsudan we had in a long time. The two two-panel outer folding doors have a nice even black lacquer layer and are equipped with attractive brass-coloured metal hardware engraved with a vine motive. The vertical bar between the two doors is centrally decorated with a small gold-coloured emblem of a melon 木瓜 (mokkô) . Behind this emblem there is a sliding lock. The long gold lacquered cartouches on the inside of these doors with nice rounded corners. The outer panels both with a similar emblem as mentioned above. The two-panel lacquered inner folding doors of the butsudan are decorated with a rich design of phoenixes 鳳凰 (hô’ô) flying freely through swirling clouds on a red background. The four doors together create a circular window with a refined lattice work covered by black mesh. The red panels are surrounded by black lacquered borders with similar brass coloured metal hardware. These doors as well have a sliding lock. Above the inner doors there is a gold lacquer open work panel of very detailed hand-carved chrysanthemum flowers 菊 (kiku) in high relief. The extensive gold lacquered inside of the butsudan has finely detailed hand-carved wooden shrine elements. The panels of the roof of the shrine are decorated with chrysanthemums. A nice hidden detail is visible when you shine a light on the inside, then the night sky shines towards you. The inner shrine stands on a two platforms, both decorated with three gold lacquer panels with lotus leaf & -flower design in relief. Underneath these platforms are pair of sliding doors with an aogai hiramaki-e 青貝平蒔絵 (low-relief design with mother-of-pearl inlay) of birds flying towards branches filled with blooming flowers. Behind these sliding doors is a spacious compartment. Hidden under this compartment is a black lacquered pull-out tray with similar hardware in front. The base of the butsudan has a wide drawer with a cartouche decorated with a pond scene with some mandarin ducks. Under this drawer a similar pair of sliding doors, but now the birds fly around branches of a maple tree. This grand butsudan is made in one piece, with only a detachable top. When acquired new, in Japan these shrines are extremely expensive to buy! When shipped we will add a certificate of authenticity. Height 170. 4 cm, Width 71. 4 cm, Depth 66. 8 cm. Speaking of the condition of the butsudan, there are only some minor traces of use, and some tears in the mesh. Since those are the only noticeable things, you can say that this ornate shrine is in a very good condition. A Butsudan (仏壇, lit. "Buddhist altar") , sometimes spelled Butudan, is a shrine commonly found in temples and homes in Japanese Buddhist cultures. A butsudan is either a defined, often ornate platform or simply a wooden cabinet sometimes crafted with doors that enclose and protect a Gohonzon or religious icon, typically a statue or painting of a Buddha or Bodhisattva, or a calligraphic mandala scroll. The butsudan's primary use is for paying respects to the Buddha, as well as to family members who have died. (From Wikipedia) .