Santuario zushi de Benzaiten del periodo Edo, madera dorada, puertas interiores pintadas a mano con motivos florales, 15.8 cm

Counted among Japan's Seven Lucky Gods, Benzaiten presides over eloquence, music, learning and the movement of water. In this small Edo-period zushi she is carved in gilt wood and framed by flowers painted straight onto the door panels, a household shrine that has kept its softened gilding and unrestored surfaces.

The Piece

This Edo-period portable Buddhist shrine (zushi) enshrines a finely carved wooden image of Benzaiten, one of the Seven Lucky Deities of Japan. Executed in gilt wood with softly aged pigments, the figure rests within a lacquered shrine whose interior doors are hand-painted with auspicious floral motifs.

Benzaiten is revered as the goddess of wisdom, eloquence, music and flowing water. Within Japanese Buddhism her worship bridges esoteric Buddhist traditions and Shinto belief, making her one of the most widely venerated household deities of the Edo period.

The interior panel paintings were executed directly onto the wooden doors, a labor-intensive technique reserved for devotional objects rather than export wares. Compact in scale and balanced in proportion, the zushi was designed for domestic altar use rather than temple display; its gentle wear, surface patina and softened gilding are consistent with long private worship.

Details

• Era: Edo period
• Origin: Japan
• Material: Carved wood with gilt finish; lacquered shrine; hand-painted interior panels
• Measurements: Zushi height approx. 15.8 cm · Statue height approx. 12.6 cm · Interior depth approx. 7.8 cm
• Iconography: Benzaiten; interior doors painted with auspicious floral motifs

Condition

• Honest, unrestored condition with age-appropriate wear.
• Surface rubbing, small losses to pigment, lacquer wear and aging of the interior panels.
• No modern restoration observed.

Authenticity & Care

Painted interior panels executed directly on the doors and unrestored, age-consistent wear support a devotional Edo-period object rather than an export ware; no modern restoration observed. Every piece is examined and documented in Japan before dispatch and is offered with the Japonista authenticity guarantee.

Delivery from Japan

Packed by hand in Japan and shipped insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Returns follow our published policy.

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