How to Buy a Buddhist Statue

A Japanese Buddhist statue can be a profound presence in a home and a sound addition to a collection. Buying well means looking at it as a curator would: knowing who it represents, when and how it was made, what has happened to it since and what travels with it. This guide sets out the steps in order.

Step one: who is it?

Begin with identification. A Kannon, a Jizō or an Amida each has its own meaning, devotion and market. Use How to Read a Buddhist Statue and the entries of this dictionary to confirm the deity, and be wary of descriptions that seem uncertain or contradictory.

Step two: when was it made?

Style, construction and surface suggest a period. Most figures on the market date from the Edo period onwards; earlier works are rare and need careful study. See Periods of Japanese Buddhist Sculpture and Materials and Making.

Step three: what is its condition?

  • Look for replaced hands, attributes, halos and pedestals.
  • Note regilding, repainting and filled cracks.
  • Check for insect damage and active infestation, which shows as fresh powder.
  • Old repairs are part of a statue's life; undisclosed recent ones are not. See Condition and Restoration.

Step four: is it complete?

A figure with its original halo, pedestal, attributes and shrine cabinet, or a triad that has stayed together, is worth considerably more than a single element.

Step five: what documents travel with it?

A signed box, inscriptions inside the figure, temple records or a history of ownership add confidence and meaning. See Glossary of Box Inscriptions.

Step six: getting it home

  • Large and heavy figures travel as freight. See Importing Large, Heavy or High-Value Pieces.
  • Some countries inspect wooden objects for pests, and materials such as ivory or coral may be restricted.
  • Designated national cultural properties cannot leave Japan; ordinary antique statues can be exported freely.

Buying from Japonista

Every piece we offer is examined in Japan and covered by our authenticity guarantee, and it travels insured and tracked. Because all sales are final, we encourage you to ask every question before purchase: our curator desk replies within one to three business days. High-value pieces follow our payments and handling guide.

In the collection

Browse Buddhist Statues and Sacred Art. For a particular figure we do not hold, our collector concierge can search Japan on your behalf.

See also

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