Bronze Ume Openwork Temple Lantern Pair — Tall 95 cm Buddhist Altar Lamps — Antique-Style Cast Metal, Patina Black, One Light Works

Bronze Ume Openwork Temple Lantern Pair — Tall 95 cm Altar Lamps

A matched pair of tall temple lanterns with openwork ume (plum blossom) panels that read like shadow-calligraphy when lit. At nearly one meter in height, these function as light-architecture for a home shrine or devotional interior—quiet, symmetrical, and richly photogenic in a museum-catalog way.

The “ume” motif matters. Plum blossoms bloom in cold weather—an emblem of endurance, renewal, and early spring’s first promise. On altar lamps, the pattern is more than decoration: it is a coded atmosphere. When the lamp is illuminated, the openwork becomes a moving lace of light against gold leaf, lacquer, or the interior of a shrine cabinet, giving the altar depth and living presence without adding visual noise.

This pair shows honest age and use: surface scuffs, small scratches, and areas of wear consistent with long life in temple or household practice. Importantly for planning: one lamp currently lights and the other does not (as pictured/indicated by the seller). In real-world collecting, this is common—older wiring and sockets age out long before the metalwork does. Many collectors treat these as “metalwork first” acquisitions: the bronze body and openwork are the value; electrical rewire is a straightforward restoration step handled by a qualified technician (especially if you plan international use).

In a collection, these lamps do three jobs at once:
• They establish scale and hierarchy (the altar looks “complete” the moment they arrive).
• They act as light-architecture, shaping a visual field around the central figure.
• They read as historical craft objects even when unlit—pure sculptural presence.

If you collect Buddhist material culture, shrine furniture, or temple-grade fittings, this is the kind of pair that upgrades an entire room. Think of them as the “columns” of a devotional space—quiet, symmetrical, and endlessly photogenic in a museum-catalog way.

The deep dark patina amplifies the glow of the cutwork, adding depth around a central icon without visual noise. The metalwork is the value here: the bodies, canopy forms, and openwork panels carry the presence of ritual furniture even when unlit.

What’s Included

• Lantern lamp pair (2 pieces) only.

Condition

• Visible wear consistent with age: scuffs, scratches, and patina variation.
• Function: one lamp powers on; the other currently does not.
• Electrical components should be treated as vintage; professional inspection/rewire is recommended for regular use. (Japan is 110 V)

Key Specs

• Height: approx. 95 cm each
• Motif: ume (plum blossom) openwork panels
• Material (probable): cast metal with bronze-tone finish
• Electrical: vintage wiring present; functionality mixed (1 works / 1 not working)

Shipping & Logistics (Audit-Grade)

Recommended as two cartons (one lantern per carton), fully immobilized. Planning estimates below support your internal audit:

• Estimated net weight (pair): ~18.0 kg total
• Estimated packed weight (pair): ~26.0 kg total
• Recommended carton per lamp: 100 × 35 × 35 cm (2 cartons)
• Volumetric weight per carton (air): 24.5 kg
• Total volumetric (2 cartons): 49.0 kg

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