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Portable Black Lacquer Zushi Travel Shrine with Gilt Lotus Doors & Miniature Kannon Figure (6cm) — Edo Period Style Buddhist Altar
Portable Black Lacquer Zushi Travel Shrine with Gilt Lotus Doors & Miniature Kannon Figure (6cm) — Edo Period Style Buddhist Altar
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Portable Black Lacquer Zushi Travel Shrine
A small shrine can hold an entire world. This portable zushi is an intimate Buddhist object designed for personal devotion—kept on a household shelf, carried during travel, or opened quietly at a desk to mark a daily moment of calm. The exterior reads as refined black lacquer with a rounded top, while the interior opens into a warm gold-toned sanctum that frames a miniature sacred stage.
At the center stands a finely carved miniature Kannon (Avalokiteshvara), approximately 6cm in height, poised on a lotus pedestal. In Japanese devotional life, Kannon embodies compassion expressed as action—help that arrives in the form it needs to take. Miniature Kannon images like this were historically favored for personal practice because they make devotion private, portable, and consistent.
The inner doors are decorated with elegant botanical ornament in gold—stylized lotus and water plants. This is not merely decorative: the lotus is Buddhism’s enduring metaphor for purity arising from the world as it is, making it especially meaningful for a personal shrine that may have accompanied someone through ordinary, imperfect days.
Key Details
- Type: Portable zushi (travel shrine) with miniature Buddhist figure
- Approx. size (zushi): H 13cm × W 6.5cm × D 5cm
- Approx. size (figure): H 6cm
- Materials (best reading): lacquered wood shrine; gilt interior; carved figure (material not confirmed)
- Condition: age wear; crack and small losses noted (please verify in photos)
Who is Kannon?
Kannon (Avalokiteshvara) is the bodhisattva of compassion—venerated across Japan for listening to suffering and responding with practical mercy. Collectors value miniature Kannon figures for their devotional intimacy, refined carving, and the way small altars preserve the “architecture of reverence” in a compact form.
Collector Relevance
- True small-format zushi shrine with strong contrast: black lacquer exterior and gold interior.
- Miniature standing Kannon on lotus base—classic iconography in personal scale.
- Interior door ornament increases display impact when opened on a shelf.
Collector’s Resonance
This piece is for the collector who prefers quiet power over spectacle—someone who wants Buddhist presence in a study, tea space, or private altar, and values objects that feel genuinely handled and used, not manufactured to look old.
Confidence & Verification Notes
Deity identification is presented as “Kannon” based on common miniature zushi formats and the bodhisattva presentation; please confirm using close-up images. Condition details, including the noted crack and small losses, should be assessed directly from the photos.
Internal Reading (Site Links)
Authenticity & Stewardship
Evaluated under the Japonista Authentication Framework™:
- Material, carving, and surface-study comparison
- Iconographic and stylistic verification
- Condition and stability review (surface integrity)
- Construction assessment and handling-risk evaluation
Guaranteed 100% Authentic. Covered by the Japonista Lifetime Authenticity Warranty™.
A Note on Stewardship and Collecting
At Japonista, we approach Buddhist statues, sacred images, and ritual objects not merely as collectibles, but as cultural and spiritual artifacts deserving of respect, understanding, and careful presentation. Every piece we offer is thoughtfully examined, researched, and curated with sensitivity to its origin, meaning, and historical role.
Our role is not only to offer access to rare and meaningful objects, but to serve as responsible custodians—connecting the right works with collectors who value depth, intention, and authenticity.
Inquiries, Availability, and Private Consideration
Some of the cultural and heritage works may allow room for discussion, while others are held firmly due to rarity, condition, or cultural importance. All inquiries are reviewed personally and discreetly, and we welcome thoughtful questions or expressions of interest.
If you are exploring a particular theme, deity, lineage, or period—or seeking guidance in building a focused collection—our concierge team is always available to assist with quiet expertise and care.
Concierge Support & Collector Guidance
Japonista Concierge™ provides personalized assistance for collectors seeking deeper understanding, thoughtful acquisition, or long-term curation strategies. Whether your interest is devotional, scholarly, or aesthetic, we are here to help guide your journey with clarity and respect.
For select high-value or historically significant works, private reservation or structured payment arrangements may be available on a case-by-case basis. Please reach out to discuss eligibility and discreet options.
Before Proceeding
We kindly encourage collectors to review our shop policies and house guidelines, available through the links in our website footer, which outline shipping, handling, and conditions specific to vintage, sacred, and collectible works.
A Closing Note
Thank you for exploring Japonista’s collection of Oriental Cultural Heritage and arts. We are honored to share these meaningful works and to help place them where they may continue to be appreciated, studied, and respected.
If you have questions or wish to explore related works, please feel free to contact Japonista Concierge™ at any time.
