Rare Vintage, Antiques and Art Collector / Curator / Personal Shopper From Japan
Showa-Era Gilt Wood Standing Amida Buddha in Zushi Shrine — 31.5 cm — Japanese Buddhist Sculpture with Lacquered Gilt Cabinet
Showa-Era Gilt Wood Standing Amida Buddha in Zushi Shrine — 31.5 cm — Japanese Buddhist Sculpture with Lacquered Gilt Cabinet
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Standing Amida Nyorai with Zushi Shrine Cabinet
This carved wooden Amida Nyorai presents the Buddha in a standing posture associated with welcoming descent and compassionate presence. Housed within a gold-lined zushi cabinet, the figure is framed as a complete devotional architecture rather than a standalone sculpture.
The zushi transforms the object into a sanctified interior space, echoing Pure Land cosmology through scale, enclosure, and radiant surfaces. Such forms were historically used for focused household worship, memorial rites, and itinerant religious practice.
Surface wear, lacquer loss, and age-related marks are present and consistent with devotional handling over time. The overall structure remains sound, with the figure’s proportions, expression, and lotus base clearly preserved.
- Period: Edo-style devotional form, Shōwa-era carving
- Material: Carved wood, lacquer, gilt accents
- Figure Size: Approx. 31.5 cm height
- Zushi Size: Approx. 43 cm height
- Classification: Japanese Buddhist sculpture
WHY THIS PIECE MATTERS
This object belongs to a long continuum of portable Pure Land devotion in Japan.
The Amida Nyorai standing form represents active salvific presence — Amida descending to receive the faithful, rather than the distant cosmic Buddha.
The inclusion of a zushi is not decorative — it is theological architecture:
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The zushi functions as a miniature mandala-space, enclosing the Buddha within a sanctified boundary.
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Gold-leaf interiors symbolically dissolve material space into Pure Land radiance.
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Such combinations were favored in household altars, traveling clergy kits, and memorial contexts.
The scale (over 30 cm figure height) places this above casual domestic pieces — it occupies the threshold between personal devotion and temple-grade presence.
Collectors value examples like this because:
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The proportional harmony is intact (head, torso, lotus base).
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The face retains meditative softness, not mass-market rigidity.
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The zushi doors still frame the figure correctly — many survivors lose alignment.
This is not a fragment.
It is a complete devotional system.
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.
