Rare Vintage, Antiques and Art Collector / Curator / Personal Shopper From Japan
Traditional High-Relief Gold-Toned Butsudan Altar Cabinet — Large 156 cm Height / 65 cm Width — Lacquer & Gilt-Style Metalwork (Japan)
Traditional High-Relief Gold-Toned Butsudan Altar Cabinet — Large 156 cm Height / 65 cm Width — Lacquer & Gilt-Style Metalwork (Japan)
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Japonista Archive — Devotional Furniture
Traditional High-Relief Gold-Toned Butsudan Altar Cabinet — Large 156 cm Height / 65 cm Width — Lacquer & Gilt-Style Metalwork (Japan)
A large traditional Japanese butsudan altar cabinet with a luminous gold-toned sanctuary interior and architectural presence. Designed as a home shrine cabinet for daily offerings, memorial practice, and the quiet continuity of devotion.
Large-scale devotional furniture (approx. 156 cm tall) with lacquered exterior, gold-toned interior finish, and extensive fittings. Expect age-consistent wear and residue on gold-toned surfaces. International shipping is cargo-only (crated, LCL sea freight).
The Altar as Architecture
A full-height butsudan is not a decorative cabinet. It is domestic architecture for ritual — doors opening like a stage to reveal a gold-lit sanctuary. In the home, that interior acts as a visual amplifier: candlelight, daylight, and incense glow gather at the center, holding a memorial tablet, an image, and offerings in a single, deliberate frame.
Pieces of this scale carry a different gravity than portable shrines. They define a room and set a tone: not only “Japanese interior,” but a lived relationship with memory and compassion. For collectors and institutions, the value is the union of function and form — furniture, craftsmanship, and cultural practice in one object.
Materials & Craft (Collector-Safe)
- Structure: wood-bodied altar cabinet, lacquered exterior (appearance-based).
- Sanctuary interior: gold-toned finish (finish type unverified; treat as gold-toned unless verified).
- Fittings: extensive metal hardware and rails — part of the cabinet’s functional beauty and long-life design.
- Scale: approx. 156.4 cm height; approx. 64.9 cm maximum width; approx. 60.1 cm depth (seller-provided).
Condition Notes
The cabinet is described as used vintage, with haze and adhered residue on gold-toned surfaces that was not fully removed during cleaning. This is common for sanctuary interiors that have experienced decades of incense, handling, and household maintenance. We recommend conservation-level cleaning rather than aggressive polishing, especially for lacquer and gold-toned finishes.
Why Collect
- Presence: museum-scale cabinet height with architectural proportion.
- Light: a gold-toned sanctuary designed to hold and reflect flame and daylight.
- Craft: fittings and interior structure that signal a cabinet meant to be opened, used, and maintained.
- Meaning: devotional furniture as cultural artifact — a vessel for remembrance and continuity.
Shipping & Logistics — Cargo Only
Handling Tier: Irregular-F (Museum Furniture / Lacquer Altar)
Recommended Mode: LCL Sea Freight (export crate + moisture barrier + vibration buffering)
Estimated USA Fully Landed Delivery Cost
(approx. from USD 3200) — includes Japan domestic heavy cargo, export crating, documentation, LCL ocean freight. US customs clearance, and US LTL delivery are not included and can be quoted separately or buyer contacts their local agent for clearance and delivery estimates on their end.
Note: final cost varies by destination distance from port, access conditions (stairs, narrow entry, appointment windows), and final crate measurement at handoff.
Confidence & Verification Notes
We have not physically inspected this item. Materials and finishes are assessed from listing imagery and seller text. The sanctuary’s gold appearance may be gold leaf, gold lacquer, or gold-toned finish; treat as gold-toned (kinpaku).
Cargo Shipping & Handling Notice
Due to the final packaged weight and/or dimensional requirements of this piece, standard parcel services such as Japan Post EMS, DHL, FedEx, or UPS are not applicable. This item will be shipped via cargo or freight-based shipping methods.
Cargo shipments require additional preparation time to ensure proper handling, which may include custom crating, reinforced packing, coordination with domestic logistics providers, and scheduling with international freight consolidators and export brokers. As a result, estimated delivery timelines typically range from 6 to 10 weeks, depending on routing, carrier availability, and customs clearance procedures in the destination country.
Please note that actual shipping costs may differ from automated shipping calculator estimates. By default, a portion of the expected shipping cost may be reflected in the listing price. Any difference or discrepancy will be quoted separately once destination, delivery method, and handling requirements are confirmed.
We kindly ask that collectors contact us prior to purchase to request an exact, customized shipping quotation for their destination. This ensures full transparency and allows us to arrange the most appropriate, secure, and efficient shipping solution for this piece.
Thank you for your understanding and patience as we take the necessary care to deliver this work safely.
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.
