Rare Vintage, Antiques and Art Collector / Curator / Personal Shopper From Japan
High-Grade Otani-ha Gold Butsudan Altar Cabinet — Two-Tier Guden Sanctuary Architecture, Black Lacquer Exterior & Gold Interior (Approx. 140.8 cm) — Estate-Scale Domestic Shrine
High-Grade Otani-ha Gold Butsudan Altar Cabinet — Two-Tier Guden Sanctuary Architecture, Black Lacquer Exterior & Gold Interior (Approx. 140.8 cm) — Estate-Scale Domestic Shrine
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Curatorial Overview
This altar is domestic Buddhist architecture—an interior sanctuary designed to be lived with, not a cabinet designed to be moved. It presents as a high-grade Otani-ha Shinshu butsudan in a two-tier guden (palace-style) format: a miniature temple interior resolved within a domestic architectural envelope.
The exterior is a deep black lacquer shell that reads as restrained architecture. When opened, the interior reveals a concentrated gold sanctum: a luminous devotional chamber where visual emphasis shifts inward, toward the central axis. That contrast—dark outer casing and radiant interior world—stabilizes attention and structures ritual continuity over decades.
At approximately 140.8 cm in height, this altar sits in the upper domestic tier, bridging serious household sanctum scale and annex-scale placement. The upper sanctum is reserved for the principal devotional focus and its immediate doctrinal field, while the lower tier supports continuity—storage, ballast, and the practical infrastructure of care. Doors open wide enough to convert the cabinet into a visible interior environment.
Materially, it is an interdependent craft object—wood construction, lacquer finishing, gold interior surface treatment, relief ornamentation, and metal fittings. Proper stewardship requires professional crating, internal bracing, and cargo-grade transport.
Identification
- Category: Butsudan (architectural altar cabinet)
- Sect alignment: Otani-ha, Jodo Shinshu (Higashi lineage)
- Architectural form: Two-tier guden (palace-style sanctuary)
- Functional posture: Fixed domestic shrine / estate-grade household sanctum
Dimensions
- Total height: approx. 140.8 cm (upper approx. 105.2 cm; lower approx. 25.6 cm)
- Width (max, upper): approx. 72.0 cm (lower approx. 61.2 cm)
- Door opening width: approx. 55.2 cm
- Door open clearance: approx. 113 cm
- Depth: approx. 56.5 cm (lower depth approx. 51.0 cm)
Architectural Structure & Ritual Logic
- Upper sanctum: elevated devotional chamber aligned to the principal axis
- Central hierarchy: vertical emphasis guiding focus inward and upward
- Offering platforms: staged ritual surfaces for incense, light, and flowers
- Lower tier: continuity storage and structural ballast integrated into the architecture
Materials & Craft
- Wood construction (structural body)
- Black lacquer exterior finish
- Gold interior surface treatment
- Relief ornament and metal fittings at structural and visual nodes
Condition & Preservation
This altar presents in unused display condition, with surfaces and fittings retaining clarity consistent with controlled storage. Preservation priorities include controlled handling, humidity stability, gentle dust management, and avoidance of direct sunlight and heat sources near lacquer and gilt surfaces.
Collector’s Resonance
This altar is for stewards rather than decorators: a complete Shinshu domestic sanctuary whose architecture remains legible even before it is lived with. Installed once, it becomes a generational anchor capable of holding ritual continuity for decades.
Confidence & Verification Notes
- Sect alignment and two-tier guden form align with Otani-ha Shinshu standards.
- Dimensions establish an upper domestic tier / estate-grade altar class.
- Black lacquer exterior and gold sanctum interior align with Pure Land visual doctrine.
- Dating posture is conservative and stylistic only; no period claims asserted without documentation.
Shipping & Logistics (Cargo-Only)
Due to height, mass, and architectural fragility, this altar is designated for cargo-only logistics with professional crating.
- Japan domestic transport:
- Export crating & handling:
- International ocean LCL freight:
- US port + clearance + inland delivery:
- Total estimated US landed cost: ≈ $4,500 – $7,330 USD
Weight & crate estimates: net 70–95 kg; crated 130–180 kg; crate approx. 155 × 95 × 95 cm. Insurance recommended at replacement value.
HS Code Guidance
- Primary HS code: 9403.60 (Other wooden furniture)
- Alternates used by brokers: 9403.89; 4420.10
Final HS selection should be confirmed with the customs broker at time of shipment.
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.
