Description

A pair of Japanese Meiji-period (1868–1912) Buddhist temple altar ornaments, beautifully crafted in carved wood and richly finished in gold lacquer. Each arrangement features graceful lotus blossoms, unopened buds, and broad, sculptural leaves rising on slender stems.

The lotus (hasu) is among the most sacred motifs in Buddhist art, symbolizing purity, spiritual awakening, and enlightenment. Rooted in muddy water yet rising above the surface in immaculate bloom, it represents the Buddhist path from the imperfections and suffering of the earthly world toward spiritual liberation.

The arrangements are presented in Taishō-period (1912–1926) bronze vessels, which provide a later setting for the earlier Meiji-period devotional elements. With their luminous gold surfaces, elegant sculptural presence, and temple provenance, this exceptional pair embodies both the beauty and spiritual symbolism of Japanese Buddhist art.

Dimensions: 23 1/4″ high x approx 21″ wide (each) x 11″ deep