This model is said to have been commissioned by daimyo Maeda and used as the model for the building of the temple called 'Tentoku-ji' in the province of Kaga, Japan.

Model of Japanese shrine on a four legged pedestal, lacquered and carved wood.

The pedestal has four carved curved legs ending in scroll feet. At each corner there are lion-headed demons with inlay eyes. Along each side, flowers and leaves are carved in low relief into deep red brown wood.

Above this pedestal, the base of the shrine is made up of a series of decorated platforms surmounted by the hollow flat-topped pyramid-shaped shrine. The first platform has a series of carved demon heads with inlaid eyes separated by a geometric design composed of crossing lines and swastikas.

Above this is a plafform with a carved running fret decoration around it. The deep red-brown wood base is coated in red lacquer. It is trimmed with a running fret design and brass plates decorated with scrolling vines and leaves. At the centre front of this base are two ornately carved doors with designs on a swirling background of [clouds]. The doors have brass hinges and a fasterner. They open to reveal the empty inside of the shrine. There are mirrors on the inside of the doors. At the top of this base are applied scenes on all four sides, of ducks and other birds swimming on water and flying above swirling seas.

Lying above this is the platform for the roof supports and the bell. The platform is made up of wooden slats lacquered black, with a central raised area where the slats lift out to reveal the empty chamber of the shrine. On this raised area stand four carved wooden uprights in red lacquer each entwined by a dragon and srumounted at each corner by two demons. The dragons are carved in wood and painted gold. Around the platform is a low red lacquered fence with brass plates. The fence is carved with a running fret around it.

At the top of the uprights are cross bars with flowing flowers and leaves carved into them. These cross bars are surmounted by carved birds amid foliage. Surmounting the shrine support and the carved uprights is a pointed roof with slightly upturned corners. The point has a carved demon's face on it while in the pediment is a carved wood dragon. The roof is trimmed with a running fret pattern with brass plates engraved with scrolling vines and leaves. Rows of small beams lie around the roofs eaves and on each corner of the roof is a hook. The ceiling of the roof is divided into squares, each square carved with a flower. From the roof is suspended a large cast-bronze bell decorated with knobs, floral medallions and a linear decoration and hung by a large metal hook.

Designed: Japan

Made: Japan; 1800 - 1880

H3202

2490 mm

1180 mm

1160 mm