Browse Items (66 total)

Zushi (small portable shrine) of the female deity Benzaiten (originally the Hindu deity Saraswati), one of the Seven Lucky Deities. The exterior is covered with red paint or lacquer. Many of the objects originally carried in the deity's hands are…

Small stone carving of a cannon on a wheeled base. The axles of the wheels are made of wood or bamboo. It was probably made in China.

Three coral-shaped sculptures made out of bone collected by William Patillo Turner in Kobe, Japan.

A small statue of the male deity Daikokuten (Sanskrit: Mahakala) standing on a pair of rice sacks. His skin is black; he wears a mustache. In his left hand he holds a bag; his right hand is empty (he is normally depicted holding a mallet--this may be…

A pipe used for smoking.

Lacquer smoking box with pipe and 2 brass pieces. Lacquer box and lid is decorated with a tree in gold

Small zushi (portable altar box) of a Buddhist deity, probably 11-Faced Kannon (Sanskrit: Avalokitesvara). The deity's right hand is extended in the "welcome" (Varada) mudra. Its left hand is broken. Several faces appear on its head. The deity is…

Wooden image of Daikokuten inside a small portable shrine. The exterior is painted red; the interior is painted gold. Drapery almost covers the image of the deity.

This is a Feng Shui compass dating back to as early as the 19th century. The region and the maker of the object is labeled on the back, indicating that the object originates from Xiuning County in Anhui province, China. This was one of many produced…

Large wooden percussion instrument carved in the shape of a bell, painted red, gold and black, typically used in Buddhist rituals.