Bishamonten Carving lacquer sandy surfaces long prized by

sandy surfaces long prized by tea practitioners and flower arrangers alike

the paper is shaped into cones

An hourglass shaped sweet press

The middle two bars slide freely

the single piece metal frame is of exceptional quality

Bishamonten Carving lacquer sandy surfaces long prized byBishamonten is a Japanese god of war and a Buddhist protector of shrines and holy places. As one of the Seven Lucky Gods, he protects the great treasure pagoda of Buddhist offerings and divvies these out to faithful believers. Bishamonten is a warrior, an armored war god most often depicted wielding a spear in one hand and a pagoda in the other. This sculpture, from the 1600s, no longer has either. Bishamontens armor is atypical for Japanese warriors