Kannon Bosatsu Object Fine Japanese inkstone box

Fine Japanese inkstone box

known for its elegant simplicity and centuries-old tradition

An unusual Japanese staff formed from a single twisting vine

Two small repairs (one to the temple and the other to the foot) serve as further ‘proof of the past’ as one of my friends poetically puts it

Kannon Bosatsu Object Fine Japanese inkstone boxBodhisattvas are accomplished practitioners of Buddhism who postpone their own final enlightenment to help all sentient beings attain liberation. Kannon, the bodhisattva of limitless compassion, is one of the most widely worshipped and depicted deities in the tradition. This example dates to around the Heian or Kamakura period and has become stylized through exposure to elements. A carved foot adds a surprising detail to the otherwise weathered form.