{"product_id":"an-old-lacquered-zushi-portable-shrine","title":"An Old Lacquered Zushi: Portable Shrine","description":"\u003cp\u003elate nineteenth, early twentieth century\u003cbr\u003ewhen closed: 9\" x 5\" x 4 1\/4\", 23 cm x 12.75 cm x 11 cm\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis small, lacquered and gilt object is the housing part of a portable shrine called a \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/49114\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ezushi.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e The beautifully detailed, hinged devotional altar would have contained the effigy of a god which is now missing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Buddhist object is made of black lacquered wood with doors whose interior parts are gilded, probably with gold dust. The back of the \u003cem\u003ezushi\u003c\/em\u003e seems to have been similarly treated however the gold color has disappeared over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeen on the front of the \u003cem\u003ezushi\u003c\/em\u003e is elaborately tooled metal that forms the lock or closure, while similarly fancy metal fittings can be found on the hinges and base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is easy to see from looking at the photos here is that the \u003cem\u003ezushi\u003c\/em\u003e has some loss to its lacquer and has some fairly obvious abrasion to the surface parts. As well, be careful in handling the \u003cem\u003ezushi\u003c\/em\u003e as top part might release itself from the base: the connection is not secure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill, this is a marvelous thing with a soulful character, indeed it is imbued with lots of good energy as it no doubt was the steward of a Buddhist  god who was the object of much devotion.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLovely.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sri","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46190288732346,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0070\/9422\/files\/Zushi53.jpg?v=1784922046","url":"https:\/\/www.srithreads.com\/products\/an-old-lacquered-zushi-portable-shrine","provider":"Sri","version":"1.0","type":"link"}