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Japanese Antique Sacred Horse Wooden Statue "Shinme" 1800s-1860s / Wabi Sabi
$5,040
$8,00037% Off
£3,809.66
£6,047.0737% Off
€4,369.83
€6,936.2437% Off
CA$7,025.97
CA$11,152.3337% Off
A$7,648.34
A$12,140.2237% Off
CHF 4,059.74
CHF 6,444.0337% Off
MX$92,025.97
MX$146,072.9837% Off
NOK 51,442.44
NOK 81,654.6737% Off
SEK 47,135.82
SEK 74,818.7537% Off
DKK 32,633.66
DKK 51,799.4637% Off
About the Item
This is a very rare carved wooden statue of a sacred horse that was dedicated to a Japanese shrine. It was produced during the Edo period (1800s-1860s), and the main material used is cedar wood.
A Shinme is a horse that is considered sacred in Shintoism as a vehicle of the gods and is dedicated to a shrine.
In times when it was difficult to dedicate actual horses, these wooden horse statues were dedicated instead and worshipped as messengers of the gods.
Over the years, the statues have been repaired and reinforced many times, indicating that they have been carefully protected.
The peeling paint and cracks from age seem to tell the story of the passage of time, which in itself is the beauty of this work.
The expression on its face is somehow peaceful and quiet, yet it has a presence that overwhelms the viewer.
I myself have visited shrines, temples, and old houses throughout Japan for more than 20 years, and have seen many sacred objects and folk art works, but I have never before encountered a statue of a sacred horse of such scale and perfection.
This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime piece, and I can assure you that you will never encounter the same piece again.
The condition is relatively good for an Edo period work.
The left rear leg is slightly raised off the ground, but this is not a major obstacle to its installation.
As you can see in the video, there is a slight wobble, so please be aware of this before purchasing.
The product will be packed securely in a special wooden box for safe delivery. We will take the utmost care in handling this large and delicate work of art.
This stunning wooden sculpture embodies the sacred prayers and history of Japan.
Bringing a special sense of tension and serenity to the space, this sacred horse is an extremely valuable piece of art piece and historical reference.
Weight: approx. 30 kg
_______________________________________
Our Philosophy
Objects always tell the truth.
All I can do is just to face with them sincerely and give
them deep affection as much as I can.
There is no boundary of nationalities and of eras in beauty.
But I think now is the time we choose 'Japanese style' and it
will be the best way to remind us of what we are losing
today and to question us about an essence of beauty again.
I hope that you can touch the memories which the objects here have,
feel and think of something invisible but exists undoubtedly.
- Dimensions:Height: 40.16 in (102 cm)Width: 45.28 in (115 cm)Depth: 18.51 in (47 cm)
- Style:Edo (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:Cedar,Woodwork
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1800s-1860s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Chōsei District Nagara, JP
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU10403245227912
About the Seller
4.8
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Established in 2017
1stDibs seller since 2025
68 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Chōsei District Nagara, Japan
- Return Policy
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