Asian Granite Lantern

This was bought over from Canton 40 years ago and had been in Canton since 1800. It has been in a Sussex estate for the past 40 years. Stone lanterns were introduced to Japan via Korea and China in the 6th century Ad. They were used initially in temples and later shrines as voyive lights. About the 16th century stone lanterns were adopted for secular purposes and designed and placed in the gardens of tea houses and private residences.