When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Vintage Okinawa Japan Shisa Guardian Lion Pair on Wood Display Base
Beautiful vintage Okinawan Shisa guardian lion display featuring a pair of glazed ceramic guardian lions mounted together on a dark wood presentation base.
Beautiful vintage Okinawan Shisa guardian lion-dog pair displayed together on a dark wood presentation base.
Shisa are traditional guardian figures associated with Okinawa, Japan, derived from the imagery of lions but commonly described as lion-dogs. They have long been used symbolically as protective figures believed to ward off misfortune and evil.
This pair features beautiful glossy green, cream, blue and brown glazed ceramic with detailed sculpting throughout the faces, manes, bodies and curled tails. One Shisa has an open mouth while the other has a closed mouth, a traditional characteristic of paired Shisa guardians.
The display also includes a miniature gold-tone Okinawan/Japanese-style architectural structure and a deep cobalt-blue glass-like sphere. The wooden base retains an OKINAWA label as well as an oval 沖縄 (Okinawa) sticker, helping identify its Okinawan origin. A Japanese character plaque decorates the front of the base.
Approximate Measurements:
Base: 11” long × 3 1/2” deep
Overall height: approximately 7”
Weight: approximately 2 lb 2.6 oz (982 grams)
Condition:
Vintage pre-owned condition and displays beautifully. There is a small chip/loss along the lower back/base area of one Shisa, shown clearly in the photographs. The blue sphere has visible clear adhesive around its base where it is attached to the wooden platform. The wood and other components show light age-related surface wear consistent with a vintage display piece.
Please review all photographs carefully, including the close-up condition photos, as they are part of the description.
A distinctive Okinawan collectible and wonderful display piece for collectors of Shisa, Japanese ceramics, Okinawa and Ryukyu art, lion-dog guardians, Japanese folk art, Asian décor and vintage Japanese collectibles.
Sold exactly as shown.
