A RARE JAPANESE LOTUS-SHAPED NYOI ZUSHI SHRINE SCEPTRE EDO OR EARLIER, 18TH CENTURY OR EARLIER The tall wood body modelled as a lotus stem with three branches, the shorter one ending with a seed head, another with a curling leaf, and the tallest topped with a large flower bud; the underside of the burgeon subtly decorated with scrolling clouds in white gesso; a petal opening to reveal further cloud motives inside embellished in polychrome, and an oval aperture revealing a base for a small figure, carved as a rocky outcrop; with an orange silk cord tied up around the stem; 94cm overall. The lotus is an important symbol in Buddhism, representing spiritual purity. The shape of this zushi shrine is rare in Japan, but lotus mandalas made of copper alloy with hinged petals are more common in Indian iconography. See the Rubin Museum, New York, access. no. C2003.10.2 for a 12 th century lotus mandala of Hevajra from north-east India with hinged petals.