Japan, 18th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The slender shrine of roiro with hinged doors and gilt-metal fittings with floral designs, containing a finely carved sculpture of the eleven-headed Kannon standing beneath a canopy supported by two columns, atop a lotus dais fitted to a separately carved elaborate multi-tiered hexagonal throne with a lotus leaf, petal-lappets, Ho-o birds, and floral and diapered designs, partly in openwork. The figure itself of gilt wood with many details in metal.She has four principal arms, with two hands clasped together above two hands holding a vessel, and numerous smaller arms holding animmense variety of attributes.Her long flowing robe is finely decorated with geometric patterns. The kohai (aureole) behind her with swirling clouds and a central openworked floral design. The gold-lacquered interiors of the doors are finely painted with Jizo Bosatsu to the left and Fudo Myoo to the right.HEIGHT 44.5 cmCondition: Excellent condition with old wear, minor crackling to edges, small nicks and chips here and there, light scratches, some flaking to lacquer to exterior, extensive wear to gilt on the metal fittings. Possibly small old repairs and minor touchups. When considering the overall fragility of this object and specifically the high number of details, attributes, metal fittings and filigree work, all still present and intact after 250 years, the condition of this lot is significantly above expectation and therefore must be regarded asoutstanding and extremely rare.Provenance: From a private collection in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.Auction comparison:A closely related zushi was sold at Bonhams, Fine Japanese Art, 9 November 2017, London, lot 340 (sold for 2,500 GBP).