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16th century

Lantern

Artist/maker unknown

Image 1 of 21 / 2

Lanterns like this one were used to light the pathways leading to Buddhist temples beginning in the Nara period (645-794) in Japan. When the lanterns were periodically replaced, tea aficionados would often acquire the old ones for use in evening tea ceremonies.

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Artist/maker unknown, Lantern, 16th century | Philadelphia Museum of Art