Description: A PAIR OF WOOD NIO (TEMPLE GUARDIANS) EDO PERIOD, 19TH CENTURY
Of lacquered wood, modelled as two standing deities on stands.
VIEW IN MELBOURNE
55.5cm high
OTHER NOTES:
These guardian figures were modelled to stand at either side of the entrance gate to a Buddhist temple with a mission of warding off danger and evil forces. Fierce defenders of the faith, they have intense expressions and powerful bodies, the fingers spread out or tightly clasped, one figure holding a thunderbolt (vajra). The mouth of one guardian is closed to represent the Buddhist incantation 'Un' and the mouth of the other is open to represent the incantation 'Ah'