Pair of early Edo period carved Baku mythological elephants. These would have been built into the design of a temple, displayed high up by the beam construction. Hand carved with great care from a single piece of Keyaki hardwood (zelkova wood).
Baku are Japanese supernatural beings that dispel evil spirits and devour nightmares when the mouth is open and retain good spirits when the mouth is closed. They have a long history in Japanese folklore and art, and more recently have...
Click for details