A monumental Japanese bronze and marble koro or temple lantern, Meiji period (1868-1912), the waisted octagonal base supporting an octagonal section spreading lantern with turned and scrolled finials, the angles with stylised dragon-headed fish, shachi, interspersed with Tokugawa mon and a crown of stylised thunder clouds, above a stepped fossil marble base, the lantern 274cm high, 158cm wide, overall height including base 376cm Provenance: Sotheby’s Billingshurst, Garden Statuary, 20th may 2003, lot 453