Ancient beautiful wooden sculpture of a Zen Buddhist monk, Japan, Meiji period

  
The accomplished artist used the traditional Itto-Bori method, which means “carved with a knife” and is distinguished by its angular, geometric cuts. The wood used is Japanese yew, called “ichii”; its color comes from using the heartwood of this tree, which grows slowly in the mountainous regions of Japan. The figure depicted is Daruma, the founder of Zen Buddhism. His face features thick, furrowed eyebrows and an iconic fierce gaze symbolizing determination, perseverance, and the refusal to give up. The piece is signed on the back in Japanese characters engraved into the wood.

A beautiful cultural, traditional, and decorative object. Dimensions: 10 cm x 8 cm x 9 cm.