Group Embracing All Stone Lanterns In Japanese Garden At Garden House

The group of stone lanterns in the Japanese Garden at Garden House dates from the 19th century or earlier and were brought from Japan for Herbert Goode, a wealthy glass and china merchant who began the Japanese Garden in 1905. Made of grey granite, these lanterns are turned and carved, strategically placed to illuminate the two main paths, the shrine, and the bridges. They feature several traditional designs, with the lanterns typically being a pierced stone drum, usually hexagonal, topped with an oversailing stone roof. Smaller lanterns often have a simple four-legged groin-vaulted base of stone. The larger lanterns, such as the Kasuga type, are positioned on either side of the shrine, in front of Garden House, and by the Red Arch, raised on a tall circular shaft with an annulet and capital. The pair at the shrine is intricately carved with motifs of the sun, moon, pine trees, plum trees, and clouds. One lantern next to the door of the Japanese House features crows carved on its top and was replicated in Japan for Mr. Goode from a famous lantern at Nikko in the Dai-no-Chiba Garden. Additionally, a small square-capped lantern near the waterfall is believed to be around 400 years old. Against the western fence stands a tall five-storeyed pagoda-roofed lantern on a four-legged base, known as the Go type.