Water Lily - Bringing the Charm of the Orient into Your Home.
The tradition and skills of sculpting in the style of Water Lily figurines is a constant thread through the history of Japanese culture. Originally Japanese sculpture came from the worship of idols in Buddhism or animistic traditions of the Shinto gods. Specifically, sculpture was initially firmly founded on Buddhism. Traditionally materials in the early days were various forms of metal, particularly bronze. But fairly early on in the Japanese tradition, wood, often lacquered, gilded, or brightly painted, was used too. By the end of the Tokugawa dynasty, many of the traditional styles we see in the Water Lily Collection had started to disappear, because of the loss of support from the Buddhist temples.
In recent years, however, the demand for ornaments in an oriental style has grown dramatically. I'm not sure what the reason for this, but what I do know is that Waterlily Figurines have, for us taken off tremendously well. No one would ever describe a Waterlily figurine as being cute, nor as possessing the 'Aaaahh' factor. But what they do possess is a kind of cool elegance. The lines are smooth. There is a gentle 'movement' in the sculpting which evokes emotions which are quiet yet strong. Each Waterlily figurine is effortlessly glamourous. The simple modern styling is typical of the Japanese tradition and guarantees the appeal of this wonderful collection.
