Antique Japanese Glazed Ceramic Stoneware Daruma Zen Monk Perseverance 12" LS#073

This striking hand-sculpted ceramic wall hanging portrays Daruma (Bodhidharma), the revered Buddhist monk credited as the founder of Zen in China. Measuring approximately 12 inches high by 10 inches wide, the mask captures the intense, meditative power and rugged humanity associated with Daruma’s image—his wide, penetrating eyes, furrowed brow, and coarse beard rendered in deeply modeled relief. The face is finished in a rich brown glaze with fine crackle, while his robe, draped around the lower edge, is a soft celadon-gray. Three silk cord tassels and a top hanging loop complete the composition, allowing the piece to be displayed on a wall or stand as shown.

Representations of Daruma (達磨) are central to Zen Buddhist iconography, symbolizing perseverance, enlightenment, and detachment from worldly suffering. His fierce, unblinking gaze and exaggerated features express spiritual discipline and awakening. Ceramic masks of this type were often displayed in temples, tearooms, or private homes as protective and inspirational figures. The craftsmanship and expressive modeling suggest Meiji-period studio work, when Japanese artisans increasingly explored realism and expressive glazes in ceramics.

Old Japanese Stoneware Daruma. 11.5 inches H x 10 W