Lotusland: Lantern Exhibit

Madame Ganna Walska began the creation of her Japanese garden in the 1960’s with her gardener/designer, Frank Fujii, at a time when relations between the United States and Japan were warming and the Japanese aesthetic was favored once again in American garden and estate design. True to her penchant for collecting, Walska amassed more than 30 Japanese stone lanterns, or ishi-dōrō, to embellish her Japanese stroll garden. While the provenance of these lanterns cannot be verified, records indicate that some of them were acquired from the Japanese gardens of local Montecito estates, some of which were dismantled during World War II as a show of patriotism. It is likely that some came directly from Japan, possibly for the Japanese Emperor’s exhibit at the 1897 World Exposition in St. Louis, which were subsequently sold to merchants and wealthy patrons. Walska’s ishi-dōrō collection includes lanterns of many styles and purposes, representing many different periods in Japanese history and culture.

The Ishi-Dōrō of Lotusland exhibit will remain in place while the Japanese garden undergoes an urgent renovation to repair water features, rebuild the path system to make the garden fully accessible, restore original plantings, and fulfill Waska’s and Fujii’s vision for the garden. The ishi-dōrō will be returned to their original position in the garden when the renovation is completed.

Please note: visits to Lotusland are by reservation only. For more information visit http://www.lotusland.org/visit/make-a-tour-reservation/.