Antique Japanese Wood Carving Gegyo, Temple Water Crest Sculpture EDO

Gegyo (懸魚) is an ornamental wooden carving attached to the gable end of a roof in traditional Japanese architecture, particularly temples and shrines. It is installed below the Hafu (gable board) at the front of a pitched roof. Its primary structural purpose is to cover and protect the exposed end grain (the koguchi) of the ridge beam and purlins from rain, wind, and decay.
This name, Gegyo, is derived from the ancient practice of hanging a real or carved fish on the gable, as a charm against fire. Since fish live in water, they were believed to be a talisman against fire damage.
Though the origin is fish-shaped, modern Gegyo usually take the form of highly decorative carvings of auspicious animals like phoenixes, dragons, or plants.

Based on its elongated horizontal shape, this Gegyo is presumed to have been placed at the center of a roof covering a wide opening, such as the entrance to a temple. The pattern appears cloud-like, but given the symbolism of the Gegyo—which relates to protection from fire—it is actually "suimon", water crest, design stylized to look like flowing water. Such water crests became a representative motif of the Rinpa style, whose origin is attributed to Kōetsu Hon'ami around the 16th century. The most famous example of this motif is found in Tawaraya Sōtatsu’s screen painting of red and white plums. This carving represents an attempt to express the Rinpa style's design in three dimensions. This approach was later adopted in the decoration of temple architecture and interior elements such as ranma.

Some parts of Japanese temple architecture were destroyed due to religious suppression in the 20th century, but many rescued art objects, such as Buddhist statues and hanging scrolls, still remain. This Gegyo is one of the pieces that was saved from the very center of that destructive activity.

A long exposure to wind and rain has faded the wood to a gray color, and the weathered grain adds a profound depth of shadow to the delicate carving. Preserved in a superb state without any missing parts, its value as an art object is high.

□ Size:  H 13.6in × W 35.8in × D 1.2in （about H34.5cm×W91cm×D3cm  ）
□ Weight : 70.4oz (2000g)
□ Material : wood

condition...
It is in very good condition, but  there are some scratches and peeling from age.