SAVE 50% - Antique Japanese Chadansu Tea Cabinet Macassar Ebony Sugi Taisho c 1920s

Japanese chadansu (茶箪笥) tea cabinet, Macassar ebony veneer on sugi case, asymmetric open-shelf interior with sliding panel doors, small drawers, and oval cabinet, Taishō period

Japan; Taishō period, c. 1920s

A distinguished Japanese chadansu (茶箪笥) — the specialized cabinet form developed for the storage and display of tea utensils, lacquerware, and ceramics in the cultivated domestic interior. The piece is faced throughout in Macassar ebony (縞黒檀, shima-kokutan) veneer — the dramatically figured wood imported from the Dutch East Indies whose characteristic bold striping of warm reddish-brown and deep black became a mark of quality in Taishō-era Japanese cabinetmaking. The contrast between the dark veneer and the warm sugi (杉, Japanese cedar) case construction visible at the interior is characteristic of this approach: the exterior and door panels present the richest possible visual surface while the structural case relies on the stable, lightweight properties of cedar.

The interior layout follows the asymmetric chadansu convention: two upper sliding panel doors in Macassar veneer with ring pulls flank an open display niche; a small oval-door cabinet with brass hasp at upper right provides enclosed storage for smaller valuables or tea implements; a stepped open shelf arrangement in the center creates tiered display space for ceramic and lacquer objects; three small drawers at mid-right offer compartmentalized storage; and two full-width drawers across the base complete the storage hierarchy. Throughout, the dark, well-developed patina speaks to a century of careful use.

The chadansu occupies a distinct position in Japanese furniture typology — neither the utilitarian storage of the mizuya nor the formal display of the chōba-dana, but a purpose-built cabinet for the tea-oriented household, where the organization and presentation of utensils was itself understood as an aesthetic practice. The use of Macassar ebony veneer elevates this example above everyday production, placing it among the more deliberately appointed pieces of its type. The relatively compact footprint makes it versatile in contemporary interiors as a display cabinet, bar cabinet, or collector's storage piece.

This piece has been respectfully restored (not refinished) in-house in the manner that Shogun's Gallery has been caring for Japanese treasures for over 45 years.

• Form: Chadansu (茶箪笥) tea cabinet
• Construction: Macassar ebony (縞黒檀, shima-kokutan) veneer face panels; sugi (杉) case; sliding panel doors with ring pulls; oval door with brass hasp; stepped open shelves; three small drawers; two full-width base drawers
• Period: Taishō, c. 1920s
• Dimensions: 25.5"W × 12.5"D × 35.5"H (65 cm × 32 cm × 90 cm)
• Weight:
• Condition: Sound and stable with age-appropriate patina throughout. Please see photos for details.