Antique Japanese Chobadansu Meiji Era 1868-1912 Document Tansu Chest Sugi 36"

Known as a chobadansu (document tansu chest), this chest was made in the Meiji era  (1868-1912) of hinoki (cypress) face and sugi (cryptomeria) case and interiors. The choba - dansu was a special chest used to store document, accounts, money and other valuables for a business enterprise. This chest has has a very unique configuration of 5 drawers 2 sliding doors (keyaki elm panels) concealing a storage area.

This tansu chest is made with pegged-tenon open-mortise corner box joint construction. It has all its 140 year old deep rich patina. All drawers and doors move easily without binding. The single door lifts out easily for open display. All hardware is hand forged iron with round handles and detailed lock plates. Forged iron side handles aid in transporting this chest even when fully loaded with documents.

Height = 40.5' 

Width = 35.5"

Depth = 17.5"

This chest has nearly a century and a half old original warm aged patina and, having been used lovingly for over a century, it remains in very fine original antique condition and should serve one well for another century of use. There are some areas of past marks expected of an antique such as this. A great piece of Japanese history and an interesting and very solid and functional piece of furniture.