Antique Japanese Chobadansu Meiji Era c1880's Document Tansu Kiri 35"W

Known as a chobadansu (document tansu chest), this chest was made in the Meiji era (c.1880's) of all Kiri (paulownia) woods. The choba - dansu was a special chest used to store document, accounts, money and other valuables for a business enterprise. The locking post in front of the three drawers also means that this could be called a Bo-dansu as that's the name given to the post. This chest has a versatile configuration of 5 drawers plus two more drawers behind a locking safe door.

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

This chest has 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 that show it's ages of use most notably on the top. It measures 35" wide by 24" high by 14 1/2" deep (89 x 61 x 37 cm). A great piece of Japanese history and an interesting and very solid and functional piece of furniture.