Antique Japanese Meiji Period Chobadansu Merchant Tansu Chest 38"W LS#127

Antique Japanese Meiji Period Chobadansu Merchant Chest 38"W

Dimensions: 38"W x 68.5"H x 17"D
Upper section height: 25.5"H
Lower section height: 41.75"H

This Meiji period chōba-dansu (帳場箪笥) is a traditional Japanese merchant chest constructed primarily of sugi (杉, Japanese cedar), with keyaki (欅, zelkova) panels used for the upper sliding doors and black lacquered framing elements. The warm amber-brown surface tone is the result of natural aging combined with traditional finishes, including persimmon tannin (柿渋, kakishibu) and clear lacquer, which deepen the grain and provide long-term protection. The contrast between the lighter sugi case and the darker keyaki door panels is characteristic of late 19th-century merchant furniture.

The chest is composed of two stacked sections. The upper section features a pair of sliding doors opening to a storage compartment with a fixed interior shelf, suitable for books, documents, or display. Below the doors are two shallow drawers. The lower section contains two wide drawers, a sliding-door compartment with slatted keyaki wood panels, a vertical bank of three small drawers to the right, and a large base drawer. This configuration reflects the practical needs of a shopkeeper, balancing secure storage with frequently accessed compartments.

All drawer fronts and doors are fitted with hand-forged iron hardware, including swing handles, corner straps, and lock plates, showing honest wear consistent with age and use. The iron has developed a stable, dark patina. Interior drawer construction is sugi throughout, with visible straight grain and lightweight joinery typical of merchant chests intended for daily use rather than ceremonial display.

Condition is good antique condition overall. Surface wear, small scratches, softened edges, and minor separations at joints are present and expected for a working chōba-dansu of this age. The finishes remain stable, drawers slide smoothly, and the structure is solid. No modern refinishing is evident, preserving the chest’s original character and material integrity.