Antique Japanese Meiji Period Ishōdansu Clothing Chest with Safe c1880s LS#126

Antique Japanese Meiji Period Ishōdansu Clothing Chest with Safe c1880s

Dimensions: 42"W × 36"H × 16.5"D

Japan, Meiji period (circa 1880s). This is a substantial ishōdansu (衣装箪笥) clothing chest incorporating an integrated anzen-dansu (安全箪笥) locking compartment. The chest is constructed with keyaki (欅) hardwood drawer and door faces, paired with a sugi (杉) cedar case and fully cedar interior, reflecting standard regional cabinetmaking practice of the period. The form is horizontally oriented, designed for storage of kimono, valuables, and household documents, with a visually balanced drawer-and-safe configuration.

The exterior surfaces are finished with a traditional kakishibu (柿渋) persimmon tannin stain layered with lacquer, producing the deep reddish-brown tone and protective surface patina seen throughout. Original hand-forged iron hardware is extensive and decorative, including rounded drawer pulls, corner straps, hinge plates, and large circular lock escutcheons engraved with stylized botanical and auspicious motifs. The ironwork provides both structural reinforcement and visual authority, a hallmark of late 19th-century Meiji cabinetry.

The internal layout consists of four full-width main drawers arranged vertically on the left, paired with a stacked right-hand column containing a locking safe door and multiple smaller drawers beneath. The safe compartment retains a working key, housed behind a reinforced iron door. All drawers run smoothly, with visible cedar interiors showing clear grain and traditional joinery. This configuration reflects the Meiji-era emphasis on security, order, and multifunctional domestic storage.

Ishōdansu of this quality were central furnishings in merchant and well-established rural households during the Meiji period, bridging Edo-era craftsmanship with emerging modern domestic needs. The use of keyaki for visible surfaces signaled durability and status, while sugi interiors provided insect resistance and climate moderation. The restrained symmetry and honest materials embody Japanese values of 用の美 (yō no bi — beauty of use) and 堅牢 (kenrō — solidity).

Collectors value examples such as this for their intact configuration, strong surface presence, and expressive ironwork. The chest functions equally well as a statement storage piece, sideboard, or display anchor in both traditional and contemporary interiors, offering sculptural presence without excess ornament.

Condition:
Overall very good antique condition. Consistent surface wear, scratches, and patina commensurate with age and use. Iron hardware shows oxidation and wear appropriate to period. Interior cedar clean and structurally sound. Locking mechanism functional; key included.

A powerful and authentic Meiji-period tansu with safe, combining craftsmanship, history, and everyday functionality. An exceptional opportunity to acquire a complete, usable example of late 19th-century Japanese furniture with enduring visual and cultural presence.