Japanese Edo Period Chobadansu Merchant Chest Kiri & Sugi Tansu 36"W

Japanese Kiri and Sugi Chobadansu Merchant Chest Late Edo Period Tansu

Japan, late Edo period, c. 1830s–1860s

32.5"H × 35.5"W × 18"D (83 × 90 × 46 cm); approx. 65 lbs (29.5 kg)

A substantial and well-preserved chobadansu (帳場箪笥) combining kiri (paulownia, 桐) drawer faces with lacquered sugi (Japanese cedar) sides, top, and interior — a pairing favored by quality Edo-period tansu makers for the contrast between kiri's fine, straight grain and the structural economy of sugi carcass construction. The top drawer runs full-width behind a forged iron hasp lock plate of lobed cloud form with floral-knob boss, flanked by warabite (bracken) bail pulls of generous scale. The middle register presents two wide stacked drawers to the left, each with paired warabite pulls, beside a narrow right column comprising a small drawer, a hinged lockable door, and a further small drawer below — the latter two fitted with ring pulls appropriate to their scale. A full-width bottom drawer with warabite pulls and a second shaped iron lock plate, broader in profile than the one above, completes the front. Side panels carry recessed rectangular iron carrying handles. The kiri drawer faces have mellowed to a warm amber ground, deepened by a century and a half of use. Iron hardware throughout retains its original forged surface with honest oxidation and the hand-worked irregularity that distinguishes Edo-period smithing from later production.

Condition: Consistent with age and working use. Surface shows honest patina, scratching, and wear across drawer fronts. Some losses to lacquer on side and top panels. Iron hardware intact with appropriate oxidation; no significant losses or replacements apparent. Locks present; keys not included. Structurally sound throughout; all drawers and hinged door operate correctly.

A handsome and characterful late Edo chobadansu in the classic kiri-and-sugi combination, with well-preserved forged iron hardware and a form that translates seamlessly into contemporary interiors.