Japanese Tansu Chest

A superb Tansu chest from the late Edo to early Meiji period in kiri wood commonly known as the princess tree.

The chest has a large freize drawer to the top with a series of three graduating drawers beneath.

To the right of the chest the cabinet features two small and deep drawers with a hidden lock box which conceals a further three slim drawers.

Each of the internal drawers is lined beautifully in burr wood accentuating the craftsmanship associated with this fine piece of Asian art.

The chest has two operating locks with the original keys. A key is used in the central frieze drawer that once turned locks the three drawers beneath. The second key unlocks the hidden lock box on the left hand portion of the chest.

The chest displays all of its original painted iron work handles, brackets and locks. On each side of the chest are a pair of iron carry handles half way down each side with another single carry handle to the top of each side.

The style and quality of the chest suggests that it would have been owned by a Japanese middle class household of the period. This quality of chest is rarely seen outside of Japan having been imported to the United Kingdom in the 1980’s where it remained with a collector before being acquired by Pointers Antiques.

Japan, circa 1865.