Kantô kannon’biraki ishô’dansu
Price: € 1.850,00
Remarkable wooden Kantô kannon’biraki ishô’dansu 観音開き衣装箪笥 (cabinet of drawers with hinged doors), in two sections, with a little secret. Fully restored, cleaned and waxed.
Made of indigenous kiri (paulownia) wood varnished in a sought after warm brown hue, a colour that we like to call ‘golden oak’.
The upper part constructed with a pair of hinged doors heavily clad with protective hardware. The large circular lock plate decorated with a crest 紋 (mon) depicting three oak leaves 柏 (kashiwa).
Equipped with three domed knobs shaped like chrysanthemum 菊 (kiku) flowers. The doors open to two large drawers.
The lower part with two drawers and a hinged door, opening to two more small drawers. A secret compartment is hidden behind the lowest of these drawers, please look at the photo’s for an example. The smooth running drawers are very deep and have a lot of volume, for easy storage.
The drawers are equipped with sturdy iron ‘warabite’-shaped bail handles with matching elongated escutcheons, and large decorative lock plates.
The sides with ‘pole carrying’-handles for easy transport and ‘locking’ the upper section into place.
The cabinet is in a very good restored condition Please see the photos for a condition reference. No keys included.
Dimensions:
Height 106.8 cm (T 53.3 cm, B 53.5 cm), Width 91.7 cm, Depth 42.3 cm.
Period: Japan – Early Meiji period (Second half 19th century).
This type of cabinet originates from the Kantô region, the region around the capital city Edo (which is now known as Tôkyô).
The kannon’biraki’dansu 観音開き箪笥, also known as ryô’biraki’dansu 両開き箪笥, was destined to store women’s clothing and was developed in Edo. The story says it was specially thought of for Edo’s Yoshiwara pleasure quarters to decorate the courtesans’ rooms.
They are also said to be bridal cabinets for storing bridal kimono’s. These big, opulent kimonos fit perfectly in the upper section’s drawers because they are a little higher than those in other traditional Japanese clothing cabinets.
When shipped we will add a certificate of authenticity.
