Takayama cabinet of drawers
Price: € 1.650,00
Striking lacquered wooden Takayama kô’bô’dansu 小棒箪笥 (small cabinet of drawers with locking bar) in one section. Fully restored, cleaned and waxed.
The exterior and drawer front are made of indigenous ‘kuri’ wood (Japanese chestnut wood) with an amazing reddish orange Shunkei lacquer finish still showing the refined wood grain pattern. The colour of this lacquer type started out as yellow-orange, and turns into a beautiful red orange with age – like this cabinet.
Configured with seven drawers of different size and a hinged door opening to three more drawers. They are of the ‘panel’-type of drawers typically found in Takayama cabinets. Smooth running and a lot of volume, for easy storage.
Three stacked large drawers on the left are protected by a vertical safety bar equipped with iron hardware with a design of a fan and a diamond-shaped flower. They are not fitted with handles, instead a small recessed finger hold is found beneath the upper bar.
The other drawers are fitted with a circular iron lock plate with circular appliques.
The sides fitted with elegant iron ‘hirute’-shaped bail ‘totte’ (grip handles).
It is in a very good completely restored condition with some traces consistent with age. Please look at the photos for a condition reference. No key included.
Dimensions:
Height 71.7 cm, Width 71.8 cm, Depth 37.3 cm.
Period: Japan – Meiji period (1868-1912).
These type of cabinets originate from the mountain town Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan.
Tansu (箪笥) are traditional Japanese mobile storage cabinets. There are many different types of cabinets; form-wise, but also for the storage of many specific objects, like katana, documents, kimono etc. Starting as first recorded in the Genroku era (1688–1704) of the Edo period (1603–1867), tansu gradually became a feature of Japanese culture and daily life. Both hard and softwoods were used by tansuya (tansu craftsmen), often in combination for a single chest. This way the chests were still light enough for transport, while also housing precious (more heavy) wood types, like keyaki. Also features such as side handles, and being built up from several parts facilitated mobility of such an ingenious piece of furniture.
When shipped we will add a certificate of authenticity.
