Japanese Tansu Chest of Drawers, 1890s

Details

Description

A characterful Japanese tansu from the Meiji period, with five drawers, side handles, and a beautifully timeworn surface.

Dimensions: height … Read more A characterful Japanese tansu from the Meiji period, with five drawers, side handles, and a beautifully timeworn surface.

Dimensions: height 53 cm, width 54 cm, depth 31 cm.

Its compact, balanced form is enhanced by dark iron fittings, corner reinforcements, and elegant handles. The deep dark-brown finish has worn back beautifully over time, allowing warmer wood tones to emerge and giving the piece the rich, soft patina that only age and use can create. At the lower right is a smaller drawer fitted with a lock plate and ring pull.

Carrying handles are fitted to the sides, a typical feature of this type of tansu. This example has also survived without the removable locking bar that would normally secure the drawers, which makes it especially practical and more accessible for everyday use.

Today, it remains a highly versatile piece, ideal as a compact storage cabinet in a living space, hallway, or bedroom. Perfect for papers, writing tools, textiles, jewellery, or other small objects, while also working beautifully as a display piece for ceramics, books, or sculptural objects.

In good, honest condition, with wear and patina consistent with age and use. Solid and functional. See less