Circa: 1850’s – Edo Period

Materials: Solid Keyaki (Zelkova) and Copper-Bronze Hardware

Superb mid 19th century example of a Japanese antique chobabako - box for holding documents and valuables - with premium hand cut red lacquered finish and copper-bronze hardware. The chest also has the traditional hand crafted wooden joint detail to every corner of the outer casing. Chobabaka chests often sport a concealed bank of drawers hidden behind a lockable secure door as shown on this exceptional piece. We have the keys for both top drawer and concealed drawers.

Kayaki is considered a high value timber in Japan and is also known as Zelkova acuminata. Its wood is prized throughout Japan by cabinetmaker for its stability and beautiful vivid swirling grain.

The condition and quality of this solid heavy chobabako is excellent considering it’s 165 years old, you can often tell by the weight of these older chests as the Japanese cabinetmaker preferred to use the denser, stable higher quality heart wood that was more readily available during the mid 19th Century Edo period.

Tansu is the traditional mobile storage cabinetry indigenous to Japan. Tansu was first recorded in the Genroku era of the Edo Period (1688–1704). The two characters, TAN and SU, appear to have initially represented objects with separate functions: the storage of food and the carrying of firewood.

Will work with your freight for shipping and pick up.

620mm wide x 345mm deep x 610 high.