Description

Rare antique Japanese two-section choba tansu (merchant’s chest), made of exceptionally beautiful keyaki (elm) burl hardwood. Rare Keyaki hardwood. Top section has large compartment with sliding panels and one interior shelf, below this are two small drawers. The bottom section has one full width drawer over a large compartment with sliding panels on the left and a vertical row of three small drawers on the right, below this is a horizontal row of two more small drawers. The very bottom of the chest has two slatted sliding panels which open to a compartment on the left and three small interior burl drawers on the right side. One of the interior drawers is actually a small lock box. There is an additional hidden compartment between the drawers and the open compartment on the left. Writing on the back of each section of the chest state that it was owned by Oohashi Kihei of Tempo 2 (18 Hoitos, Medicine Shop – main shop. There is an unusual amount of iron bracing on the back of the bottom section. Beautiful iron lock plates on the front of the tansu have a very rare set of six original keys. Exquisite original finish that truly glows.

Edo Period (Dated to 1831 to Ohashi Zenuemon)

Size: 51 3/4″ high x 30″ wide x 16 1/4″ deep.