Description

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant store chest) made of Kuwa (old Mulberry) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand made iron fittings and finish. Two center hinged doors are removable with the hook and loop style hinge design. Front Warabite handles with two carrying handles on each side for positioning the chest and the additional swivel handles used with a wood pole to carry the chest from place to place. Lower right hinged door hides 3 smaller drawers.

Merchant chests were typically positioned in a store to serve a dual purpose. The obvious function was to store business documents, books, writing paper as well as money and valuables within its various storage compartments. Its other purpose was to act as a form of advertising for clients of the business letting them visually see the success and stability of the business they were dealing with.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 36 1/2″ Wide x 35 1/4″ High x 14″ Deep