Old Japanese Mizuya cupboard – Taishō / Shōwa period (c.1912-1970) #71

Antique Japanese Mizuya Tansu Cabinet – Taishō / Shōwa Period (c.1912-1970) Dimensions: Length: 93 cm Depth: 49 cm Height: 163 cm. Style: Taishō Materials and Techniques: Shorea (Shorea spp.), Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora), Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), plywood. Place of Origin: Japan. Period: Late Taishō period, early Shōwa period. Date of Manufacture: Circa 1912-1970. Condition: Good. Wear is consistent with age and use. Original Taishō style Japanese cabinet, designed as a domestic storage piece during a transitional period in Japan, when traditional craftsmanship coexisted with new formal influences and the early signs of modernisation in interior spaces. The piece features a well-proportioned vertical structure. The upper section has hinged doors providing access to internal shelves, while the lower section combines sliding doors and integrated drawers. This articulation between open and closed compartments responds to a practical and flexible usage logic, characteristic of early 20th-century Japanese furniture. Made from solid wood, the cabinet exhibits a deep, dark patina on the outside, a result of the passage of time and prolonged use, while the interior retains a lighter tone, highlighting the natural contrast between function and aging. The original hardware, understated and functional, reinforces the measured and utilitarian character of the whole. Devoid of superfluous ornamentation, this piece embodies the spirit of the Taishō period: honest, well-built furniture designed to integrate naturally into the domestic space. Today, its architectural presence and storage capacity make it a particularly versatile piece of furniture. UNIQUE PIECE.