Antique Japanese Tansu Chest – Meiji / Taishō Period (c.1868-1926) #5

Antique Japanese Tansu Chest – Meiji / Taishō Period (c.1868-1926) Dimensions: Length: 94 cm Depth: 40 cm Height: 99 cm. Style: Meiji. Materials and Techniques: Paulownia (Paulownia spp.), Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) Place of Origin: Japan. Period: Late Meiji Period, Early Taishō Period. Date of Manufacture: Circa 1868-1926. Condition: Good. Wear is consistent with age and use. Original Japanese Tansu from the Meiji period, designed in a vertical format with balanced proportions and composed of a succession of wide drawers highlighting its functional and architectural character. The combination of paulownia and Japanese cedar provides structural lightness, stability, and excellent durability over time. The circular black iron fittings, along with the side transport handles, recall its original identity as Japanese domestic furniture designed for mobility. The surface retains a deep and even patina, with signs of use consistent with its age, enhancing the character and authenticity of the piece. A powerful and versatile chest, ideal as a main storage unit, bedroom dresser, or statement piece in contemporary, wabi-sabi, or eclectic interiors. The Meiji period corresponds to a phase of profound social and material transformation in Japan. Domestic furniture retains traditional craftsmanship techniques while adapting to new needs for organisation and functionality. The tansu of this era are distinguished by their durability, modularity, and the balance they establish between function and aesthetics. It is in excellent condition, except for the characteristic imperfections of any antique, due to the passage of time. UNIQUE PIECE.