Old Japanese Tansu Chest – Meiji / Taishō Period (c.1868-1926) #24

Antique Japanese Tansu Chest – Meiji / Taishō Period (c.1868-1926) Dimensions: Length: 90 cm Depth: 42 cm Height: 112 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, in a vertical format with clean lines, featuring a series of wide drawers that highlight its functional and architectural character. Made from paulownia (Paulownia spp.) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), it combines structural lightness with excellent stability, essential qualities of traditional Japanese domestic furniture. The circular black iron fittings and reinforced corners create a striking graphic contrast with the wood, whose surface exhibits a rich and even patina. The natural wear, consistent with its age, enhances the authenticity of the piece and its pronounced wabi-sabi aesthetic. A balanced and versatile piece, ideal as a main chest of drawers or as a central storage element in an interior. The Meiji era represents a pivotal period in Japan's history, during which traditional craftsmanship coexists with new forms of domestic organisation. The tansu of this time are distinguished by their functionality, modularity, and durability, while retaining inherited construction techniques and a sober aesthetic, deeply rooted in the everyday life of late 19th-century Japan. It is in excellent condition, except for the characteristic imperfections of any antique, due to the passage of time. UNIQUE PIECE.