Antique Japanese Storage Chest – Meiji Period (c.1868-1912)
- Dimensions: Length: 95 cm Depth: 40 cm Height: 98 cm
- Style: Meiji
- Materials and techniques: Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Galvanized corrugated iron sheet.
- Place of origin: Japan
- Period: Meiji
- Date of manufacture: Circa 1868-1912
- Condition: Good. Wear commensurate with age and use.
Original Japanese tansu from the Meiji period, with a compact vertical format and balanced proportions, conceived as a functional piece of domestic storage. The cabinet combines drawers, sliding compartments, and an interior storage layout designed according to a clear and highly practical logic.
The piece is made primarily of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), a wood valued for its lightness, stability, and resistance to humidity, widely used in domestic Japanese furniture. The back and lower sections are clad in corrugated galvanized iron sheet, a technical solution introduced during the Meiji period to protect furniture from moisture, insects, and temperature changes, particularly in storage rooms or semi-industrial domestic spaces.
The front presents a sober and well-structured composition, with drawers fitted with original iron pulls and simple lock plates. The contrast between the warm patina of the wood and the darkened metal fittings reinforces the architectural character of the piece. The interior drawers retain their lighter tone, while the exterior surfaces display a deep, even patina developed through decades of use.
The Meiji period (1868–1912) marked a profound transformation in Japanese society, during which traditional craft techniques adapted to new forms of domestic organization. Furniture from this era often integrates industrial materials such as metal sheet, reflecting a material culture based on functionality, durability, and adaptability.
Visible wear throughout—softened edges, surface marks, and tonal variations—is consistent with the age of the piece and forms an essential part of its wabi-sabi aesthetic.
With its dimensions, this tansu works naturally as a chest of drawers, auxiliary storage cabinet, or a distinctive statement piece in contemporary, Japanese, or eclectic interiors.
The state of conservation is optimal, except for the characteristic imperfections of any antique produced by the passage of time.
Give a point of originality to your home with a unique piece, which merges with the contemporary style bringing personality to your home. This antique Japanese storage chest can be combined with any of our wooden bowls or with our available antique tv furniture.
ONE OF A KIND
