JAPAN 1820 Edo Period Black Lacquered & Gilded Tansu Cabinet Chest With Drawers
Lacquered cabinet of drawers from the Edo Period.
This is a remarkable Japanese antique Tansu cabinet with drawers created during the Edo period (1600-1868). The portable Tansu cabinet has been masterfully crafted in the turn of the 18th century, between the 1790 and 1820 with carved parts of black lacquered wood, gilt bronze, gold and carvings with inlaid decorations of flowers and organics motifs. The desk-table cabinet features two hinged squared doors, four major drawers, four small drawers, two little shelves and a secret compartment with a frontal hidden lid. The cabinet is highly decorated in the five sides with applications of pure gold, Nashiji technique in the inside parts and at the corners and in the center as a key escutcheon with metal fittings of gilded copper or bronze with floral decorations.
Tansu
These are traditional Japanese portable storage chests that originated during the Edo period (1603-1868). They were designed to be lightweight and easily transported, often featuring handles for carrying. Tansu were used for storing a variety of items, including clothing, documents, and household goods, and were also utilized by shopkeepers and even on ships. The term "tansu" combines the Japanese words "tan" (storage) and "su" (chest).
The Edo Period
The Edo period or Tokugawa period is the period between 1603 and 1867 in the history of Japan, when Japan was under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate and the country's 300 regional daimyo. Emerging from the chaos of the Sengoku period, the Edo period was characterized by economic growth, strict social order, isolationist foreign policies, a stable population, perpetual peace, and popular enjoyment of arts and culture. The period derives its name from Edo (now Tokyo), where on March 24, 1603, the shogunate was officially established by Tokugawa Ieyasu. The period came to an end with the Meiji Restoration and the Boshin War, which restored imperial rule to Japan. The Tokugawa (or Edo) period brought 250 years of stability to Japan. The political system evolved into what historians call bakuhan, a combination of the terms bakufu and han (domains) to describe the government and society of the period. In the bakuhan, the shōgun had national authority and the daimyo had regional authority. This represented a new unity in the feudal structure, which featured an increasingly large bureaucracy to administer the mixture of centralized and decentralized authorities. The Tokugawa became more powerful during their first century of rule: land redistribution gave them nearly seven million koku, control of the most important cities, and a land assessment system reaping great revenues.
Country: Pre-imperial period of Japan.
Period: Edo Period, Circa 1800-1840
Materials: Wood, gold, Bronze, black lacquer and carvings.
Weight: About 3.7 Pounds (1.68 Kg.).
Measurements: 368 mm by 358 mm by 192 mm (14.5 x 14.10 x 7.55 Inches).
Condition: The overall condition of this Edo period Tansu cabinet is antique. Besides the little normal wear, the cabinet bears scuffs, scratches, and lacquer cracks, while the brass fittings display a rich patina developed over time. Please refer to the photos for further details on the condition. This piece was carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: D081625MSNS/.7189
