Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) with locking bars and safe box. Made with keyaki (zelkova) wood frame, hinoki (cryptomeria) wood drawer fronts, sugi (cypress) wood top and side panels. The upper portion has three large full-width drawers held into place with a locking bar. The lower portion has two medium sized drawers held in place with another matching locking bar. The lower right hand side has a safe box opened by a hinged door. Inside are four small drawers, one of which has a hidden drawer behind it. There are two keys, one for the locking bars and one for the safe box. Heavy iron hardware includes square drawer pulls, ring pulls on the safe box drawers, and elaborate corner bracing overall. The sides and back of the chest are further reinforced with thick wooden horizontal slats. Original wiped lacquer finish.

The merchant chest served two purposes in a business. The first was its basic utilitarian function of serving as a business records storage and safe for keeping money and valuables. The second less obvious functions was its use as a form of business advertising which showed off the success of the store and conveyed a sense of permanence to the business establishment.

Mikuni Prov. (area of japan in antiquity)

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 37" high x 40 1/2" wide x 23" deep