An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute handles. It has a configuration of 9 drawers, a pair of Biraki-Do (hinged doors) hiding a center shelf and a thief's door behind which lies two more small drawers. Two side lift-up handles through which a bamboo pole would go allowing two persons to carry this tansu from place to place.

Originating in the Tohoku region of Japan, this chest was used by a merchant to store books and business records, valuables, writing brushes, an inkstone, and paper. Used as a form of business advertising, the merchant would have displayed this chest with pride in a prominent location of the store to showcase the success and longevity of the business.

Collection of Lee Caplin

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 29 1/2" Wide by 31 1/2" High by 14 1/2" Deep