This Japanese tansu chest is from Sendai province and dates to the late Meiji era (1868 - 1912), circa 1900. Tansu and isho dansu made in Sendai province were some of the best ever made. The masterfully crafted ironwork is particular to Sendai province. Sendai metalwork forgoes straight lines and spreads effortlessly. The more extravagant fittings like those on this tansu appeared in the mid Meiji period when the sword carrying ban of 1876 was brought about. Sendai swordsmiths were famed for their high-quality work and turned their hand to tansu metalwork instead. This work depicts chrysanthemum flowers.

This tansu is made from the highest quality keyaki / zelkova (Japanese red elm) wood. Tansu like these would have been commission pieces and made for exceedingly wealthy individuals. They were used as day-to-day dressing tables and clothes storage.

Many Japanese tansu we find are poorly restored - We painstakingly restore each piece using traditional Japanese techniques to ensure these pieces last and are loved for many more lifetimes to come. 

Dimensions:

118 x 44.5 x 90 (wxdxh cms)

Condition:

It should be noted that as is often the case with these red elm tansu chests, the drawer fronts have some bowing which we have reduced in our workshop. 

From Japan

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