A JAPANESE MERCHANT’S DOCUMENT CABINET, FIRST... Lot 85

A JAPANESE MERCHANT’S DOCUMENT CABINET, FIRST HALF 19TH CENTURY Well-made wooden ryôbiraki'chôba'dansu 両開き帳場箪笥 (merchant's document cabinet with double doors) in a single section. Fully restored, cleaned and waxed. It is made from indigenous kiri (paulownia) wood varnished in a nice warm dark brown hue with a lovely patina. Exterior constructed with double doors clad with four sturdy iron hinges and a rectangular lock plate. The corners decorated with reticulated heart shapes and the backplates of the rings formed like a diamond shaped flower. The left door fastened to the interior by a slidable lock. The doors open to an interior with six drawers of different shape. They are equipped with circular iron lock plates and 'hirute'-shaped bail handles. The inside of the doors fitted with copper decorative protective hardware. The sides equipped with retractable iron 'pole carrying'-handles and 'warabite'-shaped totte (grip handles). The chôba'dansu is in a very good restored condition with some minimal traces of age. The drawers run very smoothly. The cabinet is deep so there is a lot of volume for easy storage. One key included working on the door lock. The key functions in the old fashioned Japanese way, not very smooth. Dimensions: Height 58.1 cm, Width 89.6 cm, Depth 47.7 cm. Period: Japan - Late Edo period (First half 19th century).