From Sailerking’s own personal collection, one of the oldest calligraphy chests I have ever listed. This is a very special Japanese five drawer (with doored front), portable calligraphy tansu made of solid kiri (paulownia) wood known as a kake suzuri. It is one of the oldest designs of funa-dansu (chests designed for use in a ship). It would have held a ship’s log as well as a manifest of the ship’s inventory, accounts, and money.
This chest shows a high degree of Japanese craftsmanship in the joinery, being made with hardened hinoki pegged wood. Paulownia wood is the strongest wood for its weight, making it a very desirable wood for this type of chest. It was designed to be carried on and off ships, making the weight of the wood a priority. The paulownia wood interiors also protected the contents from the humid Japanese summers.
The thick hand forged metal on this chest date it conservatively to the mid Edo era (c.1800) and it could quite possibly date to the mid 1700s. All drawer pulls, hinges, locks and latches are made of thick hand forged iron with a protective coat of burnt lacquer. All of the nails are hand forged, as well as the thick ironwork on the body of the piece.
With the exception of a very warm patina that only 200 years of loving use could give, it is in very fine condition. The drawers run smoothly and the door snaps shut smartly with the use of an operable single action lock. It comes with a functioning key for its lock. The top carrying handle (see picture 3) is still secure and provides a convenient way to transport this chest.
This Kake-Suzuribako chest measures 9 3/4″ wide by 11 3/4″ high by 14 3/4″ deep (25 x 30 x 37.5 cm). A very warm accent for your home or office. Please enjoy the enlarged pictures to get a full appreciation of the fine paulownia wood and its 200+ year old patina.
You’ll love it, I guarantee it………If you purchase this item and are not completely delighted with it, you may return it for a no questions asked refund within 14 days of receipt.
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