– Compact Japanese tansu (small chest) with three pulls, finished in vermilion lacquer in the Negoro-nuri register – Three flush-front drawers with simple cast-metal pulls; classical Japanese proportions for desktop or shelf use – Shōwa-era decorative piece in the antique Japanese style: width 22.5 cm × depth 22.5 cm × height 24.5 cm Summary: A small three-drawer Japanese tansu (storage chest) in vermilion lacquer, finished in the Negoro-nuri register – the layered red-over-black lacquer style developed at Negoro-ji temple during the medieval period and widely admired ever since. This piece is a Shōwa-era decorative reproduction in the traditional style rather than a Kamakura or Muromachi antique, but it carries the distinctive vermilion tone, the warm hand-finished surfaces, and the disciplined geometry that make Negoro-style objects so loved by European collectors of Japanese interior pieces. Negoro lacquer (Negoro-nuri) was developed in the temple workshops of Negoro-ji in present-day Wakayama Prefecture from around the thirteenth century. The technique involves laying a base coat of black urushi lacquer, then covering it with a final coat of vermilion red. Over years of use, the soft red surface wears at the edges and high points to reveal the black beneath, producing the characteristic patinated appearance that has been admired by collectors since the seventeenth century. The visual vocabulary – clean geometric forms, the warm red-and-black palette, simple iron or brass fittings – has remained a touchstone of Japanese decorative taste ever since. The piece works on a desktop, a sideboard, or a low shelf. Its scale – just over 22 cm square and approximately 24 cm tall – makes it ideal for small-object storage: jewellery, stationery, writing tools, tea utensils, or simply as a quiet sculptural element on a shelf. Each drawer pulls smoothly and offers a tidy interior compartment. In a European interior the tansu reads beautifully against pale walls, with mid-century or contemporary furniture. The vermilion sets up a warm accent in otherwise muted schemes and pairs naturally with wood, linen, and stone. Condition: a Shōwa-era decorative piece in good display condition. Light surface marks and minor wear consistent with age may be present; this is not a centuries-old antique Negoro piece but a faithful Japanese piece in that tradition. A characterful, compact tansu ready to organise a desk or anchor a shelf. Shipping & Handling We ship worldwide via DHL or EMS with full insurance and tracking. Professional packing ensures safe arrival; combined shipping available for multiple wins. Local customs duties are the buyer’s responsibility. Seller Guarantee We specialise in authentic Japanese lacquerware and guarantee this piece’s authenticity. Questions welcome – we reply within 24 hours. 1620