No. 98276628

Yonezawa ishô’dansu 衣装箪笥 (cabinet of drawers) - Iron (cast/wrought), Keyaki wood (Zelkova – ‘Japanese oak’) - Sugi (cedar) wood - Japan - Second half 19th century (Early Meiji period)
No. 98276628

Yonezawa ishô’dansu 衣装箪笥 (cabinet of drawers) - Iron (cast/wrought), Keyaki wood (Zelkova – ‘Japanese oak’) - Sugi (cedar) wood - Japan - Second half 19th century (Early Meiji period)
A striking Yonezawa wooden ishô’dansu 衣装箪笥 (cabinet of drawers) in two sections. Fully restored, cleaned, and waxed.
The drawer fronts are made from solid high-quality keyaki 欅 (Zelkova – “Japanese oak”) finished in a warm brown lacquer that beautifully accentuates the vivid wood grain. The exterior frame is crafted from sugi 杉 (Japanese cedar) and lacquered in a dark reddish hue.
The upper section is configured with three drawers of varying sizes and a hinged door opening to two smaller drawers. The lower section features two spacious full-width drawers. The cabinet is fitted with sturdy iron hardware throughout, including ‘mokkô’-shaped 木瓜 bail handles and large circular lock plates engraved with a crest 紋 (mon) depicting a cherry blossom 桜 (sakura).
Each side is equipped with hinged “pole-carrying” handles for ease of transport and to secure the upper section in place.
This highly practical piece offers generous storage due to its variety of compartments.
Period: Japan – Early Meiji period (Second half 19th century)
Dimensions: Height 110.1 cm (Top 51.2 cm, Bottom 58.9 cm), Width 109.5 cm, Depth 41.8 cm
It is in a very good restored condition with minimal traces of age. Please refer to the photos for a clear condition reference.
These types of cabinets originate from the castle town of Yonezawa, located in the southeast of Yamagata prefecture. The town developed a distinctive chest-on-chest style tansu for clothing storage, heavily influenced by the refined lacquer techniques of Mikuni on the Japan Sea coast. One of its unique features is the placement of the kobiraki’dô in the upper section rather than the lower, setting it apart from other regional styles.
When shipped, we will include a certificate of authenticity.
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