A wonderfully characterful antique Japanese tabletop chest or kodansu, dating to the late Meiji period, circa 1900. Made from dark finished wood with a rich reddish-brown patina, the chest has a compact asymmetrical arrangement of storage compartments and original metal fittings.
The front is fitted with two drawers with simple ring handles, alongside a smaller lockable compartment with its original decorative iron lock plate. The upper section provides further storage, making this a practical little merchant's or household storage chest as well as a particularly decorative piece.
There is extensive surface wear from age and use, including scratches, rubbing, knocks, fading, old marks and small holes around the drawer fronts. The wear has given the wood a particularly good aged surface and patina rather than detracting from the piece. Please study the photographs carefully for condition.
Measures approximately 39 x 27 x 24 cm / 15.4 x 10.6 x 9.4 inches.
The front is fitted with two drawers with simple ring handles, alongside a smaller lockable compartment with its original decorative iron lock plate. The upper section provides further storage, making this a practical little merchant's or household storage chest as well as a particularly decorative piece.
There is extensive surface wear from age and use, including scratches, rubbing, knocks, fading, old marks and small holes around the drawer fronts. The wear has given the wood a particularly good aged surface and patina rather than detracting from the piece. Please study the photographs carefully for condition.
Measures approximately 39 x 27 x 24 cm / 15.4 x 10.6 x 9.4 inches.