This is an authentic antique Japanese 2 section merchant chest called Choba Tansu. It was made using Cypress (Hinoki) and Cryptomeria (Suginoki) woods and its age is from Middle Meiji period ( 1880's - 1890's). It comes from the Kansai region of Japan and it features the traditional horizontal slatted doors and sides for which the style of this area is well known.
Merchant chests were used by business owners for both function and marketing. For function, it served to store business papers, documents, valuables, books, stationery and sometimes calligraphy brushes, inkstone and inksticks. For marketing, it was displayed in a prominent part of the store so that customers would visually think that the business was established and successful to afford such a fancy and impressive form of furniture.
36 1/2"W x 17 3/4"D x 64 1/2"H
