This is an antique Japanese merchant chest called Choba Tansu from the mid Meiji period (1880's-1890's). It was constructed from 100% Paulownia (Kirinoki) wood and the iron fittings were hand made.
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.
31"W X 16 1/4"D X 31"H
