Rare Japanese Ishikawa Fune Tansu. Full face as well as inside drawer fronts are made up of burl keyaki hardwood. Frame is 100% keyaki hardwood with kiri wood inside drawer construction. All edges are clad in hand forged iron for added protection. These are said to be made so well, that if the ship were to sink, this chest would float just below the surface for retrieval. This is a very rare and wonderful Japanese funa-dansu (sea chest for ship) example.

From the Noto Peninsula, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Drop-fit door covers interior drawers 3 of which are covered by additional drop-fit and sliding panels, the top portion has sliding panels that cover small drawers and a pull out calligraphy box, a hidden kiri box has an inscription that dates the chest to early Meiji Period and it’s second owner, Nitao Koizumi and identifies it as coming from the Ishikawa

Age: Edo Period (1603 – 1868)

Dimensions 20″ wide x 16 1/2″ deep x 17″ high