Large isho kasane-dansu with karashishi ironwork, Sendai region, Japan, 19th century

An antique two-part Japanese tansu (isho kasane-dansu) from the Sendai region of Tōhoku, remarkable for the quality of its wood and ironwork. The front is made of zelkova ( keyaki ) with a very vivid grain, covered with a translucent reddish-brown lacquer that allows the wood's natural ripples to show through. This contrast between the deep red of the keyaki and the black of the patinated iron makes this Japanese garment chest a striking piece of furniture from the late Edo and 19th centuries.

Each large drawer is centered with a wide, rectangular, chased and repoussé iron plaque depicting a karashishi in full stride. The Chinese lion is rendered in high relief, with a speckled coat, a flamboyant mane, and a swirling tail, all within a meticulously hammered frame. The side door features a large circular plaque decorated with a karashishi in a medallion surrounded by flowers, likely peonies ( botan ), which enlivens the entire central area of the piece. The corner plaques and small keyhole escutcheons employ the same decorative vocabulary, unifying the facade and reinforcing the armored effect characteristic of the finest antique Japanese tansu.

The handles are of the warabite type, shaped like young ferns, mounted on elongated plates. A rare feature is that the handle itself is decorated, with a surface finish unusual even on a piece of high-quality furniture. The interiors of the drawers and compartments are left with bare wood, in a functional style, contrasting with the richness of the lacquered and wrought-iron facade.

The combination of deep red keyaki wood, translucent lacquer, wrought ironwork, and the quality of the decorated warabite handles connects this Sendai tansu to the eponymous region. Since most Sendai tansu are constructed as a single unit, the two-part, superimposed structure (kasane-dansu) remains rare for this center and lends this piece an exceptional character within the regional tradition of 19th-century Japanese furniture.

This large Japanese storage unit with karashishi fittings is part of the tradition of ceremonial furniture found in the homes of merchants and notables, where the tansu served both as a clothes chest and a status symbol. Its size, the boldness of its relief decoration, and the quality of its keyaki (wooden handles) make it a centerpiece for Japanese interior design or for a project blending Asian antiques with contemporary lines, while remaining perfectly functional for storing linens and textiles.

Height: 97 cm – Width: 117.5 cm – Depth: 44.5 cm