Ho Brah. Dis is da kine (sorry, I live in Hawai’i and the vernacular slips in from time to time), but this new piece up for auction is amazing. I’ve only seen pieces like this a few times in person, and that was only in stores (I’ve been to this one) and in clients’ homes, and I’ve always scrutinized them in depth when possible. I wanted to see the joinery, how the doors were put together etc. In a store you are usually left alone to browse under watchful eyes so you can only look so far, but some of my customers actually allowed me to pull drawers to look at the construction, let me take out the doors to see how the tacks were fastened. They saw that I truly appreciated their taste and showed an intelligent understanding of furniture in it’s construction as well as the inherent aesthetic appeal. Needless to say this did wonders for client relations; they knew I understood what they wanted and that I could give it back, even if I was just building a bathroom vanity for them. I’ve gotten off topic, so back to the piece.
This is a huge two section Mizuya-dansu (kitchen cupboard) from the late Meiji era. It’s 8′8″ inches wide, which is at the extreme side of typical sizes (normal was 67″ to 69″) so I’m assuming that whoever had it made originally had a really nice house, it had to be a pretty opulent purchase for the time. That being said, its even more opulent now. Made out of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress), and Sugi (Cedar), this tansu is of Hikone regional style, with mizarado type sliding doors (a series of slats tacked to the frame). I totally love this style of door (which is why I always wanted to remove them from my clients cabinets to check out this type of fastening). The only thing I don’t like is the two typical mesh backed “pie safe” doors (but that’s purely personal taste). What I like about these tansu is that it shows the evolution of the Japanese kitchen from simple one pot cooking over the irori (sunken hearth, which also provided all the heat to the house), to where there was an actual dedicated kitchen area, one in which you needed storage for all the sumptuary foods, utensils, dishes, and even cookbooks by this time. Albeit being offered at the exorbitant sum of $23,000, I believe that due to its size, materials, and indicative style, it’s definitely worth further scrutiny. Anybody got 23 grand they can lend me?

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Up for auction is a beautiful Sendai-style clothing chest. This piece is unrestored, which in some ways is how I like them. A rich patina is aquired by use and age and I sometimes prefer this condition over a heavily sanded and restained piece. This could use some TLC but otherwise looks real good. All the ironwork is present, and it looks like it has the oblong wooden nails in the joinery, which is indicative of early Meiji Era tansu manufacture (but most likely this is mid to late Meiji due to style evolution). With the Mokko style handles, this piece is textbook Sendai-style. Estimated sale price between 500.00 and 700.00.

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Came across this hardware today up for auction. I dont know about you, but when I was purchasing reproduction hardware for the cabinets I made, I was shocked at the prices. This guy starts his bidding at 24.99 for the lot, I paid that for one drawer pull. What we have here is a collection of warabite hikite (drawer pulls), various tooshi-zagane (back plates), some modern looking locks, keys, hinges, and what looks like keyhole collars or maybe zagane (escutheons). The handles are probably machine made due to their age, early 1900’s. If I was still making furniture I would probably pick this up if just for inventory.

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I came across this Funa Dansu (sea chest) on eBay today and I must say I’m in love. I believe this to be a prime example of Kakesuzuri style. What piqued my interest was the sliding cover on the lockplate, I haven’t seen this before. Its made from Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Japanese Cedar) with an ample amount of Ironware. It has a hidden box and a hidden drawer. I love Funa Dansu because these were Tansu that were to be carried on board ships and were made sturdily to endure the ravages of ocean transport, so much so that they could reportedly be tied to silken line and thrown overboard to evade pirate seizure; the ironware provided enough weight as to invert the chest and trap air inside, therefore providing buoyancy. Asking price is $4,800.00, I think they might get it eventually as this is a beautiful piece.

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