Japanese Cedar Funadansu Marine Chest, Japan, Edo Period, First Half Of The 19th Century

Japanese cedar funadansu ship's chest, Edo period, first half of the 19th century. This antique Japanese funadansu (船箪笥) ship's chest is made of solid cedar wood with a beautiful reddish-brown patina. The rectangular chest is reinforced on all edges with riveted wrought iron fittings, typical of Japanese ship's chests designed to withstand sea voyages. The front features a large rectangular wrought iron lock plate with a simple and functional design, emphasizing the utilitarian nature of this piece of shipboard furniture. It opens to reveal drawers inside. This Japanese cedar ship's chest, dating from the Edo period, first half of the 19th century, exemplifies the cabin furniture used to protect personal belongings, documents, or small goods aboard merchant ships. The simplicity of the panels, the signs of wear on the tabletop, and the presence of the original hardware make this a piece of furniture with character, easily integrated into a contemporary interior or a wabi-sabi-inspired decorating project, while remaining an authentic example of an Edo-period funadansu. Dimensions: H. 34.2 cm x W. 61 cm x D. 31 cm.