In the cold Tohoku region, the town of Yonezawa developed chest-on-chest isho-dansu. You can still get great modern tansu in the city - try Sendai Tansu! Their brilliantly executed iron hardware was commissioned from former sword-fitting craftsmen. Sendai is known for isho-dansu were used primarily for clothing storage, characterized by a long top drawer with an elaborated lock or an extended vertical locking bar. Based on funa-dansu (ship cabinets), they featured thick iron hardware and unique diamond-shaped handles.Ĭhoba-dansu (merchant chests), from Sakai tend to contain intricate compartments, and were made of Japanese cypress and Japanese cedar. Shima-dansu from Sado were among the finest examples of tansu craftsmanship.
These tansu were often adorned by Wajima craftsmen with flowers and auspicious patterns. Kyoto isho-dansu were known for tama nuri, an elegant and opaque lacquered process. They were frequently made of lacquered Japanese cypress and comprised copper hardware rather than iron parts. Often copied, these containers were important for home storage. These kitchen chests had two sections and a chest-in-chest design. Since the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868), the town of Hikone, on Lake Biwa, has been producing mizuya-dansu. All the visible sides were made of Japanese elm. Consequently, their tansu had to be sophisticated and lightweight, as it was often carried to their business partners. Tansu were placed in the captain’s or ship owner’s cabin, who were trade agents as well. Several strong reforms in coastal navigation ordered by the shogunate led to the construction of smaller vessels. With the unification of Japan from 1603 under the Tokugawa shogun, merchants were urged to supply raw materials and food to Edo (now Tokyo). Used on merchant vessels on the Sea of Japan and on the Seto Inland Sea, they represent a high-level craftmanship in hardware and joinery. The forward-facing wood and hardware were especially refined to give a qualitative feeling to the customer.įrom the Edo period (1603-1868) into the Meiji period (1868-1912), funa-dansu (舟箪笥) or ship chests maintained a strong continuity in design. They had various sizes and numerous compartments. Used by merchants on the choba (elevated platform area in a store), choba-dansu (帳場箪笥) were mainly utilized to store account books.