Japanese Ko-Dansu - Showa Era Rustic Elegance Used for measuring out rice

Used for measuring out rice in bazaars and for cooking

decorated with elephants

They were originally used as book cabinets by scholars and later

A wick would have been positioned in the lip at the front

This beautifully patinated and very striking Kuruma-Dansu on wheels is from Yonezawa and was used for storage of valuables

Japanese Ko-Dansu - Showa Era Rustic Elegance Used for measuring out riceThis Japanese tansu is made in the ko dansu style and would have been used as a small personal chest. These chests were produced mostly in the Taish (1912 1926) & Shwa (1926 1989) eras. This is one of a set purchased and dates to the beginning of the Shwa era. Constructed from kiri (paulownia wood), this tansu has brass anodized hardware. The wood grain has been quartersawn and it's made in the style first established in the Taish era. This tansu has