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Kanso House

Antique Japanese Meiji Period Ko-tanso Drawer box with Kanji

Antique Japanese Meiji Period Ko-tanso Drawer box with Kanji

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐​​ 5.0/5.0 star reviews

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Regular price $300.00
Regular price Sale price $300.00
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A sweet little ko-tanso with striking Kanji label on top and bottom. 

Dating to the late 19th Century and made from sugi (Japanese Cedar) with iron hardware. The Kanji on the top and bottom of the box translate to Shōraku-ya. Shōraku being a name and ya meaning shop or workshop/studio. 

So most likely this was a lockable box used in a shop to keep, valuables, papers and stamps etc, money or receipts etc. Anything you might want to lock away. 

An interesting feature I found on this box. I was inspecting some holes on the side of the box, wondering what they might have been caused by. When I also inspected the drawers. I found matching holes that line up perfectly with those on the case. 

This seems to be quite common on Japanese boxes and a very simple way of locking a drawer. A pin, nail or stick can be inserted through the hole in the case into the hole in the drawer, effectively stopping the draw from being pulled out, even if the front locks are unlocked. I suspect perhaps someone lost the keys to this box at some point and wanting to still lock it they drilled some holes in the side to create the secret lock. I will include a couple of wooden nails with the box so you can try it out for yourself! 

Its fun discovering secrets like this on antique furniture because it allows you to imagine how the original owner might have used the piece. 

Measures 20cm wide x 27cm deep x 20cm high. 

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