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Boxes
FUNADANSU - SEA CAPTAIN'S CHEST
One of the most requested of antiques is the funadansu, or ship captain's safe.
For one thing they speak volumes of one aspect of Japanese history, namely that they were created as early as the begining of the Edo period and were used for merchant ships plying the Sea of Japan and the Inland Sea between Osaka and Hokkaido, known then as Ezo. This route, know historically as the Kitamae, was principaly active between the months of March and November (winter being too harsh for the keel-less ships allowed during the shogunate era).
Late-Edo Funadansu. 
Mortise and tenon construction (no iron nails throughout). Iron hardware is in good,original condition. Some rust on bottom lower angle iron hardware (herikanagu), as is common and indeed, expected on tansu that rested on floors that had a layer of humid salt.
Use of 5-hinge construction for door (usual was 3), indicating a better level of customer. Hand-forged kakute (square) type of drawer pulls, as was usual on Edo-era tansu.
- Lock of the front door functions, though we would advise against frequent use of it and would opt instead for a padlock.
- Nice and desireable feature: when one removes the lower left side inner drawer, and one reaches all the way to the back a space is provided for a "secret" box, where small valuable items such as the ship's seals, stamps, gold coins might have been kept.
- Bottom of funadansu (in good condition) reveals slat
construction, indicating shipboard use.
- Outer wood is keyaki, or zelkova, as well as inner drawer outer surfaces. Inside portions of drawers are paulownia. Weigh: 13.9kg
- Family crest (mon), of the Hosokawa clan of Kumamoto (Kyushu).
Dimensions: Width: 35cm; Height: 41cm; Depth: 44cm.
Price:
