Antique Japanese c1880’s Kiri Wood Two Drawer Honbako Book Tansu Chest 14" Saw and expressive stylized facial forms

and expressive stylized facial forms

Signed Ryosai pieces are the most eagerly sought by collectors today

Vintage Japanese Fuchin Scroll Weights Marbled Stone Sphere Beads Bronze Tassel

floral decoration well-preserved

Antique Japanese c1880’s Kiri Wood Two Drawer Honbako Book Tansu Chest 14" Saw and expressive stylized facial formsThis is a 150 year old antique Japanese honbako from the Meiji Era (c. 1880s). This honbako (portable book tansu) has two drawers. The metal hardware is hand forged iron. Honbako were used as portable book chests to hold multiple volumes of texts, voumes of novels and other large texts to keep them from getting separated when traveling. Keyaki (zelkova) wood was the wood of choice for such a chest being strong as well as having a beautiful grain