Lacquered Funa Tansu of kakesuzuri type, Japan Edo period, early 19th

Japan, Lacquered Funa Tansu of kakesuzuri type, Edo period, early 19th century.

Japanese dark lacquered Funa Tansu, or ship safe box, kakesuri type for ship’s papers.Jugi-gata (cross-face) decoration of heavy hand-forged iron, similar plates and hinges attached to the wood by small metal pins.
The interior of the box holds 3 large drawers opened by kan (ring) pulls and two smaller ones with a lock plate. The piece has a handle on top for convenient transportation.
The kakesuzuri is always almost cubic with more depth, exhibiting large hinges and lock plates. Dark lacquered Hinoki has been used for the outside of this one which is quite unusual and creates a wawy appearance on the surface in warm deep brown colour.
The inside is made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The tight construction combined with the use of kiri wood which is suposed to expand while wet, makes the funa tansu resistant to water.

The kakesuzuri appears at the end of the 18th century, and remains in production until the end of the 19th. Just as land travel, restricted during the Tokugawa period, sea travel and trade was subject to control. Several type of documents were required as the ship’s passport or a safe-conduct document certifying that the crew was not Christian, the senchû nikki, that needed to be stamped by port authorities when entering and leaving harbors, the bill of lading detailing the cargo and destination and the trading logbook.
This funa tansu has its original key.
Height 38cm 32cm x 44cm

Edo period , early 19th Century.