時代箪笥／仙台車箪笥【Sendai wheeled chest】 [j1085]Japanese Antique Furniture

鳳凰や獅子などが錠前金具を飾る見事な仙台箪笥。
錺（かざり）金具にはその他に鶴亀、竹に雀などの吉祥文様が鏨で毛彫りされており、その細かさから熟練の職人によるものと想像されます。
恐らく衣裳箪笥として作られたものに、そう離れていない時代に車部分が付けられた様です。こちらも本体に合わせ熨斗宝珠や巾着、打ち出の小槌が施され、吉祥尽しの縁起の良い文様で纏められています。

勿論見所は金具だけではなく、木材は杢目の良い欅がふんだんに使われ、見るものを飽きさせません。大きくうねる迫力のある杢目の中には玉杢も見られ贅を尽くして作られたものです。扉の奥の抽斗の仕切り部分には隠しという重要書類などを隠すスペースも作られております。木工、漆、金工の職人たちは注文主の要望を超える仕事を目指したのではと、そんな想像さえ掻き立てられる一棹です。

This magnificent Sendai tansu chest is decorated with a hōō (phoenix) and a shishi (lion) on the metal fittings of the lock.
Other auspicious motifs such as cranes, turtles, bamboos, and sparrows are carved on the metal fittings with a chisel, and the fineness of the carving suggests that the work was done by a skilled craftsman.
This chest was originally made as a wardrobe, and the wheels were probably added in its later years. Like the main body, it is also decorated with auspicious designs such as noshi beads, skirting beads, and a hammered hammer.

Of course, the highlights are not only the metal fittings, but also the abundant use of zelkova wood with its fine grain, which attracts the viewer's interest.

In addition, the drawer dividers at the back of the door provide a hidden space where important documents can be hidden.

This is a work that even captures the imagination, as the wood, lacquer, and metal craftsmen must have aimed to exceed the client's requirements.