Edo period (1615-1868), paulownia (kiri) wood with finish, fitted with hand forged iron handles and circular lock plates, the top chest with long open cabinet behind four sliding doors, below are two long sword drawers, to the right two short drawers, below are two side by side chests, one with four drawers and the second chest with four drawers and a small hinged door opening, iron handles to upper sides of each cabinet, three chests are set onto a stand.

68 x 70 x 17 1/2 in.

From the Collection of Roy and Beverly Milton, Japan

Merchant chests were placed on the raised platform area of a shop or inn to store important items such as business documents, seals, money, and stationery.
They came with a key so that thieves could not easily steal the contents, and many had secret compartments. As they were visible to customers, they were a symbol of wealth and made of high-quality materials. They were durable, beautiful, and functional.

Antique condition, interior drawer and door within top chest has later pulls and hardware; a letter "Z" written to front of lower drawer of top chest and also some writing to left hand side of same chest; top chest has wear with some loss to sides of central sliding doors from use; general wear from use and age to surface and hardware; some scattered stress cracks to wood mainly visible to reverse side.