Tansu, Hibachi, Kuruma. Roman & Daniela Jost Traditional Japanse Furniture Items. Ikebana training and accessories

Japanese furniture items, Hibachi, Kuruma and Tansu

In order to understand the context of Korean furniture with Japanese design, one has to go back in history a few centuries. Over three hundred years ago, so called “tansu” (furniture with drawers), were imported from Korea to Japan. They were used for storing clothes. Depending on the quality of craftsmanship they were destined for the leading daimyos and samurai families, depicting their family crest. These items have always been of such high quality that the summer humidity could not penetrate. The Japanese craftsmen developed and adapted these tansu to their own style and customers needs.

The Korean peninsula was invaded several times by the Japanese armed forces in the 20th century as well as in former times. Ideology, as well as crafts and traditions, migrated to Korea alongside the Japanese craftsmen who were brought to the occupied territory. In doing so, a design of furniture, originating in Korea, was brought back from Japan in slightly modified style.

About Japanese Tansu

Tansu, or dansu when part of a compound word, is a term for the antique cabinetry of Japan. Immersed in a rich folk-art tradition they combined the skills of the wood joiner, the iron smith, and the lacquer artist. First appearing during the 17th century, by the early 18th century they played a major role in Japan, adapting to many of the functions of society. They were used as clothing chests (isho-dansu), cupboards, safes, kitchen storage (mizuya-dansu), and as a place to store pharmaceuticals (kusuri-dansu), samurai swords (katana-dansu), tools, books (sho-dansu), documents and ledgers (choba-dansu).

Unlike the homes of the Western world, the well decorated homes in Japan were relatively bare. Homes were not cluttered with stationary furniture, rather most tansu were stowed away in loft spaces or separate storage buildings called "kura". Some of the larger pieces would remain in the home and at times, in wealthy homes, a more decorative tansu would be displayed in the main room of entertainment.

For the most part the role of the tansu was utilitarian and most also had to be highly mobile. The medicine and other merchandise tansu were often carried on the back of the peddler. The sea chests were moved from sea to shore. The tansu of the homes needed to be moved from storage to home several times a year and for specific occasions. There were even some chests (kaidan-dansu) that served as both a storage space and a staircase in a home or store. The often highly decorated sea chests (funa-dansu) were water tight. It is also said that they were specifically designed to float just below the surface of the water. In case the ship was attacked by pirates, they would throw the chests overboard and retrieve them later.

The Japanese craftsman had these concerns and needs in mind as they built and developed their tansu. The cabinetmaker selected woods for their individual qualities, including their weight, strength, stability, color, and grain. The woods most often used were kiri (paulownia), sugi (cryptomeria), kuri (Japanese chestnut), hinoki (Japanese cypress), ezo matsu (pine), and keyaki (zelkova).

Other concerns of the cabinetmaker were the changes in humidity during the seasons, and the stresses of earthquakes, cyclones, and typhoons. As a result, the joinery of the wooden buildings and cabinetry in Japan needed to be both strong and flexible. The metal work of the tansu–including the drawer pulls, locks, bolts, hinges, and reinforcements such as the metal corners and T-bars–was integrated into the design. Often the metal work served a functional as well as a decorative purpose, sometimes including elaborate detailed images. Finally the lacquer artist selected a finish for protective functions in addition to enhancing the natural beauty of the wood. These craftsman combined all of these features to create an enduring style of furniture that will hopefully live on for ages to come.

09H-01	Tansu/Moo Soi Muri Jang

3 drawers in different size
1 swinging door
black cast iron hinges and handles
the wood shows very nicely


Width in cm:	75
Depth in cm:	30
Height in cm:	45
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 1'400.-- Currency Converter

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09H-02	Tansu

2 large drawers
2 small drawers on the side
1 compartment with black lock
traditional Japanese cast iron hinges


Width in cm:	50
Depth in cm:	41
Height in cm:	64
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 1'250.-- Currency Converter

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09K-05/ 09P-21	Tansu

1 large drawer
1 compartment with double doors
black cast iron hinges and ornaments


Width in cm:	61
Depth in cm:	40
Height in cm:	53
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 920.-- Currency Converter

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09K-11	Tansu

1 large drawer
2 drawers on the side
side compartment with inner drawer
black cast iron hinges


Width in cm:	61
Depth in cm:	40
Height in cm:	53
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 920.-- Currency Converter

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09H-06	Tansu

1 row with 3 drawers
2 drawers beside side compartment
1 row with 2 large drawers
cast iron hinges and ornaments


Width in cm:	85
Depth in cm:	43
Height in cm:	89
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 1'580.-- Currency Converter

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09K-09	Kuruma Tansu

1 row with 4 drawers
1 compartment with 2 sliding doors
1 row with 3 drawers
2 hidden drawers


Width in cm:	118
Depth in cm:	44
Height in cm:	102
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 2'400.-- Currency Converter

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The reason to have furniture equipped with wheels was above all to "save the furniture" and property in the event of fire, a frequent occurrence because of typhoons and earthquakes, which easily destroyed houses made of wood and paper.

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09K-10	Kuruma Tansu

1 large drawer
2 sliding doors with Japanese locker
2 drawers on the side


Width in cm:	75
Depth in cm:	46
Height in cm:	61
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 1'450.-- Currency Converter

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09K-07	Hibachi Kyoto Style

3 compartments with copper lining
middle compartment with glass top
3 drawers


Width in cm:	91
Depth in cm:	60
Height in cm:	37
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 1'580.-- Currency Converter

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Although the hibachi, or brazier, originated with the ornate bronze pots on legs developed by the Chinese, the Japanese are usually credited with the development of the wooden hibachi.
Although the traditional role of hibachi in Japanese life was ostensibly to provide heat, they were also important from a social viewpoint. The offering of tea was (and still is) a significant part of Japanese hospitality, and the hibachi played the role of always keeping water hot for the unannounced arrival of guest or customer. A guest served tea was also seated close to the hibachi for warmth in winter, and incense sticks were sometimes stuck into the coals of the hibachi to give off a pleasant aroma for the enjoyment of the guest.

09K-08	Hibachi Korea Style

2 compartments with copper lining
large compartment with glass top
3 drawers
stands on feet


Width in cm:	77
Depth in cm:	52
Height in cm:	45
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 1'400.-- Currency Converter

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09P-22	Tansu

1 large drawer
3 medium size drawers sidewise
1 drawer, side compartment w. inner drawer
brass hinges and ornaments


Width in cm:	63
Depth in cm:	36
Height in cm:	55
Availability:	on stock in Switzerland
Price:	CHF 1'450.-- Currency Converter

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Traditional Korean and Japanese furniture items

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Phone:	0041-(0)44-747-0371
Fax:	0041-(0)44-747-0371
Homepage:	www.roman.jost.com
E-Mail:	romanjost@swissonline.ch

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