Sewing chest - Japanese antique - wooden chest with a pin cushion buy tower - WhatsForPudding #2836

This is a wooden sewing chest. It's an antique piece from late 1800s to early 1900s.

It has 4 drawers (photo #2). Metal handles are original pieces (#3, 4). All handles have double layered chrysanthemum flower shaped nail coverings buy. A part of the nail covering of the top left drawer handle is bent and folded half (#4).

Inside of the drawers are painted black (#5, top) using sumi ink (calligraphy ink). The ink might have been used as a bug repellent. It's a water base ink so when I cleaned the drawers with a damp cloth the cloth got stained black. As long as the drawers are kept dry there should be no problem. Please put a lining in the drawer if you'd like to keep white or pale coloured thread, tapes or fabric in these drawers.

The marks on the back of the drawers (#5, bottom left) and inside the chest (#5, bottom right) were written by the cabinet maker. It says, "one".

The lidded box at the top of the tower is for a pin cushion (#6, top left). The metal hinge of the lid is in poor condition and the lid doesn't close properly. Please check the top right photo of the photo #6. Bottom wing of the hinge is torn in two places. The lid is supposed to be kept open when the chest is in use but in this condition the weight of the lid might break the hinge. Please open the lid gently and never let it hanging from the hinge.

The opening at the top of the tower (#6, bottom left) is for keeping a ruler. This chest doesn't come with a ruler.

The small hole on the gingerbread trim (#6, bottom right) under the pincushion box is for tying a sewing clamp (Japanese sewing bird). Japanese sewing bird looks just like a clothespeg and it is used for keeping fabric taut while hand stitching. Sewing clamp is not included.

The tower has been mended in many places. Dried white and clear glue are visible (#7).

It's made of wood. No plywood. It's painted in rosewood colour.

There are scratches (#8) and stains (#9, top).

There's a slight gap between the top plank and top drawers (#9, bottom) but all drawers work smoothly.

It's a well used antique piece but it will last many more years.

size
width: 7 3/4" (19.7 cm)
depth: 7 5/8" (19.5 cm)
height (without tower): 8 5/8" (22 cm)
height (including tower): 16" (40.5 cm)

inside measurements (width, depth, height) of the drawers
top left and right = 2 5/16" x 6 3/4" x 1 3/8" (5.8 x 17.1 x 3.6 cm)
centre: 5 3/4" x 6 3/4" x 1 7/8" (14.4 x 17.2 x 4.7 cm)
bottom: 5 3/4" x 6 5/8" x 2 3/8" (14.3 x 16.9 x 6.1 cm)

weight: 4.1 lb (1,870 g)

Inquiry number: #2836

[Ship by surface mail]
The shipping cost listed for this item is for registered surface mail. Please note that currently some countries are not accepting surface mail.

[Estimated arrival]
Shipping by surface mail takes 2 to 5 months depending on the destination.

US: 3 months
Europe: 3 to 4 months
Australia: 50 to 60 days

Please note that the estimated arrival date shown in the right side column of your browser window (if you are seeing this on a PC) is WRONG. It's due to the Etsy system's limitation.

[Faster shipping]
Faster EMS shipping is available for some countries.

[Shipping inside Japan / 送付先が日本国内の場合]
If the shipping address is inside Japan, items will be shipped by Yu-pack or Kuroneko Yamato by secure and least expensive method. Please let me know the item you are interested and the shipping destination (prefecture will do). I'll get back to you with shipping cost estimate.
送付先が日本国内の場合、郵便またはクロネコでできるだけ安心で安い方法で発送いたします。購入ご希望の商品と発送先都道府県名をお知らせください。送料見積もりをお知らせします。ペイパル口座をお持ちでない方はご相談ください。