Antique Japanese Lacquered Writing Desk

A beautifully aged antique Japanese low writing desk (chobako or tsukue), believed to be used by merchant originally.  This elegant piece of traditional interior furniture features a long, low-profile top flanked by raised side lips, historically used to prevent scrolls and writing brushes from rolling off the surface. Beneath the main deck, it houses one smaller side drawer alongside one long central drawer, each fitted with original hand-forged iron handles and a central lock plate - non-functioning. 

Age: Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Materials
Constructed from lightweight native conifer panels, likely cedar (sugi) or paulownia (kiri), coated in a rich, reddish-brown Japanese lacquer (urushi). The drawer hardware and decorative plates are made of hand-wrought iron that has naturally blackened over time.

Dimensions
HEIGHT: 27.3CM / 10.7"
WIDTH: 86.7CM / 34.1"
DEPTH: 27.9CM / 10.9"

Condition & Antique Character
As an antique object, this piece has lived a previous life and shows the gentle marks of time and utility. The urushi lacquered top exhibits historic surface fading, superficial scratches, and extensive honest rubbing along the left corner where a merchant's arm or inkstone may have repeatedly rested. The structural base shows small lacquer flakes, localized timber exposure along the bottom edges of the shaped legs, and a rich, stable oxidation across all the original iron drawer fittings. Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.