Traveling chest

This large chest was used for holding clothes while traveling. A porter carried the box by placing on his shoulder a carrying pole that was inserted through the square projections from the U-shaped handles. Bending forward as he walked, the porter took the box’s weight on his upper back.

The solidly constructed chest is strengthened by metal fittings at its corners. The exterior is covered with lacquer and decorated with sprinkled gold. Distributed among the decorative pattern of bamboo leaves and plum blossoms are crests of three hollyhock leaves, a crest used exclusively by the Tokugawa family, which ruled Japan from 1615 to 1868.