Japanese Cabinetry
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Tansu - the craft of wooden boxes and chests, originally designed during the Edo period of Japanese history (1603 - 1868) - is as recognizable as the Shaker style of oval boxes. Jackson, who has been collecting and conserving tansu works since 1990, and Owen, a gallery owner and goldsmith, have together produced a fine exposition of this obscure corner of woodworking history and culture. This lavishly illustrated volume is printed on heavy, glossy paper and presents breathtaking examples of the woodworker's art on every page. The authors present historical context in a rather disjointed fashion that will confuse newcomers to the topic, and some of the captions contain gratuitous editorializing, which detracts from the joy of discovery throughout most of the book. Still, with eight chapters on the various aspects of tansu (including commercial and household uses); 300 color illustrations, with examples from all regions of Japan; and such useful resources as endnotes, a glossary, a bibliography, a chronology, and a list of sources, this is the most comprehensive exploration of the topic currently available. Ultimately for designers rather than woodworkers or vernacular historians, this book is recommended for large decorative arts collections.