Tansu are, in a simple sense, wood furniture pieces, but Jackson, a conservator and collector of tansu, and Owen, a gallery owner, make the case that tansu should be seen in the U.S. as an art form. Tansu, they argue, represent the height of Japanese craftsmanship in the Edo and Meiji periods, reflecting increasing societal wealth and evolving tastes. The authors compare the simple, elegant cupboards and chests to Shaker objects, which "are now feverishly collected as art, yet would not be without respect for the traditions and skill they embody." The 300 color photos support their contentions-the pieces are delicately finished with lacquer and hand-forged iron and are made of more than one kind of wood. Hand-tinted Meiji-era photographs accompany synopses of period history: in one, a doctor feels a patient's hand; in another a young woman prepares tea. An unusual chapter places tansu among Western settings, while others outline personal household uses of tansu, or how to restore and collect it. The book's design echoes a museum catalogue, with captions and explanatory text.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Reader Reviews
I am biased; I am a woodworker. This is actually a terrific book offering a huge collection of beautiful photos, and an extensive commentary about the role of Tansu in Japanese lifestyle and culture. However the craft of making Tansu was not well represented. From the title I would have expected more on tools, techniques and joinery.
Back To Top
