Antique Meiji 7 Step Japanese Elm Wood Tansu Chest

Grand antique Meiji era 7 step Japanese elm wood tansu chest from the 19th century. While this piece looks like it would have to be built inside your house in order for it to fit, it was actually designed to be easily transportable. It comes apart into two pieces, the bottom part includes the first three steps, and cuts through the middle, right over the first set of sliding panels. The top half includes the top four steps and has notches in the bottom that help the pieces connect together. There is a hole drilled in the back of the smaller paneled compartment, most likely made more recently for cord management. All drawers and panels open easily. There is significant wear and tear in the lower drawers and compartments. It appears to have been small children who possibly stored art supplies in some of the drawers at one point, as one of them is dyed slightly purple. There is also some staining of the wood inside the lower compartment. Both of these attributes are visible in the photos.