Japantastics, Inc.
Solid Keyaki Fifteen-Drawer Chest with Cabriole Legs
Delivery: 5 months
Refund Policy: https://japantastics.jp/policies/refund-policy
All prices include international delivery, duties, and taxes, fully arranged on your behalf.
All orders are shipped internationally via Nippon Express, with delivery fully managed from Japan to your residence and tracked throughout.
A masterwork of sculptural elegance, where the dynamic grain of solid Keyaki wood meets graceful flowing curves.
Crafted from rare solid Japanese Keyaki (zelkova) wood, this exceptional chest celebrates the powerful beauty and natural vitality unique to fine hardwoods. Revered in Japan for centuries, Keyaki is prized for its richly expressive grain patterns and luminous figured textures. Enhanced by a deep lacquer-inspired finish, the flowing grain reveals remarkable depth, dimensionality, and radiance.
Highlights of the Piece
Expressive Natural Grain
From the fifteen drawers across the façade to the top panel and side surfaces, carefully selected solid Keyaki wood has been seamlessly arranged to preserve the uninterrupted flow of the grain. As light shifts across the surface, the wood reveals changing expressions—an artwork shaped by nature itself.
Refined Cabriole Leg Design
One of the defining features of this piece is its bold yet elegant cabriole legs. Their graceful outward curves lend a sense of movement and lightness while maintaining structural stability. Intricate detailing at the feet adds refinement and sophistication, softening the commanding presence of the chest with quiet elegance.
Artisan Details Throughout
The gently curved top panel, delicately pierced carvings beneath the frame, and richly toned brass-style decorative hardware all reflect extraordinary craftsmanship. Every detail has been executed without compromise, elevating traditional Japanese cabinetry through a contemporary aesthetic sensibility.
Fifteen Drawers Combining Beauty and Function
The fifteen small drawers provide practical storage for treasured everyday objects while contributing to the chest’s striking architectural rhythm. Far beyond functional furniture, this piece possesses the commanding presence of a sculptural centerpiece within a refined interior.
With time and use, the wood develops even greater depth and character, making this a timeless work of Japanese craftsmanship worthy of being passed down through generations.
Specifications
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Primary Material: Solid Japanese Keyaki Wood
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Features: Fifteen drawers, cabriole-leg design, brass-tone decorative hardware
Dimensions
Width: 1130 mm
Height: 1240 mm
Depth: 575 mm
Weight: 35 kg
Material
Solid Keyaki Wood
Artist’s Profile
Master Artisan of Contemporary Japanese Furniture
Third-Generation Head of Sato Mokko
Born into the distinguished Sato Mokko workshop—founded in 1934 in Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture—Keiichiro Sato is the third-generation heir to a lineage long revered for exceptional craftsmanship. Once known locally by the saying, “For bridal furnishings, go to Sato Mokko,” the atelier built its reputation through refined heirloom furniture and traditional architectural woodwork.
From an early age, Sato absorbed the discipline of master craftsmanship under the guidance of his grandfather, Zenjuro. He inherited techniques rooted in shrine and temple architecture, including intricate kumiko latticework, complex structural joinery, and precision cabinetry—foundations that would later define his artistic language.
At seventeen, he encountered a defining turning point when the family business faced severe financial hardship under the second generation. Taking on responsibility at a young age, Sato sustained traditional commissions while simultaneously pursuing an independent vision—one that would unite heritage craftsmanship with contemporary form.
Guided by the belief that true craftsmanship is timeless, Sato established his signature genre of Creative Japanese Furniture: works that combine rare solid Japanese zelkova, authentic urushi lacquer, gold leaf, and centuries-old techniques with a bold contemporary sensibility. His creations transcend conventional furniture, emerging instead as collectible works of functional art that embody the Japanese ideal of beauty through utility.
In recent years, his work has received recognition both in Japan and internationally. Exhibitions include the Paris International Salon (recommended invitation), the Cartago Museum in Costa Rica (presented at the request of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs), exhibitions in Dalian, China, and selection for the Japan–France Contemporary Art World Exhibition for his work TAMATEBAKO. His works have also been presented at The National Art Center, Tokyo, alongside numerous museum exhibitions, solo shows, and publications.
In 2023, a devastating fire destroyed his factory, showroom, tools, and materials accumulated over decades. Yet within only seven months, Sato resumed production—an act that reflects the resilience and uncompromising spirit that define master artisanship.
Today, Keiichiro Sato continues to shape wood in pursuit of works intended to endure not merely for a lifetime, but for generations—objects of substance, beauty, and permanence, created with a view toward the centuries ahead.
