This rather rare Japanese wheeled merchant’s chest is a particularly good example of this style of tansu. As is the norm for quality merchant’s chests, It has extensive iron fittings. The iron locking bar and lower wheel cover fittings are fully intact. These are the 2 areas that appear to have been the most subject to loss and damage. Another indication of quality is that it was not common for there to be such finely figured wood drawer fronts on this type of furniture. In times gone by the average Japanese homes and shops were largely constructed of paper and softwood. Because of this, and with heating and cooking being done in an open hibachi ,fires were frequent and would spread very, very quickly. The wheeled chests Would hold most of the more valuable possessions/inventory. So, the wheels, of course, enabled the owner to quickly remove their treasured pieces from a burning structure. Fire is also another reason for the more substantial construction members as these would be fractionally more resistant to to the flames.