Japanese Hibachi

Description

This is a very handsome Japanese Naga-Hibachi (long brazier chest), dating to the late Meiji period (c. 1890–1910) or early Taisho period.

What makes this a particularly striking piece is the exceptional choice of wood, and its conversion functionality. 

Identification & Features

 Wood Species & Grain: The front and drawers showcase stunning, highly figured Keyaki (Japanese Elm). The dramatic, wavy moku (wild grain) on the main drop-front panel and the drawers is highly prized in Japanese cabinetry (tansu) for its fluid, organic movement.

 Hardware: It retains its original, classic iron or patinated brass hirute (leech-shaped) drawer pulls with incised backplates, typical of traditional merchant and domestic chests.

 The Conversion (Marble Top): Originally, the large compartment on the left would hold a heavy copper or brass liner filled with ash and charcoal for heating tea water. Here, it has been fitted with a custom-cut Italian Nero Marquina marble top (or a similar high-contrast white-veined black marble). Converting hibachi into functional side or coffee tables is a popular Western adaptation, and utilizing marble instead of the standard glass gives it a much more substantial, upscale architectural look.