Monumental Three-Way Opening Gold Butsudan Cabinet — Palace-Scale Ritual Architecture, Black Lacquer & Pure-Gold Surface Work, Mother-of-Pearl Detail (183cm)

Monumental Three-Way Opening Gold Butsudan Cabinet — a palace-scale example of Japanese ritual architecture in furniture form. Built for presence at room scale, this cabinet uses layered doors and deep interior volume to create a controlled threshold into the inner sanctum. At approximately 183 cm tall with a broad 110 cm frontage and substantial 82 cm depth, it reads less like a “cabinet” and more like a miniature temple annex for the home or estate setting.

Architectural Structure

• Three-way opening sequence: outer doors establish room scale; secondary inner doors modulate light and reflection; sanctuary framing sets the focal axis.
• Upper shrine logic: principal platform and canopy field for the central icon and attendant placements.
• Lower cabinet logic: storage and ritual support—implements, linens, incense tools, and continuity items.
• Depth advantage: the 82 cm depth creates visual recession so the interior reads as a “room” rather than a shallow niche.

Material and Finish

• Wood construction: traditional joinery logic; wood species referenced include hiba, hinoki, and red pine.
• Surface system: modified urushi lacquer with select protective urethane areas; robust ground layers built for hardness and stability.
• Gold surface work: matte-style pure-gold leaf application with 24k gold foil / gold powder accents for layered depth.
• Decorative arts: hand-rendered raised lacquer work with mother-of-pearl detail (raden), producing dimensional shimmer under changing light.
• Metalwork: browned-toned plated fittings externally; interior gold-toned fittings executed in a matte-gold style.

Dimensions

• Height: 183 cm
• Width: 110 cm
• Depth: 82 cm

Collector Relevance

This is a centerpiece cabinet for serious diaspora households building a permanent devotional room, estate interiors that can dedicate an alcove or annex, and institutional settings where a monumental altar cabinet functions as a cultural anchor. Scale, depth, and door choreography are the differentiators: the cabinet creates a ritual threshold and a sense of architectural “interior” rather than simply storing objects.

Collector’s Resonance

For those who want devotional continuity without improvisation—an altar cabinet that holds presence even when the room is quiet, minimal, or modern. It suits a household that treats ritual space as architecture: intentional, stable, and generational.

Condition

Maintained presentation with expected age-appropriate handling marks possible on lacquer and gold surfaces (micro-scratches, light edge wear, and minor tone variation in high-contact areas). Best practice is museum-style care: avoid harsh solvents, use soft dusting, and keep lighting and humidity controlled.

Shipping and Logistics

Freight / crated shipping only. This is a monumental cabinet requiring professional packing and controlled handling. Typical workflow: collection and linehaul within Japan → export crating → ocean LCL freight → US port handling and clearance → inland delivery (curbside, threshold, or white-glove by arrangement).

Weight and Packing Estimates

• Estimated item weight: 180–260 kg
• Estimated packed/crated weight: 250–380 kg
• Approx crate external size (planning): 150×130×115 cm

US Landed Cost Model (Estimates)

• Japan domestic transport (collection / linehaul): 
• Export crating + handling: 
• International ocean LCL freight:
• US port + clearance + inland delivery: 
• Total estimated US landed cost (excluding purchase figure): ≈ ($11,867 USD – $18,533 USD)

Customs and HS Cod

Primary classification (typical for wooden furniture/cabinets): HS 9403.60. Final HS determination may vary by broker interpretation and declared material breakdown.

Confidence and Verification Notes

• Exact wood species allocation, gilding layer details, and any later refurbishment require hands-on inspection.
• For institutional acquisition, request close-ups of fittings, edge wear, door alignment, and interior platform measurements before final commitment.