Fukui tansu (also known as Echizen chests) are made by processing wood such as zelkova and paulownia using traditional joinery techniques that are said to date back to the 8th century. Echizen chests are characterized by their heavy construction, decorative metal fittings, and lacquer finish, all of which are tied to the area’s other traditional crafts. For example, the decorative metal fittings on the tansu are made using Echizen forged cutlery techniques, and the lacquer coating is made using traditional Echizen lacquerware methods. Many tansu craftsmen still gather in Tansu Town, a production area developed in the late Edo and Meiji periods.