A red lacquer shodana [cabinet for writing utensils] | Showa period, 20th century

Shodana [lit. shelves for books or writing materials] are thought to have been in use by the end of the Muromachi period (1392–1573). Although the name suggests use as a bookshelf, books were more commonly stored away in boxes and chests as paper was susceptible to the humidity of Japan’s climate. Typically these versatile cabinets were used in the owner’s taste for flower arrangements, lacquerware and ceramics, as well as a temporary lodging for books, as both a convenient platform for display and storage.