Meiji Period Tansu

I found this at my favorite monthly flea yesterday - the very last row. He was selling a wide assortment of stuff which didn't interest me, but i asked if he had any Japanese stuff and he said - yes, i have a bureau i haven't had time to put out yet and he showed me this wonderful tansu. there are no nails - they used bamboo pegs. most of the exterior wood is Japanese elm, but the two bottom drawers are mulberry. I took it to a friend of mine - an older Japanese man who is incredibly knowledgeable about all things Japanese. He got all tearful when he saw it and said 'how did i miss this?' then he was very happy for me. he said that the cutouts are a sign that this is a rare tansu to store and show beautiful utilitarian pottery. I guess that would make this a mizasu - kitchen tansu. He said it's definitely Meiji.