A rare edo period Japanese choba (merchants) tansu from the Niigata perfection in Japan. Made of solid keyaki hardwood (including the back). Finely detailed hand forged iron of a flying crane and longevity turtle seen amongst the pine and bamboo. The lower two drawers depict a lock and drum. Stunning original finish with warm tones. 8 drawers in total each of there own size...

Exceptional antique Japanese large kannon biraki tansu (chest with hinged doors). Two stacking sections made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. This chest has unusually bold hardware made of iron with traces of red lacquer. Each of the two large doors on the upper portion is fitted with a large iron kiri mon (specifically Gosan-no-kiri-mon) During the Edo Period, this crest became a well established mon of the Japanese government where previously it was used only by the imperial family...

Rare antique Japanese Biraki Choba (merchant chest with hinged doors). The doors open to reveal 9 drawers of various sizes over a single large exterior drawer. Heavy iron hardware includes extensive cross bracing, large hinges, warabite drawer-pulls, a large round lock plate, a lock and 3 keys.
The lock plate has a large Minamoto Clan family crest-likely that of the Seiwa Genji clan...

A rare antique Japanese choba biraki tansu (merchant's chest). Made of keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with burled wood on the front. The top portion of the chest has a large full-width drawer. On the right side is vertical row of four small drawers. Two hinged doors open to a shelf and two small interior drawers. And two medium sized drawers line the bottom of the chest. Hand forged iron hardware includes warabite handles, round lock plates and cross bracing on the doors...

Antique Japanese choba tansu made of solid quartered sawn keyaki (zalkova) wood with burl wood front. The upper portion of the tansu has a large full-width drawer and another full-width drawer on the bottom. The right hand side has three small exterior drawers. The middle section has sliding panels with unusually fine vertical slats. The interior has 3 small drawers in a vertical row...

Antique Japanese unusual funa tansu (funa-dansu, ship merchant's safe box). Rare side-by-side configuration with a safe on the right and a compartment with sliding panels on the left. The right side safe box opens with a hinged door heavily decorated with iron work. A ivy leaf in circle mon (Itowa-ni tsuta) in the center with a ring for opening and a fan motif on the lock itself. The interior has 3 drawers in a vertical row, all with square handles and the bottom drawer with a lock...

Antique Japanese Kimono Bo Tansu from the Iwayado area of Northern Japan. Constructed of quarter sawn Toneriko (Tamo Ash) wood with striking grain and a translucent lacquer finish. The frame is made of Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood with an opaque wiped lacquer finish. Hardware is hand made all of iron and includes Warabite shaped drawer pulls with unusual raised Pine and Peach back plates...

Antique Japanese kuruma tansu (wheeled chest), made all solid quartered sawn keyaki (zelkova) hardwood with beautiful and dramatic natural grain. The upper and lower portions of the chest have open compartments which close with sliding panels. Each panel is reinforced with either vertical or horizontal wooden slats. A heavy hand forged iron plate sits in place along with hand forged iron locks and hardware with a key to keep the door panels from sliding...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), made of kiri (paulownia) wood, iron hardware, from the Mikuni area of Japan, Meiji Period, (1868-1912). Size: 41" high x 36" wide x 16 3/5" deep.

Japanese antique 2-section mizuya (kitchen tansu), from the Niigata area of Japan, made with keyaki wood on front and side bracing, deep orange / red original translucent lacquer finish with wonderful deep pantina, iron side hardware, unusual lacquered wood carved drawer knobs, each compartment with one long original shelf, Edo Period (18th/19th century). Size: 68" high x 68" wide x 20 1/2" deep.

Large rare antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), from the Mikuni area of Japan, made of heavy solid keyaki (elm) wood throughout, wooden bracing on sides and back, large compartment with sliding panels has 4 smaller interior drawers, safe box has 2 small interior drawers, beautiful heavy iron work, has 3 keys, Edo Period. Size: 35 1/2" high x 47 1/2" wide x 19 1/4" deep.

A rare and unusual Japanese cho bako ("cho" meaning small and "bako" meaning box). Made of Keyaki (elm) hardwood with its original lacquer finish. The upper region of the piece holds a pair of narrow sliding door panels, with a center locking pin to hold them securely shut, and vertical slats of branches...

Antique Japanese deep small tansu made entirely of Kiri (paulownia) wood. All original finish with natural patina front and red lacquer top and sides. A variety of drawers in unusual formation provide neatly organized storage of small treasures.

Edo Period (1603-1868)

Size: 30" L x 22.25" W x 24" H

Pvt. Zentner Family Collection

Rare Japanese antique choba tansu made of keyaki (elm) wood. The top portion has a compartment with sliding panels and horizontal slats. The bottom portion of the chest has two safe boxes with heavy iron hardware, one opening to the left and one opening to the right. Inside each safe box is a series of four small kiri (paulownia) wood drawers. Between the safes are two keyaki drawers with heavy iron lock plates. This chest has 3 working keys and ...

Rare Japanese four drawer gyosho bako, or peddler's chest, constructed of Sugi (cedar) wood, with iron hardware and mounts, iron rings on the sides for carrying. The chest is trapezoidal in shape and tapers towards the top of the chest. Original finish and condition. With key included. Exhibited at the Palo Alto Cultural center

19th century Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 26" w x 12 1/2" d x 26 1/4" h

A rare Edo era Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron hardware and original dark wiped lacquer technique finish. Unusual features include the front to back swivel carrying handles and three secret compartment boxes. One box hides to the back of either shelf tricking a thief to think that he/she found the precious treasure. Behind each of the two bottom drawers also hides secret boxes where the real treasure is kept.

This ...

Rare Japanese Yonazawa Keyaki (zelkova) burl front tansu with original golden honey lacquer finish. The round lock plates on each drawer feature the emblem of the Taira clan, whose mon is the swallowtail butterfly or ageha.

The Taira were one of the four important clans that dominated Japanese politics during the Heian period (794–1185) – the others were the Fujiwara clan, the Tachibana clan and the Minamoto clan.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: ...

Antique Japanese rare kuruma tansu (wheeled chest). Made of solid quartered sawn keyaki (zelkova) wood with hand forged iron hardware. The upper portion of the chest has a large compartment opened by sliding panels with horizontal slats and heavy iron latch. The bottom portion has one large drawer. There is a small hidden compartment between the two portions of the chest. Gorgeous original finish with beautiful patina.

Mid Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 30 1/2" high x...