Antique Japanese small tansu chest made of kiri (paulownia) wood. It has six drawers of various sizes and a compartment with a small shelf covered by two sliding panels. Hardware is made of iron and includes warabite shaped drawer pulls, round lock plates, corner bracing and side handles.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 18 1/2" high x 23 1/4" wide x 11 1/4" deep.

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made with Keyaki (elm) burl front hardwood and hand-forged iron hardware and plating. The merchant's chest holds two drawers over a sliding pair of panel doors with open compartment inside. Below this are seven small and two large drawers, each with "warabite" shaped pulls and decorative iron corner hardware. The original finish compliments the dramatic, natural burl grain...

Antique Japanese tall cha tansu with an open shelf for the display of seasonal and personal decor. The 2 sets of Keyaki (Zelkova)) burl wood front sliding panels and the beautiful wood grained Akita Sugi (Cryptomeria from Akita prefecture) sliding panels below highlight this attractive chest with Hinoki (Cypress) wood making up the frame and balance.

Most likely custom built and commissioned by a wealthy family making this an unusual and unique chest...

A massive Japanese solid Keyaki (elm) hardwood Kannon Biraki merchant's chest. Decorated with hand-forged iron plating, the motifs seen throughout the piece's hardware include the image of Ebisu, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune, proudly holding up a freshly caught fish, a large Mokko (melon) shaped lock on the front pair of doors, with flowers and pine trees adorning the drawer below in the form of its lock and handle plates...

Japanese two section isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Sado Island area. Original dark reddish lacquer finish. With hand-forged iron hardware, decorative plating incised with motifs of cranes and turtles with many tails, both symbols of longevity. The lower unit holds a corner safe box with two small drawers concealed inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41" L x 16" D x 41" H

Unusual Japanese gyosho bako tansu (merchant's chest). With original red lacquer finish, this large piece holds three very deep drawers, each with squared kakute iron pulls on stylized pine tree mounts. The top drawer features a large central lock with flying crane motif, while the lower drawers feature chrysanthemum locks. The sides of the tansu also have two handles for traveling.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 22" W x 27" D x 39" H

Japanese two section tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) wood with natural finish front drawers, and original black lacquered frame. The piece has pine tree shaped hand-forged iron lock plates, with warabite iron pulls. The locks are incised chrysanthemums and the corner hardware is fan iron plating. The piece holds a side lock box with a large decorative iron chrysanthemum plating and keyhole. Inside the box are two small drawers with triangular plates and round pulls...

A Japanese Butsudan, or Buddhist shrine for in-home use. The exterior of the shrine is lacquered in red with black lacquer and gold gilt pigments. The gilt hardware of the butsudan are highly ornate with motifs of chrysanthemums, lotuses, vines, and dharmachakra wheels. The lower area of the shrine features two pull-out platforms and hidden drawers...

Japanese zenibako (money safe box) made with Keyaki (zelkova) burl wood in original red lacquer finish. The zenibako is fitted with brass hardware including side handles in a mokko (melon) motif. The hinged lid has a large front lock plate with matching key, and a calligraphy inscription on the underside. The interior of the zenibako holds two open compartments.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 20 1/2" x 12" x 7 3/4" H

Japanese two section tansu made with Kiri (paulownia) wood. The chest's four front drawers feature large, round Kiri wood mon (family crest) motif lock plates , while the Warabite style drawer pulls have small pierced plates below them in the style of a crane mon. The bottom section holds a small corner safe door with two small drawers inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 40 1/2" x 17 1/4" x 42" H

Japanese two section clothing tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) wood. Decorated with classic round iron locks and handles. The lower section holds a corner safe box.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 37" x 16 1/2" x 43 1/4" H

A Japanese single section Sendai tansu, constructed of Keyaki (elm) front panels and Sugi (cedar) sides, with original light finish and black lacquered frame. The drawers of this chest have large, decorative, hand-forged iron lock plates with floral motifs and mokko (melon) handles. The side of the chest has a safe door with 3 small Keyaki burl front drawers inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 46 3/4" x 19 1/4" x 35" H

An unusual Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) constructed of Kiri (paulownia) wood with natural finish. This unusual piece contains a top compartment behind sliding panels as well as another below it, the lower compartment containing two shelves and a set of 3 small drawers with decorative locking plates, opened by kan (ring) pulls. The middle inner drawer contains a secret hidden compartment. All in original condition...

Japanese small choba tansu, constructed of Kiri (paulownia) and Sugi (cypress) natural finish wood. With hand-forged iron hardware and plates. The choba has hirute handles, with foliate edge motif lock plates, small pair of sliding middle doors with slats, and a corner bottom safe box with two small drawers inside.

Late Edo / Early Meiji Period (circa 1850's)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" x 14" x 24" H

Long Japanese half section Mizuya or buffet cabinet, constructed with Hinoki and Sugi wood.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 57 1/2" x 16" x 30 1/2" H

Long Japanese half section Mizuya or buffet cabinet, constructed with Hinoki and Sugi wood. The piece holds a large upper and lower storage compartment with four sliding door panels.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 57 1/2" x 16" x 29" H

Japanese Cedar, Cyprus wood two(2) section Tansu, Ca. Meiji period 1890's, 42" high, 35 1/2" wide, 16 1/2" deep, 2 graduated size long drawers above 2 long drawers in lower section, total 4 long drawers. Old red lacquer on black iron back plates are still visible. Small hole on the lower left side of bottom frame. The condition is original as found condition.

Antique Japanese two section Kiri (paulownia) wood clothing tansu. The piece holds 4 drawers, with heavy, square iron pulls, and large round lock plates incised with 3 circle mon. Original, natural finish wood.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35.5" L x 16.5" D x 47.5" H