An antique Japanese Tohoku Mizuya Tansu in 2 sections made of Burl Keyaki (Zelkova), Aka Matsu (Red Pine) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Two sets of large doors separated by a middle set of 4 drawers with Mokko handles. A lift-out door hides additional storage space where tall narrow items were stored. Original wiped Urushi lacquer finish.

Age: Meiji period (1870-1890)

Dimensions: 65 3/4" Wide by 55 5/8" High by 21 5/8" Deep

An antique Ryobiraki Choba Tansu (merchant chest with double doors) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. Behind the doors are 7 drawers with 2 shelves for merchant books and records. The bottom shelf has a coin slot where coins were dropped into the drawer below. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (Merchant Chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute style handles and the decorative front drawer corners. Double side by side drawers above with sliding doors and three drawers below made this a functional chest for a merchant to store his business books and records as well as store valuables...

An antique Japanese Choba Kuruma Tansu (wheeled merchant chest) made fo Keyaki (Zelkova), Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Drawers were made using Kakute handles. Lock bar added additional security for the 2 full width center drawers. Sliding doors open to a spacious storage area and the hinged door secure 2 small drawers behind. Side slats add strength and support...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Removable hinged door opens to two large compartments where merchant books and store records were kept. Below are two drawers for additional storage. Side handles allow for easy placement of the chest in a room.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 25 3/4" Wide by 41 1/8" High by 17 1/4" Deep

Antique Japanese gyosho bako (peddler's chest for a traveling salesman). Made with sugi (cryptomeria - cypress) wood on the outside and kiri (paulownia) wood on the inside, this box would have been light enough to carry. The single door opens to reveal a series of 10 light weight stacking trays which slide out like drawers. Each is marked with a character in light ink for organization. There is also an exterior drawer with a round iron lock and square handle...

An original Edo Period Japanese single section Kannon Biraki tansu chest made of iron, kiri (paulownia) and sugi (cypress) woods. An assortment of drawers are neatly tucked away inside. Originally made to store textiles and traditional clothing. Pair hinged doors are lockable with original key included.
Hand forged family crest of the Matsunaga family...

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Funa Tansu (Captain's chest for uniform storage) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute exterior handles and the Warabite interior handles. Lift-off security door opens to two drawers where the captain's uniform would have been stored. Fully framed in iron.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 33" Wide by 18" High by 17 1/4" Deep

A rare antique Japanese Tansu chest called Kodansu. Its purpose was for use as a merchant's side chest where trade records, documents, papers and business tools were stored. The front and case were made using burl Keyaki (Zelkova) wood with Hinoki (Cypress) wood completing the rest of the chest. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery with hardened wood nails...

An antique Japanese kuruma tansu coming from the Mikuni region. The tansu is fitted with iron fittings to retain the condition of the tansu and to protect the vulnerable areas of the chest. The tansu has two wooden bars to lock the drawers of the chest. The chest is made from keyaki wood. Age: 19th century. Size: height 48" width 28.75" length 53.25"

Rare and beautiful Japanese gyosho bako (merchant's box carried on back) with three sections. It is made of a kiri (paulownia) wood with original dark finish, the front of the box has ornate bronze hardware in the shape of chrysanthemum petals, locks and extensive back bracing all made out of iron. It features a top drawer with a kakute handle and two hinged doors opening to five smaller drawers with ring shaped pulls...

Antique Japanese tansu from the Sendai region, made of keyaki wood with red lacquered top and sides, ornate iron hardware such as mokko (melon) shaped handles, large round lockplates with incised designs (the top lock has pierced floral side designs) and a side lockbox. Size: 33" height, 45.5" width, 17.25" depth

Very Unusual Antique Japanese large safe box made all of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood, door has elaborate six drop-in hinges (when door is unlocked it can be lifted completely off), other hardware inlcludes heavy iron cross and corner bracing, heavy side handles, and warabite shaped drawer pulls on the two interior drawers, the outside of the box is finished with it's original reddish orange translucent lacquer finish. Edo Period (circa 1850's) Size: 41 1/2" high (42" high including ...

Antique Japanese small choba tansu (merchant chest) made with attractive keyaki (elm) burl front panels in a reddish brown lacquer finish. The style of handles on each drawer is called "mokko" or "melon shape", accented with decorative iron hardware in each corner. The sliding doors in front lock in the center. Unusual piece in wonderful condition. Solid Keyaki wood. Very heavy and gorgeous. Early Meiji Period (circa 1870's) Size: 22.5" height, 25" width, 16.5" depth

Antique Japanese unusual tansu made from a very attractive Keyaki (elm wood) burl coated in original lacquer finish. It has drawers of varying sizes, with warabite shaped iron handles, the top and bottom drawers have decorative iron lock plating incised with a floral design, safebox in bottom corner with original key. Unusual size with stunning original finish and exquisite iron work. Early Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Size: 34.5" H x 29" L x 17" D

Rare Japanese gyosho bako or peddler's chest, constructed with Kiri (paulownia) wood in original dark brown/black lacquer finish. The tall, narrow box is two sections stacked held in place by iron latches on the sides. Each drawer front has square pulls and floral lock plates with brass accent hardware. The top drawer of the bottommost section has a secret hidden compartment for storing precious treasures...

An antique Japanese Kansai 2 section tall Todana Tansu made of solid Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Hand made iron fittings and hardened wooden nail and iron nail construction. Traditional Japanese joinery throughout this lovey chest. Shunkei style lacquer reveals the beautiful grain pattern which evokes visual movement. Side wood supports typical of Kansai region tansu.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 66" High x 41 3/4" Wide x 23 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) in 2 sections made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hardware including bronze sliding door handles and hand forged iron drawer pulls. The full moon theme follows the round upper sliding door handles and the drawer pulls. There are five horizontal and five vertical drawers for organizing storage with spacious storage behind the sliding doors...