Antique Japanese sword tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) hardwood, all original finish. The piece holds two large drawers and two small corner drawers, accented with heavy iron handles, lock plates, and corner hardware. The sides of the piece feature long iron fittings for carrying.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 45.5" L x 15.5" D x 16" H

Antique Japanese half section Mizuya, or kitchen buffet tansu, made of Hinoki (cypress) and Sugi (cedar) wood frame. The chest has bold Keyaki (elm) front drawers along the bottom and right side with copper handles. The large sliding front panels are reinforced with attractive horizontal slats, and open to the large interior compartment.

Dimensions: 70 1/2" L x 18" D x 32" H

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) from the Niigata region of Japan. The front section is made of burled keyaki (Zelkova) and the sides are sugi (Crytomeria). The tansu has a pair of burled wood sliding doors over two burled drawers with heavy iron locks. Exceptional burled Keyaki wood.

Date: Early Meiji - 1870's

Dimensions: 34" tall X 32" wide X 20" deep

An antique Japanese two section tansu with lovely fan lock made of Kiri and Sugi. Mokko hardware with raised tea leaf corners. The chest's top portion has two large drawers with an adjacent small drawer and locked door with two interior drawers. The bottom section has two large drawers. Good condition overall.

Date: mid Meiji (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36" tall X 40 " wide X 17" deep

An antique Japanese Sakata Bo Tansu also known as a locking bar chest made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original finish using a wiped lacquer technique. The bottom drawer lock plate features a Chrysanthemum blossom motif surrounded by outstretched Chrysanthemum leaves.

There are two small drawers hidden behind the hinged door. Working key unlocks the locking bar...

An antique Japanese 2 section Nihon Matsu Tansu made of Urushi lacquered Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original finish and hand made iron fittings. Features double plum blossom Atari (handle stoppers) above and below the handles with Sho Chiku Bai (Pine tree, Bamboo, and Plum Blossom), lock plates featuring Chrysanthemum knobs. Two small drawers hide behind the hinged door.

The Nihon Matsu tansu is traditionally a large kimono storage chest that has spacious storage...

An antique Japanese 1 section Todana Tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Four sliding doors open to a spacious storage area behind. Four drawers along the bottom allow for additional organized storage below. Original hand made iron fittings complete this beautiful chest.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 66 7/8" Wide x 33 1/2" High x 23 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Gyosho Bako also known as a merchant peddler's chest with the outer case and hinged door made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and the inner drawers and drawer floor boards made of Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron fittings. Side handles swivel up allowing a wood or bamboo pole to slide through so that two attendants can easily transport the chest...

Antique Choba Tansu (merchant's chest) from the Tohoku area of Northern Japan. Made with Kiri (Paulownia) wood front and Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood frame and interior. There are six exterior drawers, a compartment with sliding panels, and a safe box all with dramatic round lock plates. Iron hardware also includes Warabite shaped drawer pulls, quarter round corner bracing and half round lock plate and hinge on the safe box...

An antique Japanese Kyoto Todana Tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Two large sliding doors open to a spacious storage area with a center shelf. Horizontal wooden slats on the doors and the sides allow for visual aesthetics and strength of the chest...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) in a rare two section design made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with full moon style locking plates and Warabite handles. Two sliding doors open to a storage area where merchant books and business records were kept. Recessed side handles on the tops of each section.

Merchant chests provided two important key elements for the store owner...

Unusual pair of black lacquer small traveling hinged boxes. Each box is the same size with three individually sized drawers located behind the hinged front door. All original hand forged iron hardware. Side handles swivel up allowing insert of a hardwood pole for ease of carrying them about.

Age: Early Meiji period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 7 3/4" wide x 12 1/2" deep x 11" high Each

Single section Hinkoki (Japanese Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood merchant glass display tansu. Originally used in a merchant shop to display the stores wares for sale.. Shallow in depth with countertop height. Two shelves are located inside for storage needs with the glass support panes in line with the shelves preventing visual distraction of items being shown. Beautifully finished with natural blond tones...

An antique Japanese 2 section store glass display Tansu made of Kurinoki (Chestnut frame) Kirinoki (Paulownia drawer fronts) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria for the balance of the chest) woods. Most glass panes are original showing their wavy characteristic when viewed at an angle. Original hand forged iron Hikute handles. Constructed using double and single through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery...

An antique Japanese single section Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. 2 sliding doors designed with individually cut vertical slats (as opposed to a solid board carved to look like slats). Side horizontal ribs add visual strength and structural support to the chest...

An antique Japanese Kaidan Tansu (stair chest) in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress), Aka Matsu (Red Pine) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Hirute handles...

An unusual antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles and unusual double hinged door design. Interior holds 9 drawers of varying sizes and 2 shelves. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Each side has swivel handles for long distance transport and pairs of carrying handles for placement in a room.

Age: Late Edo Period (1800-1850)