An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Hidden behind the hinged door are two small drawers. All original hand made iron fittings with Gumbai handle with a natural wood grain finish and straight dovetail joinery construction.

Chests such as these were used in a home to store letters, photos, miscellaneous ephemera, small valuables and other sundry items...

A rare antique Japanese Cha Tansu (tea chest) made of Kuwanoki (Mulberry) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. The tansu was made using solid Kuwanoki burl wood in front and solid Kuwanoki wood on the case and back. The sliding doors open to a spacious storage area while the lift-out door opens to a split shelf area for book storage...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu in 2 sections with a 3 drawer upper and 2 drawer lower design made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand made iron hardware with Urushi dark red lacquer finish and Gumbai handles. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Lock plates have hand engraved auspicious symbols with Sho Chiku Bai comprising the upper section while the crane and turtle making up the bottom section...

An antique Japanese Yamagata Tansu made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hikute handles and the Urushi lacquer finish. Lock plates feature the family crest of the Paulownia. Four large drawers and one small drawer to the exterior. The hinged security door hides 2 small drawers where valuables were kept...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Aka Matsu (Red Pine) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Unusual counter Ryo Biraki design with door hinges in the center of the piece opens to a configuration of drawers and open cavities where store records and books were held. It has a low profile that was custom designed for the merchant for his specific needs...

An antique Chobako (merchant storage box) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Hinged door when opened reveals 6 drawers of varying sizes. In particular is one small drawer with ink stains that stored the inkstone...

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu in 3 stacking sections made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original bronze hardware. Top section features 2 sliding doors, a hinged door, and three drawers where fashion accessories were stored. The center section has two hinged doors that open to three full drawers while the bottom section features three more drawers for additional storage. Each section can be used separately in different rooms of a house...

An antique Japanese small tansu chest called Kotansu made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hikute handles. 5 drawers of varying sizes and a hinged door that hides 2 additional drawers where valuables were kept hidden for security. Constructed using Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. It makes a perfect night stand or side table in today's contemporary home...

An antique Japanese Yonezawa Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kuri (Chestnut) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles and the round lock plates. Three large drawers provide spacious storage for organizing. Side handles provide for easy carrying of the chest. Originates from the Yonezawa region of Japan.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 26 1/2" Wide by 23" High by 13 1/4" Deep

A vintage Japanese Kamo Isho Tansu (Kimono storage chest) in 2 sections made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original metal hardware including the stylized Gumbai handles and the Plum blossom arabesque door lock plates. Upper section has a pair of sliding doors behind which lies two small drawers, a split level shelf and a pair of hinged doors that hide 4 removable Kimono trays...

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware and wiped lacquer finish. Comprised of 4 large drawers and a hinged security door housing 2 small drawers where valuables were hidden. A trick secret box was hidden behind the bottom small drawer with access by removing the bottom large drawer and reaching behind the small drawer.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 35 1/2" Wide by 38 5/8" High by 17 7/8" Deep

An antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made of kiri (paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including stylized gumbai handles. Two sliding kiri wood panels framed in black lacquer over two large drawers for safe keeping of inventory. Iron drawer corners feature raised seed pods suggesting this chest originated in the Yonezawa region of Japan.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 30 1/2" high x 30 " wide x 15 1/8" deep

Japanese sword chest (katana tansu), made all of kiri (paulownia wood), 2 long drawers, iron hardware with square lock plates and warabite shaped drawer pulls, iron corner bracing, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 12 1/2" high x 47 1/2" wide x 14 1/2" deep.

Antique Japanese two section cha tansu (tea chest) made with beautiful burl wood front drawer panels, and persimmon wood front frame, in all original lacquer finish. The top section has two burl sliding doors and two very large textured glass panel doors, the interior of which has very unique shelving with natural wood accents, lacquered in red...

Japanese 2 section kimono tansu. Made with Kiri (paulownia) wood, all natural finish. The upper section holds 8 drawers, which is considered an auspicious number. The bottom section contains 2 drawers with warabite pulls mounted on pierced metal plates. The piece also contains a secret hidden compartment beneath the bottom drawer.

Taisho period (1912-1925)

Dimensions: 39.5" x 17.75" x 66.75" H

An antique Japanese 1/2 Sendai Tansu made of Kakinoki (Persimmon) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Hand made iron fittings featuring beautiful lock plates on the drawers and the hinged door.

There are 2 secret hiding compartments behind the hinged door. The first is found by sliding out the bottom drawer separator wall revealing a secret storage area where valuables could be hidden. The second is found within the top drawer support floor board which can be opened like a drawer where...

Antique Japanese 2-section biraki isho tansu (clothing chest with opening doors) made especially for storing kimono. The top section has hinged doors which open to reveal a set of 7 kimono trays which can be slid all the way out like shallow drawers. The bottom section has three large drawers. The chest is made all of kiri (paulownia) wood and has pierced hardware with designs of peony flowers.

Age: Taisho Period (circa 1920's)

Dimensions: 64 1/2" high x 42" wide x 17 3/4" ...

An antique Japanese Kansai merchant display store tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Constructed using through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery with horizontal side ribs for strength and support. Most likely used for the display of large tall items, a customized shelf could be added for an additional charge.

Age: Meiji Period (1890-1910)

Dimensions: 74 1/2" Wide by 33 1/8" High by 18 1/8" Deep