Japanese Meiji period Sendai style zelkova (keyaki) wood single-section tansu with characteristic rectangular carved lockplate on the upper drawer, Mokko-style (melon) drawer handles, and hinged door on the right side opening to two drawers. Two side carrying handles. Late 19th century (circa 1880). 46 3/4” wide x 18” deep x 34 1/2” high. Very good overall condition with typical wear, some separations in the wood, and shrinkage to the drawers...

Japanese antique apothecary (medicine) chest for a merchant of herbs. Made of 100% hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with 35 drawers of various sizes. Hand forged Iron hardware includes hirute and ring shaped drawer pulls. From the Kansai Area.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 28 1/2" high x 35 3/4" wide x 11 1/4" deep

Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) with kannon-biraki cabinet doors (opening outward on hinges). The doors open to reveal one interior shelf. These door panels as well as the safe box door are both removable. (The hinge pins are built into the door side of the lock and slot into the hinges on the tansu frame.) There are 6 drawers of various sizes. The safe box on the lower right hand side has two additional small interior drawers...

Antique Japanese small merchant's box. Although this tansu has the appearance of a gyosho bako (peddler's box), it does not have loops for carrying straps. It was probably custom made for a merchant's raised platform area. All of the drawers feature hand forged iron lock plates and mounts. One of the smaller drawers is stained with ink meaning it would have stored an ink pen for receipts and accounting...

Antique Japanese kannon biraki (opening door) isho tansu (clothing chest) in 2 sections. Made with kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood top and sides. The top section has a pair of hinged doors which open to reveal two large drawers. The bottom section has two large drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side. The hinged safe box door opens to reveal two small interior drawers, one of which has a hidden compartment...

Antique Japanese tansu from the Nigata area of Japan. Most likely used by a merchant for storage. The 9 drawers are in three rows with the shallowest drawers along the top and gradually getting deeper toward the bottom of the chest. The hardware is all of iron and includes elegant hirute shaped drawer pulls, fan shaped lock plates and corner bracing. The wood is paulownia (kiri) wood.

Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 19 1/2" high x 31" wide x 19" deep.

Antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest of drawers) from the Kyoto region. The chest has an open shelved compartment, with a money slot on the bottom shelf that drops into the drawer below. With black iron Warabite style handles on each drawer, 3 of which also have squared lock plates with Chrysanthemum studs...

Antique Japanese unusually small kannon biraki (hinged doors) tansu chest made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top portion of the chest opens to reveal a compartment with a single shelf. The bottom portion has two exterior drawers. Elaborate iron hardware is like that of a larger kannon biraki chest and includes heavy hinges and cross bracing on the doors with an ivy leaf mon (crest).

Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 16 1/4" high x 19 1/4" wide x 10" deep.

Unusual Japanese single section kannon biraki tansu. This safe chest holds an open top shelf and 2 drawers behind the front hinged locking doors.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 27.5" x 14" x 13.5" H

Japanese ko tansu, or small chest, with natural finish kiri wood front drawers. The outer frame has the Akamatsu wood dramatic woodgrain in black lacquer finish and cut-out handles for carrying. The hand-forged iron lock plates are in motifs of the Mokko mon.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 22.5" x 10.5" x 10.75" H

Antique Japanese bar tansu with dramatic natural Keyaki burl front hardwood. The locking bar has hand-forged iron bamboo motif plating; Its handle is a 16 petal chrysanthemum Imperial seal mon. The piece has 4 large drawers and a safe box containing 2 smaller drawers. Original condition lacquer finish.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" x 12" x 24.5" H

Rare Japanese gyosho bako (peddler's chest traveling backpack) made with 100% Kiri wood (paulownia). With raised lacquer Ichi mon on its hinged front door with red lacquer backside. The door opens to a shallow front compartment with red lacquer frame interior. The top of the chest has a hinged lid with hand-forged iron plating and lock, opening to a deep inner compartment. The bottom area of the peddler's box holds a long sliding drawer with iron ring pulls on either side and red lacquer sides...

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.

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...

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 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

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...

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...