An antique Japanese rare tall Tansu with 7 drawers made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Also known as a Chobako, it was used by a merchant to store his business records and small valuables. A rare feature is the original custom built hinged door that was made for a left handed merchant allowing the door to easily open from right to left with the left hand. All original hand forged iron hardware. A secret hidden box can be accessed behind one of the drawers...

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane (stacking chest on chest) Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Lock plates feature double Chrysanthemum knobs with flying butterfly security catch plates. Each handle has upper and lower Atari in the form of Plum blossoms...

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 Japanese Funa Bako (ship safe box) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. The safe door opens to 5 drawers where valuables were kept. The heavy weight of the case combined with a buoyant interior allowed the crew members to attach a rope to the handle and throw the safe overboard during a pirate attack...

Antique Japanese three section stacking tansu. Top section has four sliders that open to reveal organized area with small drawers and shelving. A total a 12 drawers ranging in size along with a hinged compartment revealing two more small drawers. Original warm honey finish in great condition. Quarter sawn keyaki hardwood with strong grain patterns.

Late Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 48" wide x 63 1/2" high x 16 1/4" deep

A beautiful burl Keyaki wood early 19th century Funa Ko Tansu (Captains's document chest). Frame is made of solid keyaki wood with interior drawers made of soft kiri wood. Original urushi warm transparent lacquer finish with hand forged iron hardware and copper side carrying handles. Unique ring pull faux drawer front that doubles as a lift-out door hiding two small drawers.

Mounted on custom iron stand

Late Edo Period (1603 - 1868) C...

A beautiful antique Japanese Sendai Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware including the Mokko handles. The lock plates feature a center design of the original owner's family crest with scrolling Peony buds that represents wealth and prosperity. The security door hides three smaller drawers that was used to keep valuables and important documents. Beautiful natural wood grain throughout...

A rare antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kikute handles and Urushi lacquer finish). Unusual design with two small drawers secured by a locking security bar and two sets of doors with the upper set having a spacious storage area behind and the bottom set having storage to the left and three small drawers to the right...

An antique Japanese Two-Section Kaidan Tansu (stair chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute handles. Made in two sections allowing for easier placement through a door or entrance. Drawers of varying sizes for organizing with a large hinged door with spacious storage behind and a lift out door on the top step with two wooden hooks where security keys were kept...

An antique Japanese Sendai Bo Tansu (locking bar chest from the Sendai region) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles and Urushi lacquer finish. Safe door hides 3 small drawers where valuables were stored. The main lock plate features a key pattern with a flowing vine arabesque with the smaller plates decorated with Paulownia...

An antique Japanese 2 section tall Kyoto Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made entirely of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles. Copper sliding door handles. Top section features two sliding doors behind which is a spacious storage area where store books and records were kept and below which are 5 drawers. Bottom section features 8 drawers of varying sizes with two sets of sliding doors and a hinged safe behind which are 2 small drawers where valuab...

An antique Japanese Kannon Biraki Tansu (wedding kimono chest) made of rare Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles. Natural Urushi lacquer accentuates the beautiful wood grain. Stippling work to the round lock plates of the two hinged doors. Bottom hinged security door hides two small drawers with a secret box behind the bottom drawer.

The Kannon Biraki tansu was often presented as part of a woman's ...

An antique Japanese Kimono Tansu made fo Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Urushi lacquer accentuates the beautiful wood grain. Unusual rare deep design that was specially custom commissioned to be made by a tansu maker. Three large drawers with a security hinged door featuring a dragon motif that hides two small drawers for valuables as well as a secret hiding box. All original hand forged iron hardware with construction using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened woode...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with a Paulownia family crest front lock plate. Two hinged doors open to an array of 8 small drawers each used organize the previous owner's collection of smalls. The iron stand (a recent addition) was used to raise this chest off of the floor to make it into the perfect side table.

Age: Edo Era (circa 1750-1800)

Dimensions with stand: 25 1/2...

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. Side swivel handles were used in conjunction with a wood pole to carry this tansu from place to place.Age: Mei...

An antique Japanese Isho (clothes) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hike handles. The lock plates feature a Plum Blossom knob and a full moon back stop. Features 5 large drawers and a hinged door that hides 3 small drawers. Side swivel handles allows for a wood pole to pass through allowing two persons to carry the tansu from location to location. Two small carrying handles on each side allows for placement...

An antique Japanese 2 section Kyoto Mizuya Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and HInoki (Cypress) woods. The upper and lower sections feature sliding doors behind which removable shelves allow for split level storage with 5 drawers for organizing small items. The small hinged door to the upper right features a secret sliding locking panel that opens and closes the door. Side horizontal ribs for additional strength and visual design. Mortise and tenon Japanese joinery was used in its construction...

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