An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Original wiped Urushi lacquer technique finish with original hand made iron hardware including Gumbai handles...

An antique 2 section tall Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Beautiful original finish of fine Shunkei-Nuri (lacquer) in front and a wiped lacquer technique on the top and sides. In addition, the handmade iron hardware is original with Warabite handles. Top section has two sliding doors with 5 drawers below...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand made iron fittings including the Warabite handles and finish. The front has a natural Kirinoki wood finish while the case was finished in a wiped Urushi lacquer technique. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1880)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" Wide x 20" High x 13" Deep

An antique Japanese Cha Tansu made from solid Keyaki (Zelkova) & Keyaki Burl woods with a Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood drawer back. Removable trick shelves behind the sliding side by side doors. Original bronze fittings and a lucky Gourd carved drawer handle out of Kakinoki (Persimmon) wood with the same wood used for the sliding door handles...

An antique Japanese Sendai Ko Bo Tansu (personal chest with locking bar) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron hardware with Warabite handles. The bottom main drawer has a lock plate that features the lucky Sho Chiku Bai motif with a crane and a turtle added for additional good luck and longevity. The hinged door has two small drawers hidden behind. Also, there is natural built-up patina surrounding the metal-work...

A rare antique Japanese optometrist roll top tansu complete with lenses and glasses. Original navy corduroy covered pull-out shelf with two side by side storage drawers. The display case of lenses double as a removable tray for portable transport from room to room or place to place. Made of Tochinoki (Horse Chestnut) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods...

An antique Japanese 2 section Nagoya Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Akita Sugi (Cryptomeria from the Akita region) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original iron fittings. Constructed using mortise and tenon & through mortise and tenon joinery as well as hardened wood nails. There are side horizontal slats for added strength and support. The top sliding door panels were decorated with beautiful flowing grain Akita Sugi wood boards...

A rare Edo era Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron hardware and original dark wiped lacquer technique finish. Unusual features include the front to back swivel carrying handles and three secret compartment boxes. One box hides to the back of either shelf tricking a thief to think that he/she found the precious treasure...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hardware including the Warabite bronze handles and hand made iron fittings. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Two small drawers are hidden behind the hinged door.

Chests such as these were used primarily by a Japanese family to store their documents, letters, ephemera, photos and other treasured keepsakes...

An antique Japanese Funa Tansu (ship chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron hardware including the Kakute front drawer handles and the Warabite side carrying handles. Construction includes straight dovetail joinery with hardened wooden nails. Lock plates include parallel vertical bars that double as decorative as well as strong security connectors preventing easy removal from the drawer fronts...

An antique Japanese 2 section Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Uncommon and rare small size. The sides feature horizontal cross ribs for added strength and durability...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant's chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The sides of the chest feature horizontal cross ribs for added strength and durability. Constructed using mortise & tenon, through mortise & tenon, and double through mortise & tenon joinery. Use of hardened wood nails. The sliding doors open to an expansive storage space that was used to keep store records and books.

Age: Late Meiji-Taisho Era (1900-1920)

Dimensi...

An antique Japanese Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. The hinged door opens to 4 drawers where the merchant's wares were stored. The bottom drawer was used to keep documents, writing brushes, an inkstone and other business related accessories. Two iron rings on each side used with rope for carrying this chest on a peddler's back. All original finish and hardware with straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Edo Period (1603-186...

An antique Japanese Funa Tansu (Captain's Chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. It was constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. The base has an original cross beam support that adds strength and durability to this chest. A hidden secret lidded box hides behind the bottom right drawer with retrieval by way of the back of the bottom left drawer.

Originally used in the captain's quarters of a merch...

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) that was made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original beautiful Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron and bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. Pine and plum blossom Atari (handle backstops) and lock plates featuring a wealthy traveler's hat, Mino (straw cape), Takarabukuro (treasure bag) and Uchide No Kozuchi (treasure mallet). A natural dark patina developed around all of the metal...

A rare antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu (wheeled chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original including the finish and hand made iron fittings. Unique all drawer design. Iron rope rings on each corner to help roll this chest from place to place. Mortise and tenon joinery and hardened wood nails used in its construction. Sides and back horizontal ribs for added strength and durability.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868).

Dimensions: 43" Wide x 40" High x ...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacked chest on chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. Hinged door hides two small drawers behind. Straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nail construction. Top section has two side carrying handles while bottom section has swivel carrying handles with attached locking pins to secure both sections together.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36 1/4 W...

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. Alternatively, the horizontal wooden bar securing a rope in conjunction with the two rope h...