An antique Japanese Choba Tansu also known as a merchant chest made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods,most likely from the Nigata area of Japan. Featuring a Ryo Biraki (hinged double door) design it has a split level shelf where documents and merchant books were stored. Gumpai style handles and hand made iron fittings decorate this chest.

Merchant chests such as these were primarily displayed in a prominent location in the store...

An antique Japanese scholar's Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. 3 side by side drawers above and below sliding doors where documents, brushes and paper were stored. Behind the doors is a split level shelf where books were kept with 2 small drawers to the right side...

An antique Japanese 2 section Mizuya tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Two sets of large sliding doors behind which large jars of water from the river or stream were stored for food preparation and cooking...

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 Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Natural Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron fittings. Accented with butterfly and plum blossom Atari handle backstops. Lock plates feature the Sho Chiku Bai (three felicitous friends of winter) motif and two side by side Chrysanthemum flowers ...

An antique Japanese Kansai 2 section tall Todana Tansu made of solid Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Hand made iron fittings and hardened wooden nail and iron nail construction. Traditional Japanese joinery throughout this lovey chest. Shunkei style lacquer reveals the beautiful grain pattern which evokes visual movement. Side wood supports typical of Kansai region tansu.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 66" High x 41 3/4" Wide x 23 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese 2 section Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood with hand made iron fittings. Featuring lock plates that depict the full moon, each drawer has Kakute handles...

An antique Japanese Niigata 2 section Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) with hand made iron fittings. The lock plates feature the Sho Chiku Bai motif (Pine, Bamboo, Plum Blossom known as the 3 felicitous friends of winter) with the longevity symbols of the turtles and crane. Each drawer has Kakute handle pulls and the hinged door hides 3 small drawers.

The front of the chest is made of natural Kirinoki while the tansu body was designed using a dark red wiped lacquer technique...

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...

An antique Japanese 2 section tall Kyoto Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All iron fittings are original and hand made. Two sliding Keyaki doors the top section open to a spacious storage area behind while a hinged door on the lower section opens to two small drawers.

Straight dovetail joinery construction using hardened wooden nails. Tansu of this configuration have become rare to find in Japan...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (Merchant Chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Handmade iron fittings featuring the raised tea leaf design on the front corners of each drawer. Sliding doors with locking bar covering a book and business document storage area with shel while the hinged door covers 2 small drawers...

Antique Japanese Todana Tansu made from Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Originating in the Kansai region of Japan it features sliding doors covering a shelved storage area with 6 drawers...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hand made iron fittings with hardened wood nail and straight dovetail joinery construction. Opening the hinged door reveals two small storage drawers behind. Original age patina.

This chest was originally used in a Japanese home to store letters, documents, stationary and small keepsakes. In a contemporary home it functions well as a beside stand or a side table. Stunning original finish.

A...

An antique Japanese alter tansu made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Sliding doors cover an area used to store religious books featuring decorative side cut-outs for ventilation. Multiple drawer configuration used to store alter fittings and accessories.

Age: Late Edo Period (1800-1868)

Dimensions: 29 3/8" High x 36" Wide x 14 3/4" Deep

Antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut), Keyaki (Elm)and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Sliding doors cover a spacious area where business books and documents were stored. Hand made iron fittings and hardened wooden nails were used in the construction of this chest. Multiple drawers were used to store business stationary, writing brushes, money and business supplies. This piece comes from the Kansai area of Japan.

Merchant chests were prominently sit...

An antique Japanese Mikuni Gyosho Bako (Peddler's Box) that originates from the Chūbu region of Japan. Made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress), and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. Hand made iron fittings and hardened wooden nails complete this unique piece. Behind the hinged door lies 3 drawers and a storage shelf. The carrying handle atop the chest allowed for easy transport from place to place.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" High x 8 3/4" Wide x 11" Deep

A Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage Chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Hand made iron fittings and hardened wooden nails were used in the construction of this chest.

Originally used in a Japanese home to store letters, documents, stationary, and small items, its contemporary use as a bedside stand or a side table adds functionality and elegance to any home.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 22 1/2" High x 21 3/4" Wide x 12 1/4" Deep

An antique Japanese 2 section tall Isho Tansu (Kimono Chest) made from Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Handmade iron fittings and sliding door handles that feature embossed Paulownia and Chrysanthemums. Side handles were used for transporting this chest.

The 2 sections allows this piece to be used as a stacked set or separated for use in different rooms of the home.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 63 1/8" High x 35 1/4" Wide x 15 1/8" Deep