Antique Japanese zenibako, or money box, made with Kuri wood (chestnut) and Sugi wood (cedar). Features on this piece include a top hinged lid with a shallow compartment for the storage of accounting papers, cut with slots for money to be dropped into the locked drawer below it. To the left are two deeply recessed compartments. A long drawer and a safe box in front of the chest provide even more secure storage. Original condition...

Antique Japanese 2-section isho tansu (clothing chest of drawers) made of Kiri (paulownia) wood, natural front drawers and red lacquer top and sides. The lockplates of every drawer are shaped as large open fans, and the corner hardware of each drawer are fan-shaped as well. The other hardware implements are decorative with pierced motifs.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 33.5" L x 16.75" D x 40" H

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.

A rare and unusual Japanese cho bako ("cho" meaning small and "bako" meaning box). Made of Keyaki (elm) hardwood with its original lacquer finish. The upper region of the piece holds a pair of narrow sliding door panels, with a center locking pin to hold them securely shut, and vertical slats of branches...

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 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 small Kiri (paulownia) wood bar tansu, with five front drawers opened by squared iron handles. Its three mid front drawers are kept secure by a locking bar with decorative iron plates. The side of the chest has a safe door, with pierced iron hardware. The safe door opens to reveal three more small drawers inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 23" L x 12" x 24" H

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 2-section kaidan tansu, or step/stair chest of drawers. Made of solid Keyaki (elm) hardwood, the bold woodgrain is well-complimented by the original deep red lacquer finish and heavy iron hardware. With original set of keys.
Exhibited at the Prestigious SF Fall Art and Antique show, 2017.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 55" L x 26 1/8" D x 80" H

Antique Japanese tansu from the Iwayado area. Made with Sugi (cypress) wood frame and dramatic Keyaki (elm) burl front panels, in original red/orange lacquer finish. The extensive iron plating is incised into flowers and Kiri leaves; The top drawer features a large flying Phoenix as its lock plate...

Antique Japanese small tansu from the Sakata region, with original red lacquer top and sides and black lacquer front. The top and bottom drawer are decorated by large iron lock plates, incised with a bamboo forest, blossoming cherry trees, and small flying birds. The corner hardware on the face of each drawer also show floral motifs.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 33.75" L x 15.5" D x 18.75" H

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...

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 sword tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) hardwood, all original finish. The piece holds two large drawers and two small corner drawers, accented with heavy iron handles, lock plates, and corner hardware. The sides of the piece feature long iron fittings for carrying.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 45.5" L x 15.5" D x 16" H

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

Antique Japanese zenibako, or money box, made of heavy Keyaki (elm) wood. The piece uses a funnel top lid for collecting temple offerings, secured with a very large iron front lock. Original condition. With mortis and tenon joinery.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 10.75" W x 17" D x 12.5" H

Japanese antique 2-section cha tansu (tea chest). The frame of this chest is made of solid keyaki (elm) wood and the front has persimmon wood veneer with dramatic grain. The top section has a compartment covered with four small sliding panels and a large compartment with glass sliders for display. Inside the glass display area are stepped shelves, a smaller square glass door compartment, another compartment with batik covered sliding panels depicting Mt. Fuji...

Japanese isho tansu (clothing chest) in three sections. This piece is made of kiri (paulownia) wood and has beautiful lacquered hardware. The top section has sliding panels and a drop in panel made all of keyaki (elm) wood and six small drawers of various sizes. The sliders have pretty plum blossom shaped pulls. The middle section has 3 large full width drawers...