Antique Japanese 2 section Soma isho tansu from the Northern Honshu area, beautiful keyaki (elm) wood on front, sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame, deep red translucent lacquer finish, iron hardware with incised warabite shaped drawer pulls and very large round chrysanthemum shaped lock plates, safe box in lower right hand corner with 2 small interior drawers, safe box has key, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 44" high x 45 1/2" wide x 18" deep

Exquisite Rare Japanese cho-bako or account box made out of keyaki (zelkova Hardwood). The interior is made from kiri (paulownia) wood. Splendid Iron hardware including round locks and Original key. Wonderful Original finish and condition. Age: Edo period, circa 1840s. Size: Length: 17" Width: 12.25" Height: 13.25"

Japanese Antique keyaki (em) wood isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Sendai area. Top portion of the chest has two small drawers (a rare configuration). There are 7 exterior drawers of various sizes and a safe box with a hinged door (with key) covering three small interior drawers. Hardware includes large lock plates with chrysanthemum mon and ornate pierced carved leaves.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35" high x 46 3/4" wide x 17" deep

Antique Japanese 2 section 6ft Mizuya with dark red lacquer frame made of Hinoki (cypress) wood, with Sugi (cedar) sides, and Keyaki (elm) burl hardwood front panel drawers and sliders edged with black lacquer frame. From the Kanazawa region. Kanazawa is the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, on Japan’s central Honshu Island...

Rare Japanese four drawer gyosho bako, or peddler's chest, constructed of Sugi (cedar) wood, with iron hardware and mounts, iron rings on the sides for carrying. The chest is trapezoidal in shape and tapers towards the top of the chest. Original finish and condition. With key included. Exhibited at the Palo Alto Cultural center

19th century Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 26" w x 12 1/2" d x 26 1/4" h

Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) with locking bars and safe box. Made with keyaki (zelkova) wood frame, hinoki (cryptomeria) wood drawer fronts, sugi (cypress) wood top and side panels. The upper portion has three large full-width drawers held into place with a locking bar. The lower portion has two medium sized drawers held in place with another matching locking bar. The lower right hand side has a safe box opened by a hinged door...

A wonderful example of an original Japanese Armored Safe chest. Constructed of hand selected and quartered sawn keyaki (zalkova hardwood) and hand forged iron hardware / fittings. Thick hinged door opens to reveal 4 individual drawers with secret compartment located under the largest (bottom) drawer. Internal drawers are made of original light kiri (paulownia) wood.

Age: Edo Period late 18th Century

Dimensions: 19" High x 15 3/4" Wide x 18 1/3" Deep

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Funa Hon Tansu (ship captain's document chest) made of Keyaki burl (Zelkova) in front and Keyaki frame. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Side carrying handles made of Kaki (Persimmon) wood.

Used in a ship captain's quarters to store valuable documents and books. In the event of a pirate attack, these chests were tied by rope and thrown overboard to prevent them from becoming part of the loot...

Antique Japanese Keyaki (zelkova wood) Choba tansu (merchant chest). Solid Keyaki hardwood used on the top, sides, front and Frame. The front panels are made of a gorgeous, warm Keyaki burl wood in original finish. There are several round iron lock plates that are incised with kiri leave. The handles to the sliding doors are also incised with floral patterns. There is a side lockbox with beautiful decorative hardware that conceals three small drawers within...

Antique Japanese mizuya tansu (kitchen chest) in two sections: top section has two large compartments covered by sliding panels with beautiful keyaki (elm) wood burl framed in chestnut; the bottom compartment has a horizontal row of four drawers about waist height below which is another large compartment covered by sliding panels of split bamboo, sugi, and keyaki; along the very bottom is another horizontal row of four drawers; the right hand side of the bottom section has a compartment ope...

Rare and unusual Antique Japanese Keyaki (elm) burl chose tansu. The pair of sliding doors has elegantly hand carved paneling with multiple storage shelving within. Bold pierced iron hardware decorating each drawer corner with kakute (square) handles and locks. Stunning original deep red finish complimenting the natural burl woodgrain. Excellent hardware and unusual design. Edo Period (circa 1840's). Size: 36" H x 35" L x 15"D

An antique Japanese large Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) in 2 sections that was made of Hinoki (Cypress), Kakinoki (Persimmon) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The center drawers have a very unique design made by the decorative Persimmon accents making each one look like a gift box. All sliding doors have Persimmon runners used to smooth out the slide and help prevent wear at the bottom.

Japanese joinery is evident throughout the piece making use of the mortise and tenon technique...

Rare Mid Edo Period choba, merchant's chest, from the Sakata area, made of kiri (paulownia) wood with original patina (not refinished), nice iron hardware, interior (behind sliding panels) contains set of five drawers (three on the right, 2 on the left) and one hidden drawer. Incredibly rare Large oversized iron handles flanking each side of the chest.

Edo (1603 - 1868)

H 35-3/4", W 38", D 16-3/4".

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), made of keyaki (elm) wood with beautiful strong grain and burl wood on especially on the sliding panels and the drawer panels, sliders open to compartment with one shelf, right side has 3 small drawers, 2 medium sized drawers on bottom and one large drawer on top, heavy iron hardware and original reddish orange translucent lacquer finish, from the Shinshu area of Nagano Prefecture, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 38" high x 36" wide x 14 1...

Rare and beautiful Japanese antique kura tansu (storage chest), all keyaki (elm) wood front and framing, iron hardware, top portion has 3 drawers and lower portion has sliding panels with horizontal slats, bottom right interior has two small drawers also made of keyaki wood, deep brown translucent lacquer finish with wonderful patina, Edo Period. Size: 41 3/4" high x 38 3/4" wide x 21 1/4"deep.

Japanese keyaki and persimmon wood choba tansu, beautiful keyaki grain on front with a frame that is edged in persimmon wood, there is a compartment with sliding panels made of solid burl wood with a stepped shelf on the interior, the safe box has a key and two small interior drawers also with keyaki wood fronts, inside the safe box is a very hidden secret compartment (detail shows writing on hidden panel door). Meiji Period. Size: 32 3/4" high x 32" wide x 14 1/4" deep.

Antique Japanese unusual chest with deep red lacquer background, its front, sides, back, and top decorated by metal overlay butterflies and dragonflies with gilt lacquer flower blossoms and leaves. Two hinged doors in front lock in the center by a large, shapely lock incised with flora, complete with key. Inside are many drawers with squared handles and gilt lacquer designs of leaves. Included is a beautiful gold stand with clawed feet, custom made for this piece...

A gorgeous Japanese isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Sendai region, with a red lacquer Sugi (cedar) frame and Keyaki (elm) front drawers in its original, rich honey finish. Each drawer opens with mokko (melon) style handles on lotus back plates, and is adorned with elaborate scrolling vine iron locks. The bottom safe box holds three red lacquer front drawers, and hides away a secret back compartment.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 46.5" L x 23.5" W x 34.5" H