Japanese kanto style Kannon Biraki double-stacking personal clothing chest (isho-dansu). Often referred to as a "wedding chest," this tansu would have been used to store a bride's formal wedding kimono. Hinged doors on the upper section open to reveal four drawers. The layout of the drawers is characteristic of the earliest form of kanto style chests. The doors exhibit the traditional configuration of five iron hinges and iron strapping surrounding a round foliate lockplate at the center...

Unusual Japanese single section kannon biraki tansu. This safe chest holds an open top shelf and 2 drawers behind the front hinged locking doors.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 27.5" x 14" x 13.5" H

Japanese Kiri Ko tansu with lock bar. Original red lacquer finish with hand forged iron plates and mounts. Safe box in corner conceals two small drawers within.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24 1/2" L x 13 3/4" D x 19 1/4" H

Japanese dark lacquered Funa Tansu, or ship safe box with heavy hand-forged iron hardware and plates. The interior of the box holds six small drawers opened by kan (ring) pulls, one with a lock plate. The piece has a warabite handle for carrying on top.

Edo period

Dimensions: 16 3/4" x 11 1/2" x 13 3/4"

An antique Japanese merchant desk made of Keyaki burl (Zelkova), Honoki (Magnolia), and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Elegant two leg support balancing 5 drawers. Bronze metal pulls and through mortise and tenon joinery brings this well designed functional chest together...

An antique Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) Woods. Constructed using through mortise and tenon joinery. Sliding doors hide a spacious storage area and a hinged door with hand tied wired panel behind which dry goods and items requiring air circulation were stored. The sides feature horizontal supports for strength, durability and visual aesthetics...

Exceptional antique Japanese small personal box made with beautiful keyaki (zelkova) wood burl. Two small drawers on the top, one of which is outfitted with interior lidded compartments. Below, are 3 full-width drawers of gradating depth. Patinated bronze hardware with square drawer pulls on the larger drawers and flower bud pulls on the top drawers. A matching square handle on the top for carrying...

An antique Japanese low Mizuya Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original iron handles on upper sliding doors. A pair of large sliding doors allows for spacious storage. Originally used in Japan as a kitchen chest for the storage of dry goods and cooking/serving ware, it would function well as a buffet or sideboard chest.

Age: Meiji/Taisho Era (1910-1920).

Dimensions: 47 3/4" Wide by 31" High by 14 5/8" Deep

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...

An antique Japanese Ryo Biraki Tansu made of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and the natural Urushi lacquer. The two hinged doors hide 6 drawers of varying sizes. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36 1/2 Wide by 21 1/4" High by 17" Deep.

An antique Japanese Yosegi Ko Tansu (marquetry small chest) from the Hakone region made of various natural colored woods with Kusunoki (Camphor), Katsura (Fir) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) structure and drawer backs. Beautiful craftsmanship is evident in the unique one-of-a-kind design of this piece. 6 drawers of varying sizes allows for easy organizing and storage...

An antique Japanese Nagoya Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original bronze hardware. 2 section set. Upper section features 2 sets of sliding doors and four side by side drawers below. Bottom section has a pair of sliding doors and 3 side by side drawers. Originally used as a kitchen chest to store large jars of water, dishes, cooking utensils and serving ware...

An unusually small size Nagoya Mizuya Tansu in 1 section made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. 3 sets of sliding doors with spacious storage behind each set. 4 side by side center drawers and 3 drawers at the bottom for additional storage needs. Narrow depth allows for placement in even the narrowest of hallways.

Age: Meiji Era: (1890-1900)

Dimensions: 43 1/4" Wide by 49 1/4" High by 14 1/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (herbal medicine chest) made of Kaki (Persimmon) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with each pull ring decorated with a Chrysanthemum back plate. Some of the drawers still retain label remnants of the contents that it held. Constructed using hardened wooden nails and straight dovetail joinery. Consisting of 35 drawers.

An antique Japanese Biraki Kotansu (small chest with two hinged doors) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. The doors open to a set of 7 drawers of varying sizes. It would make the perfect side chest or bedside nightstand.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 20 3/4" Wide by 18 1/2" High by 14 1/4" Deep

Japanese merchants chest known as a gyoshu baku. Made of 100% sugi (Japanese Cypress) wood. Hand forged iron hardware. Single hinged with latching door. Tucked inside are seven drawers. Gyohu bakus are meant to be worn on the backpack for ease of transport and organized storage.

Edo Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 11" wide x 29 1/3" H x 19 1/2" deep

An antique Japanese Tohoku Tansu made of beautiful Keyaki Burl root (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original finish and hand made iron fittings including stylized Kakute handles. The top and sides used a traditional wiped lacquer technique. Raised tea leaf style corners on the drawers which is a traditional design for this region of tansu. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails. Used as a double drawer kimono storage chest...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the full moon lock plates and the Kakute style handles. The backplates of the handles feature the auspicious Sho Chiku Bai (Pine, Bamboo, Plum Blossom) motif. Side carrying handles to each section with rare connecting pins to secure both sections together...