An antique Japanese Sado Island Kasane Tansu made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware (including Warabite handles) and wiped Urushi lacquer finish. The metalsmith showcased his talent adding Chrysanthemum corners to each drawer front and Mum backplates to each handle. As if that were not enough, the tansu maker added iron plating to the front frame showcasing the individual drawers...

A rare Japanese antique Sado Island Child's Kimono Tansu made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original natural Urushi wiped lacquer finish with hand forged iron hardware. The lock plates feature cranes and sea turtles that symbolize longevity and the drawer corners feature stylized clouds.

Children's kimono tansu are quite rare to find since they had to be custom made by the tansu maker...

A rare antique Japanese Kyushu Choba Tansu (merchant chest from Kyushu island) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The frame of the chest was made using Suginoki wood measuring a very thick 1 1/ 8". Constructed with straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. It has 5 drawers and a pair of hinged doors that open to a spacious storage area with a split level shelf. All original hand forged iron hardware...

An antique Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) in 2 sections made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with bronze sliding door handles and Warabite style drawer handles. 3 sets of sliding doors each set progressively larger with removable shelf behind each set. Side slats provide strength, stability and visual architectural design...

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

Antique Japanese 2-section choba tansu (merchant's chest) from the Matsumoto region. Made with Keyaki (elm/zelkova) dramatic burl hardwood front panels. The upper section features a pair of sliding panels, with an open shelved compartment inside over two small drawers. One drawer has a slot above it to deposit money inside. There is also a secret hidden compartment, holding a small treasure box with kanji inscription. This style of chest is quite rare...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made of keyaki (elm) wood burl with heavy iron hardware. The upper most portion of the chest has a large full width drawer above a compartment with sliding panels. The middle of the tansu has a horizontal row of three small drawers. The bottom portion of the tansu has a series of three drawers stacked in a vertical row and held in place with a locking bar...

A Japanese antique merchant (Choba) tansu made of thick quartered sawn keyaki wood with keyaki burl wood doors. The wonderful hardware is hand made iron. The casing is crytomeria. The tansu's top section has three top drawers. The mid section has sliding doors with an interior shelf and adjacent two drawers. The lower section has 4 small drawers and below them 3 more smaller drawers...

A rare antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (herbal medicine pharmacist chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. Includes swivel side carrying handles which when flipped up allowed a wood or bamboo pole to slide through allowing two attendants to carry the chest about...

A rare edo period Japanese choba (merchants) tansu from the Niigata perfection in Japan. Made of solid keyaki hardwood (including the back). Finely detailed hand forged iron of a flying crane and longevity turtle seen amongst the pine and bamboo. The lower two drawers depict a lock and drum. Stunning original finish with warm tones. 8 drawers in total each of there own size. Two small drawers with unique pull rings tucked securely behind the locking bar.
Locking bar has functional lo...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute handles. It has a configuration of 9 drawers, a pair of Biraki-Do (hinged doors) hiding a center shelf and a thief's door behind which lies two more small drawers. Two side lift-up handles through which a bamboo pole would go allowing two persons to carry this tansu from place to place.

Originating in the Tohoku region of Japan, th...

An antique Japanese Kimono Tansu made of 100% quartered sawn Keyaki (Zelkova) hardwood and Suginoki interior (Cryptomeria) woods. All original Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. 5 large drawers with a hinged security door that hides 2 small drawers where valuable were kept hidden. Lock plates feature the full moon design and it was constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)