Beautiful antique Japanese choba tansu, merchant's storage chest, all original finish with keyaki (elm) wood panels on the front finished in a medium brown, sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame finished with a black lacquer, iron hardware, safe box with two small drawers on the inside, Edo Period (early 1800's). Size: 33 1/2" high x 36" wide (37 1/4" wide including side handles) x 15 1/2" deep.

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), made of kiri (paulownia) wood, iron hardware, from the Mikuni area of Japan, Meiji Period, (1868-1912). Size: 41" high x 36" wide x 16 3/5" deep.

Beautiful two-section keyaki (zelkova) tansu with a gorgeous, glowing honey lacquered front and red lacquered top and sides. Its features include large, decorative iron lockplates incised with auspicious symbols, warabite handles with pierced backplates, a lockbox that is, interestingly, on the top section rather than the bottom, with three red-lacquered drawers inside. All original finnish, Dates from the Meiji period (1868-1912). Size: 38.25" height, 41.75" width, 15.75" depth

Stunning solid keyaki antique Japanese small ko tansu with two sliding doors main upper doors. Three drawers with hand forged iron locks. The original finish comes off as a rick medium - dark honey lacquer finish. Dramatic quartered sawn grain pattern seen thronghout the piece. Originates from the Tohoku region of Japan.

Early Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Size: 24.5" height, 24" width, 12" depth

Antique Japanese kuruma tansu, or wheeled chest, made of solid Keyaki (elm) wood. This chest features a large iron Phoenix lock plate with beautiful flowing tail feathers on the topmost drawer, as well as the bottom wheeled area. Themes of chrysanthemums, peonies, lotuses, and kiri leaves are incised into the decorative iron plating, with side locking box for small valuables.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: x 49" L x 24" D x 47" H

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made with Keyaki (elm) burl front hardwood and hand-forged iron hardware and plating. The merchant's chest holds two drawers over a sliding pair of panel doors with open compartment inside. Below this are seven small and two large drawers, each with "warabite" shaped pulls and decorative iron corner hardware. The original finish compliments the dramatic, natural burl grain...

An unusual Japanese Keyaki burl front bar tansu. The drawer faces are each labeled in Japanese kanji. The top "drawer" is actually a lift away panel. The middle two drawers are slightly recessed behind a vertical locking bar with ornate iron plates. The lowermost drawer face has a middle iron lock plate continuously below the locking bar. When the bar is removed, more kanji is written in sumi ink, possibly with the identity of the original owner...

Antique Japanese solid Keyaki (Zelkova) hardwood Funa Tansu or ship safe chest. The front of the box has heavy iron plating with the number one (ichi) within a circle, motifs of reishi mushrooms, pine trees and flowers with heavy lock plate. The chest's interior hold two medium drawers over three small drawers, with squared and round iron pulls, and red lacquer fronts. Original finish.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 15 1/2" x 19" x 18"

Japanese two section mizuya (kitchen tansu for storage). Constructed of Hinoki (cypress) wood frame with Sugi (cedar) wood, original dark finish. The top section holds a compartment behind pair of sliding panels with Keyaki (zelkova) wood details, open work carving and wire for ventilation. Next to this is a larger compartment with sliding panels with vertical iron studded slats and Keyaki hardwood insert...

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant) Tansu made of solid keyaki (zalkova) wood with Burl keyaki sliding doors. The upper portion of the Tansu has a sliding door with interior shelf. The lower portion has 5 drawers with iron hardware locks. Matsumoto is a special city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

Date: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 33" tall X 32.5" wide X 15.5" deep

Antique Japanese mizuya (kitchen tansu) in two sections. The frame is made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with a very smooth grain. Sliding panels and drawer fronts are made of keyaki (elm) wood with dramatic grain. The top section has a large compartment that runs the width of the chest and is covered by 4 sliding panels with keyaki burl wood. The next compartment down is larger and is covered by 2 large sliding panels with decorative cut outs backed with keyaki wood...

Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) from the Gifu area. Made with all kuri (chestnut) wood front, hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood on the sides and top. The upper portion of the chest has a full width drawer over a compartment covered by two sliding panels with horizontal slats. The lower portion of the chest has a series of 4 drawers of various sizes on the left and a hinged safe box door on the right hand side. The safe box door opens to reveal 2 small interior drawers...

An antique rare Japanese Ko Tansu (Personal Storage Chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Raden (Mother of Pearl) inlay over a burlap black Urushi lacquer foundation. A floral design showcasing a landscape scene of a full moon peeking over mystic clouds with birds in flight and in the water. A footbridge is being crossed by scholars with Wisteria above and Plum trees balancing out the design...

A rare antique Japanese Ko Tansu used as a fancy personal storage chest made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Both original finish and hand made iron fittings including the Kakute handles. Likely a specially commissioned custom made chest by a wealthy individual or family...

A rare antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kikute handles and Urushi lacquer finish). Unusual design with two small drawers secured by a locking security bar and two sets of doors with the upper set having a spacious storage area behind and the bottom set having storage to the left and three small drawers to the right...

A beautiful burl Keyaki wood early 19th century Funa Ko Tansu (Captains's document chest). Frame is made of solid keyaki wood with interior drawers made of soft kiri wood. Original urushi warm transparent lacquer finish with hand forged iron hardware and copper side carrying handles. Unique ring pull faux drawer front that doubles as a lift-out door hiding two small drawers.

Mounted on custom iron stand

Late Edo Period (1603 - 1868) C...

Antique Japanese three section stacking tansu. Top section has four sliders that open to reveal organized area with small drawers and shelving. A total a 12 drawers ranging in size along with a hinged compartment revealing two more small drawers. Original warm honey finish in great condition. Quarter sawn keyaki hardwood with strong grain patterns.

Late Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 48" wide x 63 1/2" high x 16 1/4" deep

Extra large Japanese Edo to Meiji period single section kaidan (step) tansu with six steps, three storage compartments of various sizes with sliding doors, and three fitted drawers. Original iron handcrafted hardware and dovetail construction. 19th century. 71 1/2” high x 68 1/2” wide x 35 1/2” deep. Very solid overall condition. There are typical signs of natural wear from use. The wood has some shrinkage and cracks from the Arizona dry climate. Provenance: purchased in 2004 from t...