A rare antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (pharmacy or medicine chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron Warabite handles. Original drawer labels left intact. 20 drawers total. Great chest for filing papers and documents. Unusually wide drawers compared to the ubiquitous tiny drawers of the typical Kusuri Tansu.

Age: Edo Period (1750-1800)

Dimensions: 29 3/4" Wide by 36 1/8" High by 15 1/8" Deep

Beautiful keyaki wood choba tansu (merchant's chest), from the Matsumoto region of Japan. It has a beautiful allover woodgrain and has black iron hardware with iron studding. It has two sliding panels with an iron lock down its center, drawers of varying sizes with warabite handles, and a pull-away panel with a kan (ring pull) handle, opening to a small compartment. Size: 34.5" height, 31.5" width, 14.25" depth

An antique Japanese 2 section Gifu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hikute handles and the full moon lock plates. Upper section has 2 sliding doors with spacious storage behind and two side by side drawers below...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Originates from northern Honshu in the Tohoku region. All original hand forged iron hardware including the double pine tree catch on the lock plates and the plum blossom handle stoppers (called Atari)...

Antique Japanese Sakata Funa Tansu (safe chest), made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood with reddish orange translucent Urushi lacquer finish, single locking panel can be removed to reveal 5 interior drawers of different sizes, iron hardware including bamboo shaped exterior lock and Chrysanthemum shaped interior lock, bronze interior drawer pulls, Sakata area, late Edo Period (c. 1850). Size: 13" high x 21 1/2" wide x 14 1/4" deep.

A Japanese single section Sendai tansu, constructed of Keyaki (elm) front panels and Sugi (cedar) sides, with original light finish and black lacquered frame. The drawers of this chest have large, decorative, hand-forged iron lock plates with floral motifs and mokko (melon) handles. The side of the chest has a safe door with 3 small Keyaki burl front drawers inside.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 46 3/4" x 19 1/4" x 35" H

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. A full width drawer on the top most portion, three medium drawers on the left opposite a hinged safe box door (with key) with 3 interior drawers. The lower portion of the tansu has two shallow drawers positioned side-by-side over another full-width drawer on the bottom. Iron hardware includes square drawer pulls, unusual lock plates on the drawers and safe box with cross bracing...

An antique Japanese Kanazawa Mizuya Tansu in two sections made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Original Bengara Urushi lacquer finish and hand made bronze hardware including the stylized Mokko handles. Sliding doors all open to spacious storage areas with removable shelves as well as five organizing drawers.. A trick lift-up and out door hides an area for additional storage...

Antique Japanese Funa Tansu (merchant's ship safe chest), made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood with beautiful original translucent lacquer finish with deep patina, heavy iron hardware including bracing on front with Kiri mon, interior with 5 small Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood drawers, Edo Period (c1850), on custom made metal stand. Size: 22 3/4" high (15" high without stand) x 13 1/4" wide x 17" deep.

Wonderful and rare Japanese antique small kiri (paulownia) wood choba tansu (merchant's chest), made all of thick kiri wood with unusually heavy iron work, sliding panels have horizontal slats that are reinforced with iron bracing, behind sliding panels is a compartment with an open shelf and two small kiri drawers each with heavy iron lock, every drawer has iron lock and square shaped drawer pull, a dramatic piece!, Edo Period (early 19th century). Size: 24 3/4" high x 25" wide x 16" de...

Unusual choba tansu made with keyaki (elm) wood with large persimmon wood beams running horizontal with through tennon joinery in the frame, identical top and bottom drawer with beautiful keyaki wood, sliding panels also of keyaki wood open to compartment with shelf, iron hardware, Edo/Meiji Period (early 1800's). Size: 35 1/2" high x 28 3/4" wide x 16" deep.

Antique Japanese two section isho tansu from the Sakata region, made with gorgeous Keyaki (elm) wood in original reddish brown finish. Each drawer has an iron lock incised like a flower over crossing leaves. Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Wonderful original condition. Size: 44" height, 35 width, 16.5" depth

Antique Japanese rare Funa tansu from Fukushima, made of Kiri (paulownia) wood. All original condition/finish. Five drawers of various size in front with simplistic iron hardware and four locks. Each drawer has it's own key.

Edo Period (1605-1868)

Size: 21.75" L x 15" W x 22" H

Antique Japanese kannon biraki isho tansu (chest on chest with hinged doors for storing clothing). Made with all keyaki (elm) wood on the front. Sugi (cryptomeria) wood on the sides and top. The top portion of the tansu has hinged doors which open to reveal two large drawers. The bottom section has two large exterior drawers and a safe box with a hinged door in the lower right hand side. Inside the safe box are three small drawers...

An antique Japanese Matsumoto Kimono Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron fittings including stylized Mokko handles with unusual front drawer corner decorative plates. Each side has its main swivel carrying handles where a bamboo pole slipped through and two attendants on each side would easily transport this chest. The two lower hand handles would be used to position and place the tansu. Two small drawers hide behind the hinged door...

An antique Japanese Fukushima Kasane (chest on chest) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer front with a wiped lacquer technique for the balance of the piece. Hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and the lock plates featuring auspicious good luck symbols like the treasure bag, the Gunbai paddle, and the lucky mallet...

An antique Japanese 2 section tall Kyoto Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made entirely of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles. Copper sliding door handles. Top section features two sliding doors behind which is a spacious storage area where store books and records were kept and below which are 5 drawers...

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Hangai Tansu (captain's business transaction chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original translucent Urushi lacquer with hand forged iron hardware. Security door with a working top lock and key that hides 6 interior drawers of varying sizes...