Unusual Japanese hardwood low shop desk tansu. Original red lacquer finish with heavy iron plates and mounts. The table surface is hinged with three doors that open to interior compartments for papers and other merchant's effects. The middle door has a lady's portrait with calligraphy inscriptions detailing the piece is from a merchant business in "Ume-yashiki, Tokyo" with the merchant name "Shimbashi Kotatsu" and dated 25th year Meiji 1893...

Japanese two(2) section Tansu, chest on chest, Ca. Meiji period, late 1800's, 41" high, 41" wide, 17" deep, Black Iron round Back Plate with floral Mon design, beautiful shaped heavy black iron handles. Two(2) small drawers behind black iron mounted small blind door on lower right side. Two(2) small drawers are "as is", one(1) missing small round ring and damaged wooden area in front.

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"

A rare and unusual Japanese Keyaki burl choba tansu with original dark red translucent lacquer finish. The front of the chest has two hinged doors with hand forged iron fan lock plate, with two drawers below. When the chest is opened, it reveals a spacious interior with a large open compartment, a long top drawer and three smaller all burl wood drawers along the side.

Early Meiji period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 25 1/2 x 15 x 25 3/4 h

Rare Japanese Yonazawa Keyaki (zelkova) burl front tansu with original golden honey lacquer finish. The round lock plates on each drawer feature the emblem of the Taira clan, whose mon is the swallowtail butterfly or ageha...

Japanese apothecary tansu made with Kiri (Paulownia) wood in original red lacquer finish, with an iron carrying handle on its top for transportation. The chest holds 35 deep drawers with small ring pulls, each drawer bears an interior calligraphy inscription in sumi ink to indicate which medicine belongs in which drawer...

Japanese women's small tansu with hardwood drawers, and charming burl front panels. The gilt copper hardware conveys floral motifs of Kiri leaves, flower petals, and fruit. The chest is configured with eight drawers of varied size and a pair of small sliding door panels opening to a roomy compartment. Each drawer has a plush black material lining.

Taisho Period - circa 1920's

Dimensions: 21 1/4" l x 11 3/4" d x 11 3/8" h

Antique tribal wooden stool from the Lobi people of Burkina Faso & Ghana, in the Sub-Saharan region. With original red and black lacquer finish and patina. The stool is circular in shape with recessed seat and four legs. Dates from early 20th century.

Dimensions: 10" w x 9" h

A Nihon Matsu tansu with hinoki (cypress) wood drawers. The round lock plates on each drawer feature a bird and bamboo leaf motif. There are 4 large drawers with spacious interiors and on the right lower side is a safe box door with key with two interior drawers.

Date: Meiji c1900

Dimensions: 51" X 45" X 17.5"

Antique Japanese 2-section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing) from Yonezawa Area. Drawer fronts are made of kiri (paulownia) wood, frame is made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood. 4 large drawers and 2 small drawers. Iron hardware includes round lockplates with butterfly mon (family crests) of the Taira Clan.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 1/2" high x 35 1/2" wide x 15 3/4" deep.

Unusual Japanese single section isho tansu from the Sendai region, made of solid Keyaki (zelkova) hardwood with burl front panels. The iron hardware and mounts have floral motifs throughout. The corner plates have scalloped edges, the drawer pulls are mokko (melon) shaped with chrysanthemums mounts, the round lock plates are incised with Kiri leaf mon and two are outlined with scrolling vine motifs. The safe door opens to reveal three inner drawers for small valuables...

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 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...

Antique Japanese isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing), made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top section has two large drawers while the bottom section has two large drawers with two small drawers in the lower right hand corner. The drawers, which are made entirely of kiri wood, have two hand holds cut into the interior sides for carrying. Hardware is made of blackened iron with round lock plates, corner and side bracing...

Antique Japanese 2 section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing), made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top section has two large drawers and the bottom section has two drawers of different widths. The lower right hand corner has a hinged safe box door which opens to reveal two small interior drawers. Hardware is made of iron and includes square lock plates and square drawer pulls.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 40 1/2" high x 38" wide x 16 3/4" deep

Antique Japanese kannon biraki isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing with hinged doors). Made with kiri (paulownia) wood on the front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood on the sides, top and interior. The top section has two hinged doors which open to reveal two interior drawers. The bottom section has two large exterior drawers of different sizes. The lower right hand corner has a safe box with a hinged door and two small interior drawers...

Antique Japanese kuruma tansu (wheeled chest), made all solid quartered sawn keyaki (zelkova) hardwood with beautiful and dramatic natural grain. The upper and lower portions of the chest have open compartments which close with sliding panels. Each panel is reinforced with either vertical or horizontal wooden slats. A heavy hand forged iron plate sits in place along with hand forged iron locks and hardware with a key to keep the door panels from sliding...

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu (clothing chest). Kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame and drawer interiors. Three full-width drawers, the middle drawer is 3/4 width with two small drawers to it's right hand side. Blackened iron hardware includes moko shaped drawer pulls and round lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 3/4" high x 32 3/4' wide x 16 1/4" deep.