An antique Japanese two section Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Kakinoki (Persimmon) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. It originated from the Suruga region of Japan (now Shizuoka prefecture).

Unique configuration of sliding doors, drawers and hidden storage compartment makes this tansu a versatile and beautiful work of art...

Antique Japanese Kimono Bo Tansu from the Iwayado area of Northern Japan. Constructed of quarter sawn Toneriko (Tamo Ash) wood with striking grain and a translucent lacquer finish. The frame is made of Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood with an opaque wiped lacquer finish. Hardware is hand made all of iron and includes Warabite shaped drawer pulls with unusual raised Pine and Peach back plates...

Antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) from the Tohoku area, made of with Kiri (Paulownia) wood front and Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood frame. Five exterior drawers including an unusual wide and shallow drawer just beneath a compartment with sliding panels. The sliding panels have horizontal slats and frame made of Kurinoki (Chestnut wood). A small safe box on the right-hand side of the tansu has a hinged door which opens to reveal two small drawers on the inside. Lovely natural finish...

Antique Choba Tansu (merchant's chest) from the Tohoku area of Northern Japan. Made with Kiri (Paulownia) wood front and Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood frame and interior. There are six exterior drawers, a compartment with sliding panels, and a safe box all with dramatic round lock plates. Iron hardware also includes Warabite shaped drawer pulls, quarter round corner bracing and half round lock plate and hinge on the safe box...

Antique Japanese Chobako (merchant's box) with five drawers; two small drawers side by side on the top over three drawers in a vertical row. This box is made all of Hinoki (Japanese Cypress) wood with the exception of the drawer interiors which are made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood.

The drawers graduate in size with the smallest on the upper portion of the box and the largest on the bottom...

Antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest). Made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. This small tansu has 5 drawers; three in a vertical row over two smaller drawers side by side. The hardware was hand made all of iron and includes round lock plates on each drawer and Kakute handles. The drawers are additionally reinforced by corner foliate decorative hardware.

Age: Late Edo Period (circa early 1800's)

Dimensions: 22 1/2" high x 22 3/4" wide x 12 1/4" deep

Antique Japanese 2-section mizuya tansu (chest on chest for kitchen storage) from the Kyoto area. Made with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood frame and sugi (cryptomeria) wood interior. The top section has two compartments; the upper most with four sliding panels of beautiful burl wood; below this is a compartment for food storage with sliders made of pierced carved hinoki wood and wire mesh for ventilation...

An antique Japanese 2 section Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. Constructed using mortise and tenon Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Original hand made iron hardware with Hirute handles. Side ribs accentuate the exterior design and add strength and durability for years of lasting enjoyment...

An incredible large antique Japanese merchant Todana Tansu (storage chest with doors and drawers) in 2 sections made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Originally used in a Japanese store to stock and display wares and supplies as well as provide a beautiful functional furniture accent for the merchant...

An antique Japanese Matsumoto Kimono Isho Tansu made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron hardware including the stylized Gumbai handles and the fancy lock plates with hand pounded stippling work. Each side both have side hand carrying handle as well as swivel handles through which a wood pole can be fitted allowing two persons to carry the tansu from place to place. The hinged door hides two small drawers for storing valuables...

An antique Japanese Todana Tansu similar to the western sideboard cabinet or chest made of Momiji (Maple) for the drawer fronts and frame and Keyaki (Zelkova) panels for the sliding doors. with the interior made of Japanese Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Original hand made iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Floating panels for the front, sides and top to prevent the wood from cracks from expansion and shrinkage...

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...

An antique Japanese Zeni Bako (merchant coin box) made nearly entirely of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood. All original hand made iron fittings. Rope holes at the bottom sides used to tie and secure box for transport. Top has original round coin insert with neighboring later created coin slot to accept larger coins for safekeeping. Removable cover features a hard mount iron loop allowing a lock to be added to keep it from opening. Small bottom drawer with iron loop connection was made for the same pu...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu in 2 sections with a 3 drawer upper and 2 drawer lower design made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand made iron hardware with Urushi dark red lacquer finish and Gumbai handles. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Lock plates have hand engraved auspicious symbols with Sho Chiku Bai comprising the upper section while the crane and turtle making up the bottom section.

Sho Chiku Bai or Pine...

Funa dansu of the kakesuzuri-type, with a single hinged front door.
Behind the door, there are two full width drawers, one half-width small drawer and two mid-size ones with iron locks.
The exterior of the chest is made of keyaki (Zelkova) wood, which is unusual. Drawers made of the softer, kiri wood with iron hardware. Wrought iron handle on the top of the chest. Door, corners and edges fitted with sturdy and very decorative ironwork, ornamental lock.
Bottom inscribed in black...

An antique Japanese Kyoto Todana Tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Two large sliding doors open to a spacious storage area with a center shelf. Horizontal wooden slats on the doors and the sides allow for visual aesthetics and strength of the chest. Side swivel handles were used for transporting this chest by running a long wood pole through the handles allowing a group of helpers to easily carry this chest from location to location.

The Japanese philosophy th...

An antique Japanese Kansai Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Beautiful original Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron fittings including the Warabite handles. Sliding doors hide a spacious area that was used to store business books and records while the 11 drawers held all things suitable for a merchant e.g. writing brushes, inkstone, receipts, valuables and money.

Each side has handles for carrying about the chest. The swivel ...

Antique Japanese wedding kimono Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made heavy gauge iron fittings and thick wood construction for strength and durability including straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Specially commissioned chest for use as part of a bride's dowry to store her formal wedding kimono, her formal after wedding kimono and her informal wedding celebration kimono. The two small bottom drawers were used to store her wedding a...