An antique Japanese Chobako (small merchant chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Original and beautiful transparent Urushi lacquer finish showcases the underlying magnificent wood grain. Hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute handles on the 2 large drawers and the Hirute handle on the small security drawer. Minor sumi ink stains in the upper right drawer suggests that an inkstone and brushes were stored there for writing store records and receipts...

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware which includes the Warabite handles, the lock plates with auspicious symbols, and the pine and plum Atari handle back stops. The symbols on the locks feature the traveler's cape and hat, the lucky treasure bag and the lucky fortune mallet...

An antique Japanese Byosho Bako (peddler's chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Two loop rings where a carrying rope was once attached allowing the merchant to carry this chest on his back. The hinged door opens to 5 drawers used for the storage of wares for sale. A few small ink stains on the upper surface attests to the merchant using the top as a writing surface when writing sales...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) entirely made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. In the Biraki style, it features two hinged doors that hide 12 drawers for the storage and organization of store records, papers and wares...

An antique Japanese Sendai Tansu that was made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The lock plates feature the family crest of a Chrysanthemum with the top plate designed with full bloom Mums on either side of the family crest. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and Urushi lacquer finish. The hinged door hides two small drawers where valuables were kept...

An antique Japanese Tohoku Todana Mizuya Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original wiped Urushi lacquer finish. With two sets of vertical ribbed sliding doors, the upper section has triple level storage and the bottom section has a split level storage separated by shelves...

An antique Japanese Tohoku Mizuya Tansu in 2 sections made of Burl Keyaki (Zelkova), Aka Matsu (Red Pine) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Two sets of large doors separated by a middle set of 4 drawers with Mokko handles. A lift-out door hides additional storage space where tall narrow items were stored. Original wiped Urushi lacquer finish.

Age: Meiji period (1870-1890)

Dimensions: 65 3/4" Wide by 55 5/8" High by 21 5/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Isho (clothes) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hike handles. The lock plates feature a Plum Blossom knob and a full moon back stop. Features 5 large drawers and a hinged door that hides 3 small drawers. Side swivel handles allows for a wood pole to pass through allowing two persons to carry the tansu from location to location...

An antique Japanese Yamagata Tansu made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hikute handles and the Urushi lacquer finish. Lock plates feature the family crest of the Paulownia. Four large drawers and one small drawer to the exterior. The hinged security door hides 2 small drawers where valuables were kept...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with a Paulownia family crest front lock plate. Two hinged doors open to an array of 8 small drawers each used organize the previous owner's collection of smalls. The iron stand (a recent addition) was used to raise this chest off of the floor to make it into the perfect side table...

An antique Japanese Kimono Tansu made fo Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Urushi lacquer accentuates the beautiful wood grain. Unusual rare deep design that was specially custom commissioned to be made by a tansu maker. Three large drawers with a security hinged door featuring a dragon motif that hides two small drawers for valuables as well as a secret hiding box...

An antique Japanese Chonin Kobako (merchant storage box) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware with construction using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. The drawer handles are of the Kakute style comprising six drawers to organize and secure its contents. Traditionally sitting next to the side of the merchant, it was an indispensable chest housing coins and money, important documents, and valuables as well as brushes, an ink...

An antique Japanese Kannon Biraki Tansu (wedding kimono chest) made of rare Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles. Natural Urushi lacquer accentuates the beautiful wood grain. Stippling work to the round lock plates of the two hinged doors. Bottom hinged security door hides two small drawers with a secret box behind the bottom drawer.

The Kannon Biraki tansu was often presented as part of a woman's ...

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. Bottom section features 8 drawers of varying sizes with two sets of sliding doors and a hinged safe behind which are 2 small drawers where valuab...

An antique Japanese Sendai Bo Tansu (locking bar chest from the Sendai region) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles and Urushi lacquer finish. Safe door hides 3 small drawers where valuables were stored. The main lock plate features a key pattern with a flowing vine arabesque with the smaller plates decorated with Paulownia. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden n...

An antique Japanese bellow (called Fuigo) made of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Used by sword makers and metal craftsmen to blow air into a Kama to increase the temperature of the fire.

Age: Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 19 3/4" Wide by 11 1/2" High by 6 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Two-Section Kaidan Tansu (stair chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute handles. Made in two sections allowing for easier placement through a door or entrance. Drawers of varying sizes for organizing with a large hinged door with spacious storage behind and a lift out door on the top step with two wooden hooks where security keys were kept. Wear to the edge of the steps is a testament to its ...

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. The main drawer has a lock plate with an incised Chrysanthem...