An antique Japanese Edo era Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. Made with straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. Original used to store daily documents, ephemera, small utilitarian accessories and personal items. Present day uses include using it as a small side table or a bedside nightstand.

Size: 19 7/8"W 14 3/8"D 14 3/4"H Age: early Edo Period (1644-1868)

A Very rare an extraordinary antique Japanese Kuruma tansu (wheeled chest) made of kirinoki (paulownia) wood. Extremely rare design, Most possibly a tansu from the Akita Castle.
All original including the finish and hand forged iron fittings. Top hinged lid over a thin flat compartment, sliding door compartment locked door reveals inner drawers, bottom sliding door compartment has key that reveals small drawers...

The cabinet is solidly constructed with planks of resinous wood probably Hinoki (a variety of cypress), it is reinforced with artistically forged and cut fittings in the purest Japanese spirit, it has 3 locks which is exceptional, the main side with key, that of the upper part of the door also with key and secret sliding system and that of the lower part simply with secret system. This type of chest was used, it is said, by ship captains...

Antique Japanese zenibako, or money box, made with Kuri wood (chestnut) and Sugi wood (cedar). Features on this piece include a top hinged lid with a shallow compartment for the storage of accounting papers, cut with slots for money to be dropped into the locked drawer below it. To the left are two deeply recessed compartments. A long drawer and a safe box in front of the chest provide even more secure storage. Original condition...

Antique Japanese chobako (small merchant's box) made with Sugi wood (cedar). Original condition. With squared iron handles on flared backplates. Two drawers are fitted with round iron locks.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 25" L x 15" D x 10.25" H

Japanese antique small Ko Tansu (personal chest) made all of keyaki wood with black lacquered iron hardware. This small chest has 7 drawers of various sizes; 1 large drawer & 1 small drawer on the top portion, 2 medium drawers and sliding panels & 5 small drawers on the lower portion. The hardware is made of blackened iron and includes 3 round pulls and 2 scroll drawer pulls.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 19.5"long X 11"high X 11.75"wide

Japanese antique small Ko Tansu (personal chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with black lacquered iron hardware. This small chest has 4 drawers and 1 small door with 2 hidden drawers. The hardware is all made of blackened iron and includes 4 round drawer pulls, 5 locks and 2 side handles.

Date: Edo Period (c1850)

Dimensions: 12.5" tall X 14" wide X 8.25" deep

A rare large Antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu (wheeled chest) made of solid quartered sawn Keyaki (zelkova) wood with hand forged iron hardware and wooden wheels. The upper portion of the chest has a large compartment opened by sliding panels with horizontal slats and a heavy iron latch. The bottom portion has one large drawer and two smaller drawers side by side. Gorgeous original finish with beautiful patina...

A Japanese antique merchant (Choba) tansu made of thick quartered sawn keyaki wood with keyaki burl wood doors. The wonderful hardware is hand made iron. The casing is crytomeria. The tansu's top section has three top drawers. The mid section has sliding doors with an interior shelf and adjacent two drawers. The lower section has 4 small drawers and below them 3 more smaller drawers...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) from the Niigata region of Japan. The front section is made of burled keyaki (Zelkova) and the sides are sugi (Crytomeria). The tansu has a pair of burled wood sliding doors over two burled drawers with heavy iron locks. Exceptional burled Keyaki wood.

Date: Early Meiji - 1870's

Dimensions: 34" tall X 32" wide X 20" deep

An antique Japanese Gifu Choba Tansu made of Hinoki and Sugi wood. Top section has two slat sliding doors with two small interior drawers. The bottom section has a pair of sliding doors , five drawers and a safe compartment.Excellent condition.

Date: Mid Meiji (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 35" wide X 17" deep X 62" tall (both sections top section is 24" tall & bottom section is 38"

A rare edo period Japanese choba (merchants) tansu from the Niigata perfection in Japan. Made of solid keyaki hardwood (including the back). Finely detailed hand forged iron of a flying crane and longevity turtle seen amongst the pine and bamboo. The lower two drawers depict a lock and drum. Stunning original finish with warm tones. 8 drawers in total each of there own size...

An antique Japanese Gyosho Bako (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware with four articulated bottom loops to allow through a carrying cord. Four exposed drawers with 6 hidden drawers behind the hinged security door. Beautiful rustic charm that makes for a functional side table or a one-of-a-kind collector's tansu.

Age: Edo Period (1750-1800)

Dimensions: 11" Wide by 36 1/4" High by 16 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese mill wheel made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood on an iron base that was later added. Recent structural reinforcement with hardware for strength and durability. Currently designed for use as a coffee table or side table, it would add a Japanese folk art (Mingei) accent to any rustic decor.

Age: Edo Period (1750-1800) kDimensions: 22 1/2" Diameter by 14 3/4" High

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...

An antique Japanese Funa Bako (ship safe box) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. The safe door opens to 5 drawers where valuables were kept. The heavy weight of the case combined with a buoyant interior allowed the crew members to attach a rope to the handle and throw the safe overboard during a pirate attack...

An antique Japanese Sakata Bo Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original natural Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware. Locking bar secures three Kimono drawers. The main lock features a stylized Chrysanthemum with leaves design. A hinged security door hides two small drawers where valuables were kept...

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Funa Tansu (captain's chest originating from Sakata, Japan) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. The sides and top of the body used solid unspliced thick wood boards. All original Urushi lacquer finish and heavy gauge hand forged iron hardware. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wood nails. Carrying handles to each side and 6 drawers of varying sizes.

The Funa Tansu was usually kept in the captain's quar...