An unusual vintage Japanese Choa tansu with Keyaki burl front hardwood panels. The chest is decorated with highly ornate floral motifs and filigree seen through the iron plating and hardware. Each drawer and compartment has a black lacquered interior. The tansu has side handles for transport. dates from Showa c1950

Dimensions: 21 1/2" x 13" x 31" H

Unusual Japanese Kiri wood stacking box, comprised of 9 shallow compartments for the storage of calligraphy implements. The edges of each compartment are reinforced with hand-forged iron plates. The lowermost compartment has a single pull out drawer with a kakute iron pull and lock.

Edo period

Dimensions: 18 1/2" x 11 1/2" x 27 1/2"

Very Unusual Antique Japanese large safe box made all of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood, door has elaborate six drop-in hinges (when door is unlocked it can be lifted completely off), other hardware inlcludes heavy iron cross and corner bracing, heavy side handles, and warabite shaped drawer pulls on the two interior drawers, the outside of the box is finished with it's original reddish orange translucent lacquer finish. Edo Period (circa 1850's) Size: 41 1/2" high (42" high including ...

A Beautiful unusual Japanese display cha dana tansu, with 3 sets of sliding Keyaki burl front panels with copper handle pulls, 11 drawers with iron warabite handles, and an open compartment with shelves for the display of tea ceremony articles. This piece features a secret compartment hidden underneath one of the top panels.

Meiji period (1868-1912) 19th century.

Size: 69.25" L x 14.5" D x 36" H

Antique Japanese kannon biraki tansu, made with keyaki (elm) and hinoki (cypress) wood. Interior has four storage compartments. Top and sides have the same kanji marking burned into the wood. Beautiful, original finish. Very unusual. Size: 25.75" height, 23" length, 10" depth

Unusual Japanese small gyosho bako (merchant's box) made with Kiri (Paulownia) wood in all original finish. The box holds four drawers, with decorative black iron plating and handles. The top 3 drawer interiors have been lacquered in black while the bottom drawer has also been lacquered in red. With original keys included.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 16" L x 9.5" W x 10.5" H

Unusual Japanese two-section choba tansu (merchant's chest), made with Kiri (paulownia) front hardwood, Sugi (cedar) sides, and two large Keyaki (elm) sliding door panels with a roomy, shelved interior space. Each drawer opens with hirute style iron handles and a simple squared lock. Its sides are reinforced with horizontal slats.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 47.5" L x 16" W x 64" H

Unusual Japanese single section kannon biraki tansu. This safe chest holds an open top shelf and 2 drawers behind the front hinged locking doors.

Edo period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 27.5" x 14" x 13.5" H

Antique Japanese kannon biraki tansu of an unusual small size, made of Kiri (paulownia) wood. The front of the chest is covered in ornate iron hardware with studs. The central lock is a motif of Kiri leaves with two door pulls. The doors open to a shelved interior space with two exterior drawers below. All original condition.

Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Size: 22.5" L x 15.25" D x 19"H

Very unusual antique Japanese matching pair of black lacquer gyosho bako (peddler's boxes). Each has a full height door with eight hand forged brass hinges in stunning original patina. One box opens to a large compartment. The other opens to a series of 5 drawers of different sizes. Each box has a square hole for a carrying pole.
This piece would have been used to carry and store a merchants livelihood. Selling objects or services carried out by the tools store inside...

An especially fine Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Gilded and Red and Black Lacquered Butsudan (Japanese Buddhist Altar) with an endless variety of luxuriously designed details, hidden drawers within secret compartments behind hidden panels, marvelously rendered images and elaborately carved sculpture. All other butsudan pale in comparison with this rare, museum quality showcase piece. This piece would have taken the maker close to 2 years to complete. 65 x 44 x 27 inches (166 x 112 x 69 cm)...

A very rare antique Japanese Choba Biraki Safe Tansu (merchant safety chest with hinged doors) made of old growth Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the main drawer lock plate of Pine trees with matching corners of monkeys reaching for peaches, the hexagonal hinged door lock representing the owner's family crest and Furui (old) Kakute handles. Hinged doors open to 7 drawers of varying sizes...

A very rare antique Japanese Funa Tansu (captain's ship chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods with a Urushi lacquer finish. All original hand made iron fittings with strapping over the top, sides and back of the chest. Unusual bottom hinged door design where the right door opens to two drawers behind and the left pho hinged door slides across revealing a small drawer and another pho drawer. This pho drawer is actually a cover that hides a Kirinoki wood pull out box...

A very rare antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (medicine chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original finish and bronze hardware. Doe skin drawer pulls used to prevent drawer fronts from marring when the chest is closed. Consisting of 168 small upper drawers to house herbs and medicines with 9 drawers below varying in size used to organize pharmaceutical records, business papers. and writing tools...

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...

A vintage Japanese style Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Two large full width drawer with two small drawers and sliding doors behind which is a spacious storage area. Horizontal side ribs add visual design and strength to the chest.

Contemporary function would include using it as a sideboard, a cocktail cabinet or an elegant side table.

Age: Latter 20th Century

Dimensions: 40" Wide by 37 3/4" High by 18 3/4" Deep

A vintage Japanese Tansu called Honbako (book chest) made of dark stained Momiji (Maple) and Tochinoki (Horse Chestnut) woods with an interior made of Kiri (Paulownia). Single hinged door secures a spacious area where books were kept and 5 filing drawers where flats and documents were stored. Below the door is one large drawer where valuables were kept. All original bronze hardware.

Age: Showa Era (1950's -1960)

Dimensions: 16 3/4" Wide by 23" High by 13 5/8" Deep

A vintage Japanese Okidoko (Tokonoma alcove chest) made of a dense grain Akita Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood. Originally it was used to showcase Ikebana flower arrangements, special porcelain vases, Japanese sculptures, or seasonal displays...