A fabulous Rootwood stand of dark red hardwood with a web of interlacing root-legs beneath. It is 48 x 32 x 8 cm (19 x 12-1/2 x 3 inches) and is in overall fine condition, dating from the first half of the 20th century.

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 Butsudan, Buddhist shrine for a home. This butsudan is in two sections. The top section has four folding doors that open to a shrine interior: An multilevel altar with carved details, gold leafed silk and columns. There is a small storage compartment closed by carved sliding panels. The bottom section has two storage drawers...

Antique Japanese tansu with original deep-red lacquer finish. The top portion of the chest has three full-width drawers and locking bar. The lower portion of the chest has two medium sized drawers with a locking bar on the left hand side, a safe box on the right. The safe box door has heavy iron work and opens to reveal 3 small interior drawers. Other iron hardware includes warabite drawer pulls, extensive corner bracing and handles for carrying...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware with Kaute style handles. 6 drawers of varying sizes with a pair of sliding doors and a security door that hides 2 additional drawers and a secret box where valuables were kept.

This Tansu would make a perfect side chest or nightstand.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 32" Wide by 31'" High by 18" Deep

Antique Japanese small ko tansu (chest for personal use). Made all of kiri wood. 7 drawers of various size, each with a bronze hirute shaped drawer pull. Two of the drawers have round lock plates. Nice overall patina.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 18 3/4" high x 28" wide x 12 1/4" deep

Antique Japanese tall merchant's box. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with iron hardware. The box has a total of 9 small drawers: upper drawers most likely held writing implements, tools or documents while the ink stains on the inside of the lower drawers reveal they once held ink, seals and ink stone...

Antique Japanese tansu with 9 drawers. Made of kiri (paulownia) wood with traces of black lacquer. The upper portion of the chest has three full-width drawers. The lower portion of the chest has five drawers of various sizes including three very small drawers. Iron hardware includes square drawer pulls and heavy lock plates. Nice patination over all.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: 25 3/4" high x 29 3/4" wide x 14" deep

Antique Japanese small tansu with 7 drawers. The frame is made of chestnut while the front of the chest is all kiri (paulownia) wood. Sugi (cryptomeria-Japanese cedar) is use for the drawer interiors. The upper portion of the chest has six drawers in two rows. The bottom portion has a single full-width drawer...

Antique Japanese hangai tansu (captain's chest for business transactions). Two door panels outfitted with heavy iron work set into the frame and open to reveal five drawers on either side. The exterior frame of of the box is made of sugi (cryptomeria - Japanese cedar) while the drawers are made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The exterior has square iron handles while the interior has iron warabite shaped drawer pulls...

Exceptional antique Japanese large kannon biraki tansu (chest with hinged doors). Two stacking sections made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. This chest has unusually bold hardware made of iron with traces of red lacquer. Each of the two large doors on the upper portion is fitted with a large iron kiri mon (specifically Gosan-no-kiri-mon) During the Edo Period, this crest became a well established mon of the Japanese government where previously it was used only by the imperial family...

Antique Japanese small tansu with 5 drawers of various sizes. Made of kiri (paulownia) wood and still in it's original condition. Iron hardware includes hirute shaped drawer pulls and each drawer has a lock plate. The sides of the chest have a deep reddish lacquer finish. The deep patination is from hundreds of years of careful use.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: 25" high x 25 3/4" wide x 13 1/2" deep

Antique Japanese gyosho bako (peddler's chest for a traveling salesman). Made with sugi (cryptomeria - cypress) wood on the outside and kiri (paulownia) wood on the inside, this box would have been light enough to carry. The single door opens to reveal a series of 10 light weight stacking trays which slide out like drawers. Each is marked with a character in light ink for organization. There is also an exterior drawer with a round iron lock and square handle...

Antique Japanese small ko tansu (chest for personal storage). Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. The chest has sliding panels on the top portion which open two a single compartment. Below this is a row of 3 small drawers over two full-width drawers. Hardware is made of cast iron.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 24 1/4" high x 22" wide x 13" deep

Rare antique Japanese large kuruma tansu, wheeled storage chest. Made with keyaki (elm) wood on the front. The sides and back are reinforced with hinoki (Japanese cypress) slats. The upper portion of the chest has three full-width drawers held shut with a locking bar (bo)...

Japanese Pine wood Arm rest, Meiji Period 1880, 24" wide, 17" high, 8" wide, can be used for the writing table, or hanging shelf, thick solid Pine wood, the condition is good.

Japanese Merchant Chest, Tansu for keeping documents, Meiji Period 1880, 20" deep, 16" high, 12" wide, with 3 graduated size drawers, Cear wood box or chest with black iron hinges, handles and lock button, wood grain is beautiful and the condition is original and some wood irregular surface on one side.

An antique Japanese long low Todana Tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. Visually stunning horizontal slats on the two sliding doors cover 6 drawers (3 on each side). Original hand forged iron Hikute handles on each drawer. Additional slats to each side. It would make a wonderful sideboard or base cabinet for a TV monitor.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 70 3/4" Wide by 28 3/4" High by 19" D

Antique Japanese suzuri bako (writing box). Made of beautiful keyaki (zelkova elm) burl and persimmon wood. Unusually fine joinery on the corners. With three small drawers. The top is a persimmon wood panel that lifts off to reveal a compartment intended for an ink stone. The inside of the compartment has traces of red pigment as well as calligraphy and an array of brush stokes. One can imagine the calligrapher hurriedly wiping his brush or making a practice stoke.

Age: Meiji Per...

Antique Japanese large 2-section storage tansu for an herbal merchant. Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood, beautifully worn and patinated from years of use. The top section has a large compartment opened by two sliding panels and with two interior shelves. The bottom section has 38 drawers for storage of various herbs and wares. Every drawer has an iron hirute-shaped pull.

Age: Early Meiji period (circa mid 1800's)

Dimensions: 67 3/4" high x 71 1/2" wide x 18" deep ...

Wood and lacquer lectern (kendai) with a drawer at the foot. Takamaki-e decoration representing an eagle on a rocky promontory, surrounded by vegetation. Head down and wings half unfolded, it is about to fly away, perhaps to hunt its prey.

The eagle is considered as the king of birds. Its tail feathers are said to be the best feathers for an arrow. It is said that these were given to the imperial court and to the shrine of Ise (Mie prefecture), one of the most sacred places in Shint...

Antique Japanese kannon biraki tansu. Single section with hinged doors which open to reveal 4 interior drawers; two large and two small. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with iron hardware. The large, round lock plate and cross bracing are classical aspects of this type of chest. Used for storing clothing and outfitted with handles for carrying.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 20 1/2" high x 37" wide x 16 1/4" deep

An antique Japanese Sendai Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles and the stylized Chrysanthemum arabesque lock plates. 6 drawers with a security door that hides 2 small drawers used to protect valuables. It comes with a key.

Age: Late Meiji Era (1900-1910)

Dimensions: 45 1/4" Wide by 34 3/4" High by 17 1/4" Deep

An antique Japanese gilt wood temple Ranma (transom). Hand carved depicting a pair of Kingfisher with 3 Swallows amongst Lotus blossoms and leaves. One Swallow has caught a small fish while one Kingfisher has caught the leg of a frog. Deep relief with inscription on left and partial inscription on right.

Momoyama Period (1573-1603)

Dimensions: 43" Wide by 11 3/8" High by 2 3/8" Deep

Antique Japanese single section mizuya (kitchen tansu). Made with keyaki (zelkova elm) wood on the front with beautiful grain. Two large storage compartments with sliding panels. One with wire for ventilation and display. The lower portion of the chest has two drawers with iron warabite shaped drawer pulls.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 33 1/2" high x 35 1/4" wide x 17 7/8" deep

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. A full width drawer on the top most portion, three medium drawers on the left opposite a hinged safe box door (with key) with 3 interior drawers. The lower portion of the tansu has two shallow drawers positioned side-by-side over another full-width drawer on the bottom. Iron hardware includes square drawer pulls, unusual lock plates on the drawers and safe box with cross bracing.

Age: Edo Period (1...

Japanese antique kusuri tansu, chest with many drawers for storing medicinal herbs for an apothecary. Made of kiri (paulownia) wood with sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame. Small hand holds cut in the sides for convenience. Each of the 49 small drawers is labeled with a paper label. Older labeling in ink can be seen on some drawers. The lower portion of the chest has three medium sized drawers. Hardware is made of iron and includes rings pulls, warabite shaped handles on the larger drawers and...

A rare antique Japanese Chobako (merchant desk) made entirely of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original patina and hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute and Warabite style handles. The front features opposing hinged security doors with 2 left drawer and 3 right drawers with a set of larger 3 drawers in between. The top has 3 hinged doors, one that housed the inkstone, one that kept the ink for the family seal and one large storage compartment. Two coin slots above two drawers to inse...

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (stacking Kimono chest) in 3 sections made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware including the Warabite style handles and the Uchide no Kozuchi (lucky treasure hammer) sliding door pulls. Top section includes the 2 sliding doors with 3 side by side drawers below. Opening the doors reveals a split level shelf and a small drawer for hair ornament storage. The center section has 3 full width Kimono drawers and the bottom section has 2 obi drawers a...

An antique Japanese Ranma (transom) made of Akita Sugi (Cryptomeria from Akita prefecture) and Hinoki (Cypress). Natural Urushi black lacquer frame. Hand carved scene featuring a good luck turtle with longevity tail admiring an old Plum Blossom tree with scatterings of Bamboo underneath.

Age: Taisho Era (1912-1920)

Dimensions: 73 1/4" Wide by 14 1/2" High.

An unusual early Meiji period medicine 2-tiered Kusuri chest. Made from 100% quarter sawn kiri (Paulownia) wood, and small hand forged iron pull hardware. Original warm red tones with brown undertones finish give the small chest a great sensibility. Total of 13 individual drawers, used to store and keep natural remedies, herbs and tonics.

Age: Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 12” Wide x 12” Deep x 17 1/2” High

A wonderful example of an original Japanese Armored Safe chest. Constructed of hand selected and quartered sawn keyaki (zalkova hardwood) and hand forged iron hardware / fittings. Thick hinged door opens to reveal 4 individual drawers with secret compartment located under the largest (bottom) drawer. Internal drawers are made of original light kiri (paulownia) wood.

Age: Edo Period late 18th Century

Dimensions: 19" High x 15 3/4" Wide x 18 1/3" Deep

Antique Japanese suzuribako (calligraphy writing box) for a merchant. Made of keyaki (elm) wood burl with iron hardware. Two drawers: one for writing implements and one drawer with a lock for keeping money, seals, and important documents safe. A top compartment with a hinged lid would have kept an ink stone.

Age: Meiji Period 1868-1912)

Dimensions: 8 3/4" high x 8 1/2" wide x 12 7/8" deep

A rare antique Sendai Tansu in 2 sections made of quartered sawn Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. Lock plates feature a rare dragon motif with upper and lower drawer showing the dragon protecting a sacred Hoju. Warabite handles have incised scrolling detail. Hinged and keyed security door protects two small drawers. Beautiful original condition, ready to be enjoyed.

Age: Edo Era (1800-1850)

D...

A rare antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu (wheeled chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and bottom rope pull rings. Horizontal wood slats on all four sides provide strength and age old beauty. Two large sliding doors open to a spacious storage area with a storage shelf. Below are two side by side drawers for additional organization and storage needs. Constructed using Japanese double and single through mortise and tenon joine...

An antique Japanese Kansai Mizuya Tansu in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. Upper section features two sets of sliding doors with a set of 5 side by side drawers. Bottom section has 2 large sliding doors that open to a spacious storage area behind. Constructed using Japanese mortise and tenon joinery. Drawer handles are Hikute style made of hand forged iron.

Age: Meiji Era (1890-1900).

Dimensions: 71 3/4" Wide by 67 1/4" High by 19 3/4" Deep

Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) with hinged biraki doors. Made of keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with a deep red lacquer finish. The upper portion of the chest has three exterior drawers over the doors which open to reveal a large compartment and four small interior drawers. The lower portion of the chest has two large exterior drawers. Extensive iron hardware includes cross bracing moko shaped drawer pulls, lock plates, and foliate corner brackets. Comes with 5 keys.

Age: Tai...

Antique Japanese small box with 5 drawers. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Drawers of various sizes with two on the left and 3 on the right. The top two drawers are lacquered a deep red on the inside. Hardware with both moko and warabite shape and lock plates of graduating size.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 7 1/2" high x 19 1/8" wide x 6 3/4" deep

Antique Japanese isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Sendai area. Made with keyaki (zelkova elm) wood front and sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame. The chest has four large drawers, two small drawers and a safe box (with key) which opens to two small interior drawers. The hardware is made of iron and features beautiful lock plates in the form of scrolling vines with a chrysanthemum mon in the center and warabite drawer pulls. Lacquer finish is a deep translucent red with black lacquer on the fro...

A rare antique Japanese choba biraki tansu (merchant's chest). Made of keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with burled wood on the front. The top portion of the chest has a large full-width drawer. On the right side is vertical row of four small drawers. Two hinged doors open to a shelf and two small interior drawers. And two medium sized drawers line the bottom of the chest. Hand forged iron hardware includes warabite handles, round lock plates and cross bracing on the doors.
Originating in t...

A small antique Japanese Cha Tansu (tea chest) made of Kuri (Chestnut), Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. A pair of sliding doors and a lift-out door housed the tea accoutrements for serving guests. A built-in split level shelf was used to display seasonal ornaments or favorite small collectibles while 6 drawers of varying sizes provided additional areas for storage and organizing.

Age: Late Meiji Era (1900-1910)

An antique Japanese single section Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute handles and natural Urushi lacquer finish. Sliding main doors hide 6 drawers of varying sizes and a shelf where merchant books and records were kept. Three side by side drawers below the doors were used to keep valuables and store inventory. With 6 keys.

Age: Edo Era (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 34 1/2" Wide b...

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. The front of the bottom right drawer has an ...

Rare antique Japanese Biraki Choba (merchant chest with hinged doors). The doors open to reveal 9 drawers of various sizes over a single large exterior drawer. Heavy iron hardware includes extensive cross bracing, large hinges, warabite drawer-pulls, a large round lock plate, a lock and 3 keys.
The lock plate has a large Minamoto Clan family crest-likely that of the Seiwa Genji clan. Warriors such as Minamoto no Yoritomo, the founder of the Kamakura shogunate; and Ashikaga Takauji, ...

Antique Japanese kyodai (vanity box with mirrors). With three hinged mirrors that close inward. The back mirror swivels up and down. The box has 8 drawers of various sizes. The box is carved with peony flowers. The backs of the mirror panels are carved so that when it is closed they display large peony flowers on one panel and a fu-dog on the other. Carved all over with a faceted texture and finished with red and black negoro lacquer.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dime...

Antique Japanese kyodai (box with drawers and mirror). Made with burled mulberry wood with intricate grain. The interior is all kiri (paulownia) wood with a wiped lacquer finish inside the drawers. The box has 5 drawers of various sizes for storing personal items. The spandrel under the mirror is carved with a bird flying in front of a full moon and tall grasses. Original beveled glass mirror which swivels up and down.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 64 1/2" h...

Antique Japanese 2-section mizuya tansu (kitchen chest) from the Mikuni area. Made with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood framing and beautifully grained keyaki (zelkova elm) wood panels on the drawers and sliders. The frame is lacquered a rich reddish-orange while the slider frames are lacquered black. The top section has an unusual, narrow full width compartment on the very top with two sliders. Below this is a large compartment also with two sliders beside a small compartment on the right op...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original cast bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. Straight dovetail joinery construction with hardened wooden nails. Versatile storage with 6 drawers of varying sizes.

Age: Meiji (1900-1910)

Dimensions: 24" Wide by 17 1/4" High by 11 1/4" Deep

Antique Japanese todana tansu (storage chest). Large sliding panels with wide horizontal slats open to a series of interior drawers: four drawers on the right (two large and two small) and three large drawers on the left. The front and frame of the tansu is made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with kiri (paulownia) wood drawers. Iron hardware includes hirute shaped drawer pulls.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 31 1/2" high x 72 3/4" wide x 22" deep

A unique custom made antique Japanese winter door coffee table on iron stand with built-in brazier-style display area. Iron stand was designed using faux arts and crafts style through mortise and tenon joinery. Door was made using framework of Hinoki (Cypress) with two solid Akita Sugi (Akita Cryptomeria) panels.

Age: Door 1910 to 1920

Dimensions: 68 1/4" Long by 30 3/4" Wide by 19 1/4" High

An antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (herbal medicine chest) made of Kaki (Persimmon) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with each pull ring decorated with a Chrysanthemum back plate. Some of the drawers still retain label remnants of the contents that it held. Constructed using hardened wooden nails and straight dovetail joinery. Consisting of 35 drawers.

An antique Japanese Sakata Chobako (merchant box) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural acquired patina. Two full length drawers used to store calligraphy brushes, paper and documents for easy access when conducting merchant transactions.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 7 3/4" Wide by 9" High by 18 1/4" Deep

A rare example of an original extra large 9' Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki burl (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Hard to find large size with 9 drawers to the upper section and 4 drawers to the bottom section. 3 sets of sliding doors of varying sizes each with a split level shelf. Side slats provide support and visual design to the chest. Stunning original finish, chest is in excellent condit...

An antique Japanese Chobako (merchant box) made of Sugi (Cryptomeria) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Hinged safety door protects 6 drawers that were used for various merchant supplies, valuables and papers. Upper carrying handle used to move piece to various locations.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 12 1/4" Wide by 14 1/2" High by 17" Deep

An antique Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Top of chest has a recessed table top where the peddler displayed and demonstrated his wares for sale. Upper hinged door houses 5 drawers where wares were stored and record keeping supplies were kept. Bottom hinged door covers 3 drawers for additional wares.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 10 1/4" Wide by 26" High by 19 1/4" Deep

Antique Japanese kaidan (step tansu). Made in two stacking sections and consisting of 7 steps with storage on one side. The top section has two drawers, a small compartment with a drop-in door on the very top and a compartment opened by sliding panels with vertical slats. The lower section has two drawers and a large compartment opened by sliding panels also with vertical slats. Made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood with reddish lacquer finish on the front. The steps have a natural finish. Hardw...

An antique Japanese Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Two hinged doors each hiding five drawers storing inventory for the peddler. Bottom rings used to rope the tansu for carrying it about. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 13 1/4" Wide by 40 1/2" High by 23 3/4" Deep

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Full width top drawer over a compartment with sliding panels and one interior shelf. Two medium sized drawer on the bottom left. On the right hand side of the chest are 3 small drawers over a safebox. The safe door opens to reveal two small interior drawers. Hardware is made of iron and includes rounded lock plates, warabite shaped drawers pulls, corner bracing and two keys.

Age: Meiji Period (186...

An antique Japanese 2 section Kaidan (step chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original iron hardware including the Hikute style handles. Upper section has 3 sets of hinged doors and lower section has a pair of sliding doors with 4 drawers of varying sizes. Stair incline is from right to left with 8 steps.

The Kaidan is one of the best examples of Japanese ingenuity. Serving a dual function, it makes every inch of space usable storage while allowing access...

Japanese Meiji period wood eight-drawer ko-tansu (personal chest) with black iron lockplates and hirute form handles. 19th century. 20 3/4" high x 14" wide x 13" deep. Very good overall condition with only minor wear. From a Phoenix, Arizona collection.