Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) with kannon-biraki cabinet doors (opening outward on hinges). The doors open to reveal one interior shelf. These door panels as well as the safe box door are both removable. (The hinge pins are built into the door side of the lock and slot into the hinges on the tansu frame.) There are 6 drawers of various sizes. The safe box on the lower right hand side has two additional small interior drawers...

Antique Japanese small merchant's box. Although this tansu has the appearance of a gyosho bako (peddler's box), it does not have loops for carrying straps. It was probably custom made for a merchant's raised platform area. All of the drawers feature hand forged iron lock plates and mounts. One of the smaller drawers is stained with ink meaning it would have stored an ink pen for receipts and accounting...

Antique Japanese kannon biraki (opening door) isho tansu (clothing chest) in 2 sections. Made with kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood top and sides. The top section has a pair of hinged doors which open to reveal two large drawers. The bottom section has two large drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side. The hinged safe box door opens to reveal two small interior drawers, one of which has a hidden compartment...

An elaborately inlaid three drawer marquetry cabinet, unusually, with tambour doors. This item was made in Japan, for export, during the late 19th or early 20th century. In very good used condition; there is one small piece of veneer missing from the top back corner of the right side; no further losses, no restoration and no alterations. 23 cm (9 inches) high; 24.5 cm (9.5 inches) high.

Antique Japanese tansu from the Nigata area of Japan. Most likely used by a merchant for storage. The 9 drawers are in three rows with the shallowest drawers along the top and gradually getting deeper toward the bottom of the chest. The hardware is all of iron and includes elegant hirute shaped drawer pulls, fan shaped lock plates and corner bracing. The wood is paulownia (kiri) wood.

Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 19 1/2" high x 31" wide x 19" deep.

Antique Japanese unusually small kannon biraki (hinged doors) tansu chest made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top portion of the chest opens to reveal a compartment with a single shelf. The bottom portion has two exterior drawers. Elaborate iron hardware is like that of a larger kannon biraki chest and includes heavy hinges and cross bracing on the doors with an ivy leaf mon (crest).

Edo Period (early 1800's)

Dimensions: 16 1/4" high x 19 1/4" wide x 10" deep.

Antique Japanese 2 section 3 ft. Mizuya (kitchen tansu) made with Hinoki (cypress) and Sugi (cedar) wood, with Keyaki (elm) hardwood burl panels. The upper section holds two open compartments behind sliding door panels with chrysanthemum pulls, the lower pair also decorated by horizontal carved panels with floral carvings, and three small drawers below. The lower section is the largest compartment for storage with no shelving behind two large sliding doors with slats...

Antique Japanese small tansu chest made of kiri (paulownia) wood. It has six drawers of various sizes and a compartment with a small shelf covered by two sliding panels. Hardware is made of iron and includes warabite shaped drawer pulls, round lock plates, corner bracing and side handles.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 18 1/2" high x 23 1/4" wide x 11 1/4" deep.

Antique Japanese small tansu chest made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. The chest is configured with seven drawers of various sizes: 3 small drawers above 2 medium drawers above 2 large drawers. Black iron hardware includes 7 round lock plates, circular corner bracing and square drawer pulls.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 23 1/4" high x 27" wide x 13" deep.

Japanese antique single section mizuya (kitchen tansu for storage). Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with original deep brown lacquer finish. The right hand side of the chest has a compartment covered by a pair of sliding panels with keyaki wood details, open work carving and wire for ventilation. The largest compartment is covered with sliding panels with keyaki details and vertical slats. The inside of each of these compartments has one shelf...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) with negoro lacquer finish (distressed red and black lacquer). Made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood. This chest has 10 drawers of various sizes and a compartment opened by sliding panels with one interior shelf. Extensive iron hardware includes round lock plates and warabite shaped drawer pulls. From the Matsumoto area of Japan.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 1/2" high x 31 1/2" wide x 14" deep

Japanese Antique keyaki (em) wood isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Sendai area. Top portion of the chest has two small drawers (a rare configuration). There are 7 exterior drawers of various sizes and a safe box with a hinged door (with key) covering three small interior drawers. Hardware includes large lock plates with chrysanthemum mon and ornate pierced carved leaves.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35" high x 46 3/4" wide x 17" deep

Antique Japanese 2-section choba tansu (merchant's chest) from the Gifu area. Made of hinoki wood with extensive horizontal slats on the sides. The top section has sliding panels with horizontal slat over two small interior drawers. The bottom section has a long drawer over another sliding panel compartment also with horizontal slats. Below this is a series of 4 drawers of various sizes and, on the right, a small safe door covering two small interior drawers...

Incredible Antique Japanese kannon biraki tansu (storage chest with hinged doors) made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with original deep brown lacquer finish. The interior consists of 10 drawers of various sizes made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Each drawer has a square lock (with key) and warabite shaped drawer pulls. Extensive hand forged iron hardware on the exterior includes 9 hinges on each door, cross bracing and two locks (with key). Original finish and condition...

Antique Japanese single section mizuya (kichten chest). Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with dark keyaki (elm) wood burl panels. The left side of the tansu has a compartment opened by sliding doors with vertical slats. The right portion of the chest has a smaller compartment opened by sliders with decorative cut outs and wire mesh...

Antique Japanese keyaki (elm) wood single section isho tansu (clothing chest). Made with keyaki wood burl on the front. Two large exterior drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side with 2 small interior drawers. Iron hardware with warabite shaped drawer pulls and round foliate lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" high (including stand) x 34 1/2" wide x 15 1/2" deep.

Antique Japanese 2-section kiri isho tansu (clothing chest), made with very light natural color kiri (paulownia) wood with iron hardware. 4 large exterior drawers with a safe box in the lower right hand side. The interior of the safe box has two small drawers and the door has a key. Iron hardware includes warabite shaped drawer pulls and square form lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 40" high x 36" wide x 16 1/2" deep.

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu (clothing chest) made of kiri (paulownia) wood. Iron hardware includes warabite shaped drawer pulls and round lock plates. There are two large exterior drawers. In the bottom right hand corner is a safe box with hinged door and two small interior drawers.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

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