A rare an high quality Japanese Matsumoto Choba Tansu (merchant chest from the Matsumoto region of Japan) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with full moon style lock plates and Warabite handles. Recessed side handles lift open to accommodate a wood pole through each handle allowing two persons to carry the tansu from place to place...

Antique Japanese Ryukyu Cha Tansu (display and storage chest for tea items). Lacquered black and inlaid with Mother of Pearl (Raden) in intricate and extraordinarily fine designs of noblemen and scholars in pavilion gardens. The upper portion has a compartment with four sliding panels. Below this are two open shelves inlaid with larger designs of birds on a blossoming dogwood branch...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's storage chest). Made with keyaki (zelkova elm) wood frame and front. Sugi (cryptomeria) wood sides and top. 2 large sliding panels open to a large compartment. Below this are 4 drawers of various sizes. Iron hardware includes warabite shaped drawer pulls. Deep reddish wiped lacquer finish.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 37" high x 35 1/2" wide x 18" deep

Exceptional antique Japanese small personal box made with beautiful keyaki (zelkova) wood burl. Two small drawers on the top, one of which is outfitted with interior lidded compartments. Below, are 3 full-width drawers of gradating depth. Patinated bronze hardware with square drawer pulls on the larger drawers and flower bud pulls on the top drawers. A matching square handle on the top for carrying...

Japanese Keyaki Wood front heavy weight two(2) section Tansu with heavy black Iron Eagle mounted and back plates plus Brass Turtle, Meiji period, 1890's, 46" high, 48" wide, 17 1/2" deep with two(2) long graduated size drawers on top section, lower section consist of one(1) shorter drawer on the left side and two(2) small drawers hidden inside heavily mounted hinged with black iron door...

Antique Japanese unusual funa tansu (funa-dansu, ship merchant's safe box). Rare side-by-side configuration with a safe on the right and a compartment with sliding panels on the left. The right side safe box opens with a hinged door heavily decorated with iron work. A ivy leaf in circle mon (Itowa-ni tsuta) in the center with a ring for opening and a fan motif on the lock itself. The interior has 3 drawers in a vertical row, all with square handles and the bottom drawer with a lock...

An an antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. Warabite handles feature Atari (backstoppers) with upper Butterfly and lower Plum Blossom motifs. Lock plates feature Sho Chiku Bai (Pine, Bamboo, and Plum Blossom) motif with stylized Chrysanthemum lock knobs. Two smaller drawers are hidden behind the lower hinged safe door that locks with a key (included)...

Japanese large three(3) section Kimono Tansu with ornate decorative simple hardware, Ca. 1920, 60" high, 47" wide, upper section has two(2) sliding doors reveals open space with shelves on the right side, and two(2) small drawers for lady's necessary assortment and jewelry in the left side above three(3) large drawers horizontally next each other and middle drawer has lock compartment with very pretty flower shape metal lock backplate...

An antique Japanese Kansai Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Beautiful original Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron fittings including the Warabite handles. Sliding doors hide a spacious area that was used to store business books and records while the 11 drawers held all things suitable for a merchant e.g. writing brushes, inkstone, receipts, valuables and money.

Each side has handles for carrying about the chest...

Antique Japanese Tobako-bon (tobacco box) with two small drawers. The top portion has an open square compartment lined with copper, a small rectangular-shaped space and another square compartment closed with a wooden lid. Just above the drawers is a long diagonal space to hold pipes. The box has a bamboo handle for carrying. Made with hardwood burl with dramatic swirling figure...

Antique Japanese rare gyosho bako (peddler's box) for a barber...

A rare antique Japanese Kasane (stacking chest on chest) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron hardware. Double side by side upper drawer design sometimes considered the matriarch pattern among Sendai Tansu collectors. Beautifully poised Shishi or Botan (Peony) motif on all of the lock plates with unusual scalloped cast framing surrounding each image. Warabite handles with incised Chrysanthemums along the bottoms of each...

Funa dansu of the kakesuzuri-type, with a single hinged front door.
Behind the door, there are two full width drawers, one half-width small drawer and two mid-size ones with iron locks.
The exterior of the chest is made of keyaki (Zelkova) wood, which is unusual. Drawers made of the softer, kiri wood with iron hardware. Wrought iron handle on the top of the chest. Door, corners and edges fitted with sturdy and very decorative ironwork, ornamental lock.
Bottom inscribed in black...

An incredible large antique Japanese merchant Todana Tansu (storage chest with doors and drawers) in 2 sections made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Originally used in a Japanese store to stock and display wares and supplies as well as provide a beautiful functional furniture accent for the merchant. Original hand made iron locks that were used to secure the contents when the store was closed.

Constructed using mortise and tenon joinery as well as floating wood panels w...

Japanese Mizuya, one(1) piece Kitchen cabinet, Meiji period, 1880-1900, 68" high, 33" wide(top and bottom moldings are 5" wider), 15" deep, Persimmon wood drawer front with Copper handles on all drawers, all inlaid Persimmon wood arrows indicate the top up direction, two(2) frosted glass sliding doors above the metal mesh screen doors (one carving section is missing), stylish wooden display shelves are inside the sliding glass doors, constructed with side moldings on both sides. This small styl...

An antique Japanese large 2 section Todana Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods that comes from the Tohoku region of Japan. Hand carved beaded wood work to the front and frame with through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery in its construction. Floating wood panels within the frames of the doors and sections used to prevent cracks from forming. All original bronze hardware with hand carved Ebony sliding door handles.

Similar in function to the Mizuya Tansu (kitche...

Antique Japanese 2-section mizuya tansu (chest on chest for kitchen storage) from the Kyoto area. Made with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood frame and sugi (cryptomeria) wood interior. The top section has two compartments; the upper most with four sliding panels of beautiful burl wood; below this is a compartment for food storage with sliders made of pierced carved hinoki wood and wire mesh for ventilation. Four kayaki (elm) wood drawers are positioned side by side towards the middle portion ...

Antique Choba Tansu (merchant's chest) from the Tohoku area of Northern Japan. Made with Kiri (Paulownia) wood front and Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood frame and interior. There are six exterior drawers, a compartment with sliding panels, and a safe box all with dramatic round lock plates. Iron hardware also includes Warabite shaped drawer pulls, quarter round corner bracing and half round lock plate and hinge on the safe box. Inside the safe box there are two small drawers, one of which has a h...

Antique Japanese Kimono Bo Tansu from the Iwayado area of Northern Japan. Constructed of quarter sawn Toneriko (Tamo Ash) wood with striking grain and a translucent lacquer finish. The frame is made of Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood with an opaque wiped lacquer finish. Hardware is hand made all of iron and includes Warabite shaped drawer pulls with unusual raised Pine and Peach back plates. Lock plates are also raised and consist of various flowers including Peony (Botan), Magnolia (Ho) and Ivy wi...

Antique Japanese 2-section shodana, display cabinet for heirlooms and works of art. It's rare, mostly open configuration gives a floating appearance to it's multi tiered shelves and compartments. It has intricate pierced carved details of phoenixes and curling flower vines. A rectangular compartment in the center portion has a hinged door that is decorated with blue lacquer and bone shibayama inlay of a bird in tall grasses stalking a bee. Two drawers on the lower portion of the cabinet are...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Original wiped lacquer technique finish and hand made iron hardware. The lock knobs feature a Plum Blossom design and the design of the handles is a straight Gumbai. Sliding side by side doors open to a spacious area where once merchant books and records were stored.

A rare feature of this chest are the hidden compartments under the four bottom side by side drawers. Under the center tw...

Japanese wooden clothing chest (Sendai-Tansu) with unique ironwork.

Age: Japan, Meiji Period, Late 19th Century
Measurement: Height 101 C.M. / Width 40 C.M. / Length 88.5 C.M.
Condition: Nice condition overall (some expected degradation due to its age). Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cost. Please e-mail us for the shipping fee.

Japanese wooden clothing chest (Sendai-Tansu) with unique ironwork.

Age: Japan, Meiji Period, Late 19th Century
Measurement: Height 57.6 C.M. / Width 35.3 C.M. / Length 54.6 C.M.
Condition: Nice condition overall (some expected degradation due to its age). Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cost. Please e-mail us for the shipping fee.

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Kasane Tansu (chest on chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original thick gauge hand made iron hardware with beautiful Chrysanthemum knobs on the lock plates. Constructed using thick solid Paulownia wood for the drawer fronts, the case was made using traditional dovetail joinery with all parts secured by hardened wooden nails. The top section features 2 side carrying handles on each side and both sections have side swivel handles for ease of carrying.

An antique Japanese Kyodai Kesho Bako (mirror & make-up box) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Four drawers and a hinged cover that hides a mirror stand and a bronze hand mirror. The cover flips open to reveal a holding base to which the mirror stand is held in place. A brocade cover protects the bronze mirror which is decorated with the family Mon (crest) and a landscape scene with a large Wisteria tree as i...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand made iron fittings including the Warabite handles and finish. The front has a natural Kirinoki wood finish while the case was finished in a wiped Urushi lacquer technique. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1880)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" Wide x 20" High x 13" Deep

A rare antique Japanese optometrist roll top tansu complete with lenses and glasses. Original navy corduroy covered pull-out shelf with two side by side storage drawers. The display case of lenses double as a removable tray for portable transport from room to room or place to place. Made of Tochinoki (Horse Chestnut) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original bronze hardware and finish.

This would make a wonderful addition to anyone who collects optometry related items.

Age: ...

An antique Japanese 2 section Nagoya Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Akita Sugi (Cryptomeria from the Akita region) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original iron fittings. Constructed using mortise and tenon & through mortise and tenon joinery as well as hardened wood nails. There are side horizontal slats for added strength and support. The top sliding door panels were decorated with beautiful flowing grain Akita Sugi wood boards. The hardware features stylized Mokko...

A rare Edo era Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron hardware and original dark wiped lacquer technique finish. Unusual features include the front to back swivel carrying handles and three secret compartment boxes. One box hides to the back of either shelf tricking a thief to think that he/she found the precious treasure. Behind each of the two bottom drawers also hides secret boxes where the real treasure is kept.

This ...

An antique Japanese Funa Tansu (ship chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron hardware including the Kakute front drawer handles and the Warabite side carrying handles. Construction includes straight dovetail joinery with hardened wooden nails. Lock plates include parallel vertical bars that double as decorative as well as strong security connectors preventing easy removal from the drawer fronts. There are two small drawers behind the hinged door and behind the lo...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant's chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The sides of the chest feature horizontal cross ribs for added strength and durability. Constructed using mortise & tenon, through mortise & tenon, and double through mortise & tenon joinery. Use of hardened wood nails. The sliding doors open to an expansive storage space that was used to keep store records and books.

Age: Late Meiji-Taisho Era (1900-1920)

Dimensi...

An antique Japanese Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. The hinged door opens to 4 drawers where the merchant's wares were stored. The bottom drawer was used to keep documents, writing brushes, an inkstone and other business related accessories. Two iron rings on each side used with rope for carrying this chest on a peddler's back. All original finish and hardware with straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Edo Period (1603-186...

An antique Japanese Funa Tansu (Captain's Chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. It was constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. The base has an original cross beam support that adds strength and durability to this chest. A hidden secret lidded box hides behind the bottom right drawer with retrieval by way of the back of the bottom left drawer.

Originally used in the captain's quarters of a merch...

A rare antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu (wheeled chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original including the finish and hand made iron fittings. Unique all drawer design. Iron rope rings on each corner to help roll this chest from place to place. Mortise and tenon joinery and hardened wood nails used in its construction. Sides and back horizontal ribs for added strength and durability.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868).

Dimensions: 43" Wide x 40" High x ...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacked chest on chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. Hinged door hides two small drawers behind. Straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nail construction. Top section has two side carrying handles while bottom section has swivel carrying handles with attached locking pins to secure both sections together.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36 1/4 W...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant store chest) made of Kuwa (old Mulberry) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand made iron fittings and finish. Two center hinged doors are removable with the hook and loop style hinge design. Front Warabite handles with two carrying handles on each side for positioning the chest and the additional swivel handles used with a wood pole to carry the chest from place to place. Lower right hinged door hides 3 smaller drawers.

Merchant che...