Beautiful and rare Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest), made all of heavy keyaki (elm) wood, keyaki wood bracing on sides and back, original deep reddish brown translucent lacquer finish with wonderful patina, heavy iron hardware, interior has 2 drawers, Edo Period c1800. Size; 36 1/2" high x 40" wide x 23 1/4" deep.

19th century Japanese single-section lacquered wood merchant tansu with black iron hardware and locks with floriate buttons, bronze hirute handles, and featuring fourteen drawers of assorted sizes. Each side has one iron side lift carrying handle. 36" wide x 30 3/4" high x 16" deep. Very good overall condition with the original lacquer finish and intact hardware...

Large rare antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), from the Mikuni area of Japan, made of heavy solid keyaki (elm) wood throughout, wooden bracing on sides and back, large compartment with sliding panels has 4 smaller interior drawers, safe box has 2 small interior drawers, beautiful heavy iron work, has 3 keys, Edo Period. Size: 35 1/2" high x 47 1/2" wide x 19 1/4" deep.

A fabulous two section Japanese Sado Island Isho Tansu made of burl Keyaki wood with Sugi frame and Kiri wood interior dating from the Meiji period (c.1900), with beautiful forged iron fittings on a lacquer finish, all original and in top condition, 3 keys. Size: L 45.5" x H 45" x D 17"

Wonderful rare antique Japanese Funa Tansu (ship safe chest), all made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood with heavy iron work, single door is a separate drop in panel with 3 locks, interior consists of 6 drawers of different sizes (2 of which have heavy iron locks), all drawers have thick Keyaki fronts and Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood interiors, beautiful grain and finish throughout, Kashiwa mon on front is made of bronze encircled in iron, comes with one key, characters in ink on bottom, Edo Period...

Antique Japanese Funa Tansu (ship safe chest), made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood with elaborate heavy iron work, safe box has hinged door which opens to the right to reveal 4 small Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood drawers of differing sizes (one of which has a Chrysanthemum lock), the left hand door to the safe opens by sliding to the right revealing 2 small Kiri wood drawers, one large external drawer on top with large lock, Chrysanthemum iron work throughout including raised blossoms on the corners o...

The two fine and old haribako (Japanese Sewing Box) that we offer here on our site are likely the oldest ones you will see offered for sale. They come from the collection of a renowned author on and collector of Asian art. This lovely chest of paulownia and pine has the original hardware, original ruler, and original pincushion. 18.5h x 9d x 7.5w inches, 47h x 23d x 19w cm. Very Good Condition.

Unusual Antique Japanese Sakata Funa Tansu (Captain's ship safe), made of very heavy solid Keyaki (Zelkova) wood with lovely dovetail joints used in its construction. Original deep red-orange and black lacquer finish, iron hardware, Sakata area of Japan, Edo Period. Stunning original condition. Size: 10 1/2" high x 22 1/2" wide x 13" deep.

Beautiful Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest), made of keyaki (elm) with sugi (Japanese cedar) interior, beautiful heavy iron hardware, sliders on top, bottom with removable locking bar (bo) over two drawers, lower right side with safe box, interior of safe with two small drawers, all original deep red translucent lacquer finish, Mikuni area, late Edo Period (mid 19th century). Size: 33 1/2" high x 36 3/4" wide x18 1/2" deep.

Antique Japanese merchant's chest (choba tansu), made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood with dark red lacquer finish, 4 exterior drawers and safe box with 2 small interior drawers, beautiful heavy iron hardware including elaborate bracing on front frame, wooden bracing on sides and back, from the Mikuni area, Edo Period (late 18th/early 19th century). Size: 32 1/2" high x 38" wide x 18" deep.

Japanese Sakata area keyaki kodansu, beautiful condition and original finish. Hardware includes crane and turtle symbols of happiness and longevity on largest lock. Bar hardware has family mon. Meiji Period, circa 1860s. Size: 22"H 11.25"D 22.25"L

Gorgeous antique Japanese Kuruma tansu (wheeled chest), made of keyaki (elm) wood with all original finish and original heavy iron hardware, from the Etchu Area of Japan (ref. "Wadansu-shusei" by Kodansha), Edo Period c. 1830's. Size: 48 1/2" high x 56 1/2" wide x 29" deep. Exhibited: "Moving Cabinetry: Tansu from The Zentner Collection", Palo Alto Art Center, 2005.

Exceptional 19th Century Kyodai (Japanese Mirror Chest) beautifully constructed of very fine elm root. Japanese artisans ceased use of this expensive wood many years ago. Japanese antique mirror boxes like these are honestly undervalued and underpriced. They are the last bargains in the Japanese antique world, relative to their true worth and rare beauty. We strongly suggest buying one now, as we really don't expect this to be the case for too much longer...

19th Century Kyodai (Japanese Mirror Chests) of this size are rare. Well constructed of a very fine mulberry and pine. Japanese antique mirror boxes like these are honestly undervalued and underpriced. They are the last bargains in the Japanese antique world, relative to their true worth and rare beauty. We strongly suggest buying one now, as we really don't expect this to be the case for too much longer. 38 x 19 x 10 inches, 96 x 48 x 25 cm. Excellent Condition.

Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), original dark brown translucent lacquer finish, made of sugi (cryptomeria), iron hardware, one shelf on interior of slider compartment, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 43" high x 37 1/4" wide x 15 1/4" deep.

Beautiful and dramatic antique Japanese isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Nihonmatsu area, 2-sections, made with keyaki wood front and sugi wood frame, safe box with key, lovely original deep red/orange translucent lacquer finish, iron hardware, Meiji Period (1868-1912). Size: 47 1/2" high x 45 1/4" wide x 18 1/2" deep.

A warm grained Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) two piece Yonezawa Isho Tansu (clothing chest from Yonezawa) finely constructed of pine (matsu) and highly desirable paulownia (kiri). 42 x 34 x 16 inches (107 x 86 x 41 cm). Very Good Condition. This chest is from Shonai, a region of Yonezawa that makes chests that are highly prized for their combination of understated Japanese design with a sense of tradition.

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)...