Japanese Meiji period wood suzuri-bako (portable calligraphy box) with three drawers to hold paper, ledgers, and essential writing accessories. The lid swings open by pushing a locking side button and reveals a narrow storage compartment to hold ink stones and brushes. In addition to the top carrying handle and drawer pulls, all the edges of the chest are reinforced and adorned with heavy original black iron hardware. Circa 1880-1890. 9 3/4" high x 8" wide x 11 1/4" deep...

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...

Japanese Meiji period wood eight-drawer ko-tansu (personal chest) with black iron lockplates and hirsute form handles. 19th century. 20 3/4" high x 14" wide x 13" deep. Weighs 18 lbs. Very good overall condition with only minor wear. The bottom drawer is locked shut and there is no key. The inside of the drawer can be easily accessed by removing the two drawers above it, but the drawer itself does not open. From a Phoenix, Arizona collection.

Antique Japanese geta tansu (shoe storage chest). Made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood with marquetry of various woods on the front. The top sliders open to reveal a compartment with a shelf. The lower sliders open to a compartment with 2 shelves. On the right hand side is a compartment with a full height hinged door originally intended for storing umbrellas.

Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 34 3/4" high x 28" wide x 14" deep

Antique Japanese kuruma tansu (wheeled storage chest) from the Northern Sendai area closer to Iwayado. The front of the chest is made with keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with lovely grain and original red-orange translucent lacquer finish. The frame is made of sugi (cryptomeria). The large, raised iron lock plate on the top drawer depicts a pair of cranes flying in clouds. The middle two drawers are held in place with a locking bar (bo) with pine tree shaped ironwork...

Japanese Edo to Meiji period Kanto style personal wood clothing chest (isho-dansu) with a single drawer on top and hinged burlwood doors opening to three additional drawers below. The top drawer has a rectangular black iron lockplate. The burlwood doors (referred to as "kannon-biraki do") are supported by five iron hinges on each side and a horizontal iron strap with a central round lockplate to secure and lock the doors. Edo to Meiji period (19th century)...

Japanese late Meiji to Taisho period Tokyo style rectangular naga hibachi with beautiful zelkova (keyaki) wood grain. Five storage drawers on the front have copper warabite handles. A removable rectangular wood insert is placed over the fire container which contains an original copper liner with nice patina. Two inset carrying handles are at the sides. Early 20th century. Measures 13" high (15 1/4" high to the top of the wood insert) x 26 3/4" long x 14 1/4" deep...

Rare antique Japanese tansu chest from Takayama city in the Hida region of Gifu Prefecture. Made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with orangish lacquer finish. Iron hardware includes scalloped drawer corners and round lock plates on the three small drawers which line the upper portion of the chest. Below this are four larger drawers with hirute drawer pulls...

An antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made of kiri (paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including stylized gumbai handles. Two sliding kiri wood panels framed in black lacquer over two large drawers for safe keeping of inventory. Iron drawer corners feature raised seed pods suggesting this chest originated in the Yonezawa region of Japan.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 30 1/2" high x 30 " wide x 15 1/8" deep

An unusually small size Nagoya Mizuya Tansu in 1 section made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. 3 sets of sliding doors with spacious storage behind each set. 4 side by side center drawers and 3 drawers at the bottom for additional storage needs. Narrow depth allows for placement in even the narrowest of hallways.

Age: Meiji Era: (1890-1900)

Dimensions: 43 1/4" Wide by 49 1/4" High by 14 1/4" Deep

An antique Kanazawa Tansu Japanese chest in a single section Todana style. All original lacquer finish and bronze hardware. Made of Keyaki (Zelkova) burl and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. 4 side by side drawers with a pair of sliding doors covering a spacious storage area. Constructed using through mortise and tenon joinery with side slats for additional strength and Japanese visual design.

Age: Meiji Era (1900-1910)

Dimensions: 50" Wide by 26 1/4" High by 18" Deep

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Aka Matsu (Red Pine) woods. Beautiful original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Two full width drawers and sliding doors with horizontal slats that hide three small drawers on the right and a business books and records storage area on the left. Upper drawer features a lucky treasure bag lock plate with a stylized Mt Fuji lock plate below...

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware and wiped lacquer finish. Comprised of 4 large drawers and a hinged security door housing 2 small drawers where valuables were hidden. A trick secret box was hidden behind the bottom small drawer with access by removing the bottom large drawer and reaching behind the small drawer.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 35 1/2" Wide by 38 5/8" High by 17 7/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacked Kimono chest on chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute handles and the lock plates featuring the Takanoha Mon (crossed arrow feather family crest). Each section has two sets of side handles, one for carrying with a pole and one for placement in the home. Using thick wood, it was constructed with straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails...

An antique Japanese tall 2 section Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with bronze door pulls...

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) in 2 sections made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original iron hardware with a natural patina acquired over many years. Upper section has 3 drawers and lower section has 2 drawers with a removable base at the bottom. Very thick wood used throughout this chest. Side handles to each section for ease of transport.

Age: Taisho Era (1912-1920)

Dimensions: 36 3/4" Wide by 47" High by 16 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. Pair of sliding doors open to a spacious storage area with a split level shelf on the left side. Six drawers of varying sizes were used for storage and organization. Straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nail construction. It would make a great side chest or nightstand.

Age: Taisho (1912-1920)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" Wide by 23 3/...

An antique Japanese Kotansu small chest made of Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood. All original lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware. Most likely a bespoke commissioned chest suiting the owner who wanted to secure the 5 storage drawers behind a hinged door. Interesting 3 side handle configuration suggesting that the contents that was stored was haavy in weight.

Age: Meiji Era (1890-1910)

Dimensions: 17 1/2" Wide by 23" High by 13 5/8" Deep