An antique Japanese Kaidan Tansu (stair chest) in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress), Aka Matsu (Red Pine) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Hirute handles. 7 steps with an added riser at the top. Each step is a short 5" long with a 10 1/4" riser and a left to right incline. 4 drawers with a hinged door for spacious storage...

An antique Japanese tall Kyushu Choba Tansu (merchant chest) in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress), Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles and the double bar lock plates. With 2 pairs of sliding doors and 8 drawers, it has plenty of room for organizing and storage. Side ribs add strength and support as well as visual design to the chest...

An antique Japanese Sakata Bo Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original natural Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware. Locking bar secures three Kimono drawers. The main lock features a stylized Chrysanthemum with leaves design. A hinged security door hides two small drawers where valuables were kept. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and wooden nails...

An antique Japanese Sakata Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulowani) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. Main lock plates feature stylized Chrysanthemums and their leaves. Five drawers for spacious storage and a hinged security door that hides two small drawers where valuables were kept...

An antique Japanese Ryo Biraki Tansu made of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and the natural Urushi lacquer. The two hinged doors hide 6 drawers of varying sizes. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36 1/2 Wide by 21 1/4" High by 17" Deep.

Antique Japanese 19th century single section clothing tansu from the Matsumoto area in the Nagano prefecture. Black lacquered frame with hand stunning original finished urushi lacquer on front. Handforged iron hardware with center locks shaped in the iconic money bag shape. Overall in beautiful condition.
It is most famous for Matsumotojo, one of Japan's most beautiful original castles...

An early 19th C. Japanese two section cannon biraki clothing chest. Made of 100% solid kiri wood (all from one tree). Hand forged iron hardware. Top section has pair of hinged locking doors. Securing pair of interior drawers. Bottom section seven drawers in total teaching ranging in size (volume). Small hinged safe contains three small drawers...

An antique Japanese rare tall Tansu with 7 drawers made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Also known as a Chobako, it was used by a merchant to store his business records and small valuables. A rare feature is the original custom built hinged door that was made for a left handed merchant allowing the door to easily open from right to left with the left hand. All original hand forged iron hardware. A secret hidden box can be accessed behind one of the drawers...

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane (stacking chest on chest) Tansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Lock plates feature double Chrysanthemum knobs with flying butterfly security catch plates...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Aka Matsu (Red Pine) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Unusual counter Ryo Biraki design with door hinges in the center of the piece opens to a configuration of drawers and open cavities where store records and books were held. It has a low profile that was custom designed for the merchant for his specific needs. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: ...

An antique Japanese Funa Bako (ship safe box) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and natural Urushi lacquer finish. The safe door opens to 5 drawers where valuables were kept. The heavy weight of the case combined with a buoyant interior allowed the crew members to attach a rope to the handle and throw the safe overboard during a pirate attack. The chest would float beneath the surface of the water for retrieval after the attack was...

Antique Japanese three section stacking tansu. Top section has four sliders that open to reveal organized area with small drawers and shelving. A total a 12 drawers ranging in size along with a hinged compartment revealing two more small drawers. Original warm honey finish in great condition. Quarter sawn keyaki hardwood with strong grain patterns.

Late Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 48" wide x 63 1/2" high x 16 1/4" deep

A beautiful burl Keyaki wood early 19th century Funa Ko Tansu (Captains's document chest). Frame is made of solid keyaki wood with interior drawers made of soft kiri wood. Original urushi warm transparent lacquer finish with hand forged iron hardware and copper side carrying handles. Unique ring pull faux drawer front that doubles as a lift-out door hiding two small drawers.

Mounted on custom iron stand

Late Edo Period (1603 - 1868) C. 19th Century

Dimensions...

A beautiful antique Japanese Sendai Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware including the Mokko handles. The lock plates feature a center design of the original owner's family crest with scrolling Peony buds that represents wealth and prosperity. The security door hides three smaller drawers that was used to keep valuables and important documents. Beautiful natural wood grain throughout. Constructed using ...

A rare antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kikute handles and Urushi lacquer finish). Unusual design with two small drawers secured by a locking security bar and two sets of doors with the upper set having a spacious storage area behind and the bottom set having storage to the left and three small drawers to the right. The main drawer has a lock plate with an incised Chrysanthem...

An antique Japanese Two-Section Kaidan Tansu (stair chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute handles. Made in two sections allowing for easier placement through a door or entrance. Drawers of varying sizes for organizing with a large hinged door with spacious storage behind and a lift out door on the top step with two wooden hooks where security keys were kept. Wear to the edge of the steps is a testament to its ...

An antique Japanese Sendai Bo Tansu (locking bar chest from the Sendai region) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles and Urushi lacquer finish. Safe door hides 3 small drawers where valuables were stored. The main lock plate features a key pattern with a flowing vine arabesque with the smaller plates decorated with Paulownia. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden n...

An antique Japanese 2 section tall Kyoto Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made entirely of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles. Copper sliding door handles. Top section features two sliding doors behind which is a spacious storage area where store books and records were kept and below which are 5 drawers. Bottom section features 8 drawers of varying sizes with two sets of sliding doors and a hinged safe behind which are 2 small drawers where valuab...