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...

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 sword tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) hardwood, all original finish. The piece holds two large drawers and two small corner drawers, accented with heavy iron handles, lock plates, and corner hardware. The sides of the piece feature long iron fittings for carrying.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 45.5" L x 15.5" D x 16" H

Japanese antique apothecary (medicine) chest for a merchant of herbs. Made of 100% hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood with 35 drawers of various sizes. Hand forged Iron hardware includes hirute and ring shaped drawer pulls. From the Kansai Area.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 28 1/2" high x 35 3/4" wide x 11 1/4" deep

Antique Japanese zenibako, or money box, made of heavy Keyaki (elm) wood. The piece uses a funnel top lid for collecting temple offerings, secured with a very large iron front lock. Original condition. With mortis and tenon joinery.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 10.75" W x 17" D x 12.5" H

Japanese antique 2-section cha tansu (tea chest). The frame of this chest is made of solid keyaki (elm) wood and the front has persimmon wood veneer with dramatic grain. The top section has a compartment covered with four small sliding panels and a large compartment with glass sliders for display. Inside the glass display area are stepped shelves, a smaller square glass door compartment, another compartment with batik covered sliding panels depicting Mt. Fuji...

Japanese isho tansu (clothing chest) in three sections. This piece is made of kiri (paulownia) wood and has beautiful lacquered hardware. The top section has sliding panels and a drop in panel made all of keyaki (elm) wood and six small drawers of various sizes. The sliders have pretty plum blossom shaped pulls. The middle section has 3 large full width drawers. The bottom section has 2 large drawers and 2 small drawers in the lower right hand corner...

Japanese Kiri(Paulownia) wood two(2) section Tansu, chest on chest with all original finish and condition, Ca. late Meiji 1910, 40" high, 34" wide, 17" deep, bottom and upper section both 20" high each, three(3) drawers in upper section above two(2) deep graduated size drawers in bottom section. Black Iron original Handles and round back Lock Plates. The condition is original, some scratches, no hardware pieces are missing.

Antique Japanese 2-section, 3ft. Mizuya made with Hinoki (cedar) and Sugi (cypress) hardwoods, accented by gorgeous Keyaki (elm) burl wood front panels in a lovely contrast to the frame. Both the upper and lower section house a large central compartment with shelving for the storage of kitchen articles, with 2 and 3 burl front drawers beneath respectively.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35.5" L x 16.5" D x 62.5" H

Japanese Meiji period Sendai style zelkova (keyaki) wood single-section tansu with characteristic rectangular carved lockplate on the upper drawer, Mokko-style (melon) drawer handles, and hinged door on the right side opening to two drawers. Two side carrying handles. Late 19th century (circa 1880). 46 3/4” wide x 18” deep x 34 1/2” high. Very good overall condition with typical wear, some separations in the wood, and shrinkage to the drawers...

Large Japanese Meiji period kuruma (wheeled) tansu configured with seven drawers and a locking bar. The top drawer has embossed rectangular iron hardware in the form of a peacock. Warabite handles. 19th century. 47 3/4" long x 19 1/4" deep x 44 1/2" high. Very solid and in good, sturdy overall condition. The wheels are a bit stiff, but functional, and the original finish has only minor wear. There is a short cigarette burn on the edge of the top...

Japanese kanto style Kannon Biraki double-stacking personal clothing chest (isho-dansu). Often referred to as a "wedding chest," this tansu would have been used to store a bride's formal wedding kimono. Hinged doors on the upper section open to reveal four drawers. The layout of the drawers is characteristic of the earliest form of kanto style chests. The doors exhibit the traditional configuration of five iron hinges and iron strapping surrounding a round foliate lockplate at the center...

Rare Japanese Funa Tansu known as a Ship Captain's vault chest...

Contemporary Korean single section kitchen cabinet, made with bold elm wood (Keyaki in Japanese). This piece has an upper and lower set of sliding doors with attractive latticework over rice paper. The top and mid region have four small drawers across, with the very top middle drawers as hidden compartments. The bottom of the piece has two doors on hinges, and a middle lock to match the others.

Size: 37.75" L x 17.25" W x 65" H

Japanese Keyaki wood with beautiful bold grain two(2) section Tansu with movable Brass Turtle and Eagle decoration on Black Iron Round Back Plate with Brass rim, heavy weight, Meiji period, 1890-1900, 46" high, 48" wide, 17 1/2" deep with two(2) graduated long drawers in upper section above one(1) shorter drawer next to two(2) small secret drawers inside the heavy black iron mounted blind door on the bottom right side. The secondary wood is Cedar and Cypress mixed on the side and inside the dra...

Japanese contemporary Kaidon tansu known as a step tansu. Comprised of three sections. Made with solid Keyaki (elm) wood, this tansu will hold many precious things within its various size drawers and compartments. Each compartment opens from both sides, so this Kaidon can be facing either direction. Its doors feature vertical slats to create an interesting contrast of texture and design. The brass hardware adds subtle decoration such as lotus pod backplates with ring pulls and scrolling warabite...

Antique Japanese two section Kannon Biraki tansu, made with Kiri (paulownia) wood, original red lacquer finish. The top section houses two large drawers behind a pair of double hinged doors. Decorations of iron hardware include a charming heart shaped lock within a single iron ring and strips of iron across the front of each door, with chrysanthemum shaped studs. The lower section also holds two drawers with iron locks, as well as a safe compartment in its bottom corner. Inside its safe are thre...

Antique Japanese Sakata region choba tansu (merchant's chest) made of Kiri (paulownia) hardwood, with original red lacquer finish. The top drawer and safe box door are covered in more elaborate iron hardware than the other drawers, with motifs of lingzhi mushrooms, bamboo stalks, and other floral elements. Two small drawers are hidden away inside the safe box. Three plain drawers are on the lefthand side, the middle drawer has a center divider inside. Two smaller drawers sit between the top and...