Pair of amusing maki-e lacquered wooden spoons with an insect motif on the spoon, a cicada and a butterfly. Handle with braided rope pattern. Label on the back : 坧耒 ? (uncertain transcription).

Japan – 20th century
Width: 1.38 in. (3.5 cm) – length: 6.57 in. (16.7 cm)

Japanese dated Edo period rectangular form wood "senryo-bako" hinged coin box on two geta feet with cast iron hardware including edge brackets, hinges, handle, and front lockplate. A barely readable black ink inscription on the bottom dates the box to the first year of the Bunkiu era (1861). Excluding protruding hardware, the wood measures about 15 1/4" long x 5 7/8"deep x 5 1/2" high. Good, solid overall condition with typical wear from age and use...

Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) with hinged biraki doors. Made of keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with a deep red lacquer finish. The upper portion of the chest has three exterior drawers over the doors which open to reveal a large compartment and four small interior drawers. The lower portion of the chest has two large exterior drawers. Extensive iron hardware includes cross bracing moko shaped drawer pulls, lock plates, and foliate corner brackets...

Antique Japanese small box with 5 drawers. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Drawers of various sizes with two on the left and 3 on the right. The top two drawers are lacquered a deep red on the inside. Hardware with both moko and warabite shape and lock plates of graduating size.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 7 1/2" high x 19 1/8" wide x 6 3/4" deep

Antique Japanese small haribako (sewing box). Made with 5 small drawers of various sizes. A hinged lid on top flips up to reveal a tray for storing a pin cushion and sewing supplies. This pulls out to reveal a secret hidden drawer behind it. To the right of this is a flip up holder for the third hand clip. Sakura (Cherry) body and Kuri (Chestnut) wood drawer fronts, Kiri (Paulownia) wood drawer interiors...

Antique Japanese isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Sendai area. Made with keyaki (zelkova elm) wood front and sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame. The chest has four large drawers, two small drawers and a safe box (with key) which opens to two small interior drawers. The hardware is made of iron and features beautiful lock plates in the form of scrolling vines with a chrysanthemum mon in the center and warabite drawer pulls...

A rare antique Japanese choba biraki tansu (merchant's chest). Made of keyaki (zelkova elm) wood with burled wood on the front. The top portion of the chest has a large full-width drawer. On the right side is vertical row of four small drawers. Two hinged doors open to a shelf and two small interior drawers. And two medium sized drawers line the bottom of the chest. Hand forged iron hardware includes warabite handles, round lock plates and cross bracing on the doors...

A small antique Japanese Cha Tansu (tea chest) made of Kuri (Chestnut), Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. A pair of sliding doors and a lift-out door housed the tea accoutrements for serving guests...

An antique Japanese single section Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute handles and natural Urushi lacquer finish. Sliding main doors hide 6 drawers of varying sizes and a shelf where merchant books and records were kept. Three side by side drawers below the doors were used to keep valuables and store inventory...

A very rare antique Japanese Choba Biraki Safe Tansu (merchant safety chest with hinged doors) made of old growth Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the main drawer lock plate of Pine trees with matching corners of monkeys reaching for peaches, the hexagonal hinged door lock representing the owner's family crest and Furui (old) Kakute handles. Hinged doors open to 7 drawers of varying sizes...

Rare antique Japanese Biraki Choba (merchant chest with hinged doors). The doors open to reveal 9 drawers of various sizes over a single large exterior drawer. Heavy iron hardware includes extensive cross bracing, large hinges, warabite drawer-pulls, a large round lock plate, a lock and 3 keys.
The lock plate has a large Minamoto Clan family crest-likely that of the Seiwa Genji clan...

Antique Japanese kyodai (vanity box with mirrors)...

Antique Japanese kyodai (box with drawers and mirror). Made with burled mulberry wood with intricate grain. The interior is all kiri (paulownia) wood with a wiped lacquer finish inside the drawers. The box has 5 drawers of various sizes for storing personal items. The spandrel under the mirror is carved with a bird flying in front of a full moon and tall grasses. Original beveled glass mirror which swivels up and down.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 64 1/2" h...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware including the stylized Gumbai handles and the metal embossings symbolizing the four seasons; Maple leaves on the handles representing the Fall season, Mums representing Spring, etc. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Era (1900-1910)

Dimensions: 23 1/4" Wide by 16 1/4" High by 11 1/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Todana Tansu (cabinet chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron handles including the Warabite handles. Two sliding doors behind which lies a large storage area, a lift-out door where additional storage was used and 6 drawers of varying sizes used to organize ones belongings. Side slates added strength and support. Constructed using both single and double through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery.

Age: Meiji Peri...

An unusually small and rare antique Japanese Cha Tansu (tea chest) made of Kuwa (Mulberry) and Kuri (Chestnut) woods. All original bronze hardware. Two sliding doors behind which tea accessories were stored. A lift-out door behind which housed a tea canister of dried tea leaves ready for brewing. With four drawers of varying sizes to store additional tea accoutrements.

Age: Meiji Era (1900-1910)

Dimensions: 17 1/4" Wide by 18 1/4" High by 9" Deep

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Urushi lacquer on Kuri (Chestnut) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute style handles. Featuring 4 drawers of varying sizes and a safety hinged door hiding two small drawers where valuables were kept.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 24 3/8" Wide by 22" High by 12" Deep

Antique Japanese 2-section mizuya tansu (kitchen chest) from the Mikuni area. Made with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood framing and beautifully grained keyaki (zelkova elm) wood panels on the drawers and sliders. The frame is lacquered a rich reddish-orange while the slider frames are lacquered black. The top section has an unusual, narrow full width compartment on the very top with two sliders. Below this is a large compartment also with two sliders beside a small compartment on the right op...