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...

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...

An antique Japanese Kannon Biraki Tansu (wedding kimono chest) made of rare Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles. Natural Urushi lacquer accentuates the beautiful wood grain. Stippling work to the round lock plates of the two hinged doors...

An antique Japanese Chonin Kobako (merchant storage box) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware with construction using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. The drawer handles are of the Kakute style comprising six drawers to organize and secure its contents...

An antique Japanese Kimono Tansu made fo Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Urushi lacquer accentuates the beautiful wood grain. Unusual rare deep design that was specially custom commissioned to be made by a tansu maker. Three large drawers with a security hinged door featuring a dragon motif that hides two small drawers for valuables as well as a secret hiding box...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with a Paulownia family crest front lock plate. Two hinged doors open to an array of 8 small drawers each used organize the previous owner's collection of smalls. The iron stand (a recent addition) was used to raise this chest off of the floor to make it into the perfect side table...

An antique Japanese Yamagata Tansu made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hikute handles and the Urushi lacquer finish. Lock plates feature the family crest of the Paulownia. Four large drawers and one small drawer to the exterior. The hinged security door hides 2 small drawers where valuables were kept...

An antique Japanese Isho (clothes) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hike handles. The lock plates feature a Plum Blossom knob and a full moon back stop. Features 5 large drawers and a hinged door that hides 3 small drawers. Side swivel handles allows for a wood pole to pass through allowing two persons to carry the tansu from location to location...

An antique Japanese 2 section Kyoto Mizuya Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and HInoki (Cypress) woods. The upper and lower sections feature sliding doors behind which removable shelves allow for split level storage with 5 drawers for organizing small items. The small hinged door to the upper right features a secret sliding locking panel that opens and closes the door. Side horizontal ribs for additional strength and visual design. Mortise and tenon Japanese joinery was used in its construction...

An antique Japanese merchant desk (Choba Tsukue) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress)...

An antique Japanese Tohoku Mizuya Tansu in 2 sections made of Burl Keyaki (Zelkova), Aka Matsu (Red Pine) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Two sets of large doors separated by a middle set of 4 drawers with Mokko handles. A lift-out door hides additional storage space where tall narrow items were stored. Original wiped Urushi lacquer finish.

Age: Meiji period (1870-1890)

Dimensions: 65 3/4" Wide by 55 5/8" High by 21 5/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Tohoku Todana Mizuya Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original wiped Urushi lacquer finish. With two sets of vertical ribbed sliding doors, the upper section has triple level storage and the bottom section has a split level storage separated by shelves.

The Todana Mizuya was used in northern Japan as either a kitchen chest or a linen cabinet making it a versatile and functional cabinet for the Japanese home.

Age: Edo period (18...

An antique Japanese Sendai Tansu that was made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The lock plates feature the family crest of a Chrysanthemum with the top plate designed with full bloom Mums on either side of the family crest. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and Urushi lacquer finish. The hinged door hides two small drawers where valuables were kept. Each side has a lift-up carrying handle through which a wood pole was inserted to transpo...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) entirely made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. In the Biraki style, it features two hinged doors that hide 12 drawers for the storage and organization of store records, papers and wares. Hand forged iron hardware and interior drawer pulls featuring escutcheons symbolizing Satsuma where this chest originated. Carrying handles on each side and all the drawers were lacquered front and back in Urushi.

Age: Early Meiji Era (1870-1880)

Dime...

An antique Japanese Byosho Bako (peddler's chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Two loop rings where a carrying rope was once attached allowing the merchant to carry this chest on his back. The hinged door opens to 5 drawers used for the storage of wares for sale. A few small ink stains on the upper surface attests to the merchant using the top as a writing surface when writing sales.

Meiji Period (1870-1890)

Dimensions: 12 1/2" Wide b...

An antique Japanese Kansai Mizuya Tansu in a narrow design made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Maru style handles. The back plates of the upper and lower sliding door handles feature incised flying cranes above the clouds. The glass doors above the mid drawers showcase a split level display area where seasonal and holiday decorations were displayed.

Age: Meiji Period (1890-1910)

Dimensions: 35 3/4" Wide by 67 ...

An antique Japanese merchant chest called Choba Tsukue made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Two drawers used for the storage of an inkstone and brushes as well as paper for writing transaction records and receipts. The drawer interiors have minor ink stains which is a testament to its usage and function.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1920)

Dimensions: 40" Wide by 13 1/4" High by 16 5/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware which includes the Warabite handles, the lock plates with auspicious symbols, and the pine and plum Atari handle back stops. The symbols on the locks feature the traveler's cape and hat, the lucky treasure bag and the lucky fortune mallet. The hinged security door hides two small drawers where valuables we...