An antique Japanese Chobako (small merchant chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Original and beautiful transparent Urushi lacquer finish showcases the underlying magnificent wood grain. Hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute handles on the 2 large drawers and the Hirute handle on the small security drawer. Minor sumi ink stains in the upper right drawer suggests that an inkstone and brushes were stored there for writing store records and receipts...

An antique 3 section stacking Isho Biraki Tansu (Kimono chest with removable storage trays) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Constructed using dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Original nickel plated hardware with Chrysanthemum designed lock plates and angled Warabite handles. The top section features sliding doors behind which are two small drawers to the right and a shelf to the left...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware with Hirute handles. Four spacious drawers and a safe door that hides three small drawers for valuables. One small drawer has a secret false floor to hide precious smalls...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original bronze hardware with 5 drawers for plentiful storage space. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji/Taisho Period (1910-1920)

Dimensions: 23 3/8" Wide by 25 3/8" High by 14" Deep

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Mokko handles. Seven drawers for organizing and storage with two sliding doors where store recordsn were kept and a safe door behind which two small drawers held merchant valuables...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zekova) wood. The body and drawer fronts use this highly prized and rare wood while the drawer backs and interior were made using Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with beautiful lock plates that feature the lucky treasure bag (Fukubukuro), Mokko style handles and drawer corners with fine stimple work. The safe door hides two small drawers that were used for the storage of valuables...

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. The lock plates feature the lucky Sho Chiku Bai (Pine Bamboo Plum blossom) motif with two stylized Chrysanthemum knobs. The handles are in the Warabite style with handle stoppers that are butterflies above and plum blossoms below...

An antique Japanese Kanazawa Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. In 2 sections with sliding doors and drawers, the bottom doors open to a spacious storage area with a removable shelf. The upper left sliding door pair reveal a permanent split level shelf while the right side doors and the top doors open to more storage space. Original Urushi lacquer and hand forged Hirute handles complete this elegant tansu...

An antique Japanese Gyosho Bako (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware with four articulated bottom loops to allow through a carrying cord. Four exposed drawers with 6 hidden drawers behind the hinged security door. Beautiful rustic charm that makes for a functional side table or a one-of-a-kind collector's tansu.

Age: Edo Period (1750-1800)

Dimensions: 11" Wide by 36 1/4" High by 16 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. With six drawers total this chest was used to store letters, ephemeral, and small personal goods. Side handles were used to move the tansu from room to room...

A rare antique Japanese Kyushu Choba Tansu (merchant chest from Kyushu island) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The frame of the chest was made using Suginoki wood measuring a very thick 1 1/ 8". Constructed with straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. It has 5 drawers and a pair of hinged doors that open to a spacious storage area with a split level shelf. All original hand forged iron hardware...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (organizer storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulwonia) wood. Hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles. 9 drawers used for organizing artist supplies, Japanese carpenter hardware or store supplies. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. A very utilitarian chest that would work well in any home decor.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 33 3/8" Wide by 13 5/8" High by 16 1/2" Deep

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware. Two sliding doors behind which is a storage area with a split level shelf...

An antique Japanese Isho Biraki Tansu comprised of 3 stacking sections and made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Top section has 2 sliding doors behind which is a spacious storage area with 3 side by side drawers below. Center section has two doors that open to 4 Kimono trays and the bottom section has 2 large drawers. The sections can be separated for use in different rooms or stacked for use as a dresser drawer.

Age: Taisho Era (1915-1920)

Dimensions: 37 3/8" Wide by 61 3/4" Hi...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Momiji (Maple), Sakura (Cherry) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Made with hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. With 8 exterior drawers, 2 sliding doors behind which is a storage space with a removable shelf and a hinged door that hides 4 small drawers. constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery with hardened wooden nails. Pair of side handles to each side for ease of placement in a room.

Age: Meiji p...

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) in three sections made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Two sliding doors to the top section behind which are three small drawers to the right and a split level shelf to the left.

Originally used for daily Kimono and fashion accessory storage, its contemporary function includes using it as a dresser dra...

A vintage Japanese 2 section special Kamo Tansu kimono chest made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Kuwanoki (Mulberry) wood. The Kiri wood comes from the Aizu region of Japan which is well known for its high quality of Kiri lumber while the handle and trim accents were made of hand carved Kuwa. The wood is very thick and dense while the parts fit so perfectly that the interior of the tansu is nearly air tight keeping the valuable silk kimonos dry. The top portion has sliding panels coveri...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All hand forged iron hardware including the Kakute handles. It has a configuration of 9 drawers, a pair of Biraki-Do (hinged doors) hiding a center shelf and a thief's door behind which lies two more small drawers. Two side lift-up handles through which a bamboo pole would go allowing two persons to carry this tansu from place to place.

Originating in the Tohoku region of Japan, th...