An antique Japanese Haribako (traditional tall neck sewing box) made of Kuwa (Mulberry), Kuri (Chestnut), and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original finish and hand made bronze hardware. The two upper drawers and the small drawer on the upper neck all have wooden sliding covers to protect the contents within. The hinged cover on the upper neck opens to a small recess where a pin cushion was kept. The center of the neck has a hole where originally a ruler called Shaku used to be held...

Pvt. Zentner family Collection

Antique Japanese two section Kiri (Paulownia) wood tansu in original medium brown finish. From the Niigata region. Attractive iron locks on each drawer with floral motifs, squared "kakute" style handles on pierced backplates. Pierced Iron corner hardware. Original Keys included.
Edo age circa 1850s
Size: 34.75" L x 16.75" W x 39.5" H

Japanese antique small ko tansu (personal chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with black lacquered iron hardware. This small chest has 7 drawers of various sizes; 2 large drawers on the top portion, 2 medium drawers and 2 small drawers on the lower portion. The hardware is all made of blackened iron and includes round lock plates and square drawer pulls.

Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 21 3/4" high x 24 3/4" wide x 13" deep.

Antique Japanese gyosho bako (peddler's chest for a traveling salesman). Made with sugi (cryptomeria - cypress) wood on the outside and kiri (paulownia) wood on the inside, this box would have been light enough to carry. The single door opens to reveal a series of 10 light weight stacking trays which slide out like drawers. Each is marked with a character in light ink for organization. There is also an exterior drawer with a round iron lock and square handle...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant Chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Shunkei Nuri (lacquer) on the front with a wiped lacquer technique on the top and sides which accentuates the beautiful grain pattern of the woods. The backs of all the drawers were made using very thick wood. The hand made iron hardware is also original including the stylized Gumbai handles and the bronze sliding door handles...

An antique Japanese Kasane Kimono Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Gumbai drawer handles and the stylized Chrysanthemum lock plates. Each section has two full width drawers for abundant storage and each section has side handles for carrying the tansu...

Japanese kiri (paulownia) wood trunk, original deep red lacquer finish, iron hardware, trunk has curved lid and 2 drawers along the bottom (one large and one small), Edo Period (early 1800's). Size: 26 3/4" high x 34 1/2" wide x 16 3/4" deep.

A pair of antique Japanese folding keyaki doors with iron mounts. The door is constructed with mortise and tenon joints. The panels are divided into 7 parts framed with carved decoration and hinged with iron mounts. The carved decoration is finely painted with polychrome mineral pigment with gold gilt accents. The subject matter of the temple doors is a scrolling lotus motif and 8 phoenixes.
The phoenix represents power sent from the heavens to the Empress...

Antique Japanese two-section gifu choba tansu (accountant's chest) made with Hinoki (cypress) and Sugi (cedar) wood. The top section has two sliding doors with slats, and an open compartment inside with two drawers. The bottom section has an open storage compartment behind another pair of sliding doors, with five drawers and a lock safe.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 33" L x 14.25" W x 55" H

An antique Japanese Kotansu made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Made in a rare design to look like a miniature Kimono tansu. All original iron hardware including the Warabite style handles. Complete with front drawer corners. Straight dovetail joinery with hardened wooden nail construction. An unusual and unique personal storage chest.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 25 1/4" Wide by 14 1/4" High by 13 1/8" 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. 5 drawers provide additional organization and storage. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. It would function well as a beside stand or a side table...

An antique Japanese Chobako (merchant storage box) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand made iron fittings including the Hirute drawer handles and the Warabite carrying handle. It features unique Cherry blossom escutcheons behind the drawer handles and a coin slot at the top that drops into the top left drawer. The other 5 drawers were used to safely keep small store valuables...

Antique Japanese small ko tansu (personal chest) made of kiri (paulownia) wood with unusual and beautiful persimmon wood edging on the front. Two medium drawers are placed side by side across the top. A compartment opened by two sliding panels is on the left with three small drawers in a vertical row on the right. The bottom drawer is full width...

Antique Japanese Funa Tansu (ship safe chest) made from beautiful Kuri (Chestnut) wood. It has two front sliding panels with an iron lock in its center, and two handles incised auspicious designs. The interior is shelved with a side locking drawer, accented with red lacquer. Three drawers run along the bottom of the chest with squared kakute style iron handles. Size: 22 3/4" high x 26 1/2" wide x 17 3/4" deep.

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. There is a small drawer in th...

An antique Japanese Gyosho Bako (peddler's box) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. Original Urushi lacquer finish and bronze hand made hardware. Carrying handles through which a pole would be inserted with outer Japanese writing advertising the peddler. Straight Japanese dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nail construction. Four drawers of increasing heights from top to bottom.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 6" Wide by 13" High by 11" Deep

Original Antique Japanese sword tansu made from kiri (paulownia) wood with a brown lacquer finish. The front features four long drawers and one small drawer with iron locks and handles. Original finish.

Mid Edo age (1603-1868)

Size: 42" L X 12" D X 14" H

Antique Japanese merchant's chest (choba tansu), made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood with dark red lacquer finish, 4 exterior drawers and safe box with 2 small interior drawers. Beautiful heavy iron hardware including elaborate bracing on front frame, wooden bracing on sides and back. From the Mikuni area in Japan. Edo Period (late 18th Century. Stunning original Condition. Size: 32 1/2" high x 38" wide x 18" deep.

Antique Japanese 2-section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing), made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Top section has two large drawers and the lower section has two large drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side. The safe is opened by a hinged door to reveal two small interior drawers. Iron hardware with unusual daikon (radish) shaped lock plates. Lovely foliated iron corner bracing and safe door hardware.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 1/2" high ...

Japanese gyosho bako or "peddler's box"/ship box, made of kiri and sugi wood, with iron hardware, handle on top, front door with a pin locking mechanism, which opens to reveal four rectangular drawers and two locking compartments, each with iron handle. Edo period (1603-1867) Size: 15.5" height, 13" width, 17.25" depth

An antique Japanese Cha Tansu (tea chest) made of Kaki (Persimmon) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. Sliding doors and drawers provide abundant storage for organizing. Large glass display doors for showcasing holiday and seasonal keepsakes. Originally used as a chest for storing items for tea service and refreshments for guests.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1920)

Dimensions: 3/4" Wide by 39" High by 13 5/8" Deep

Antique Japanese small gyosho bako (merchant safe box) made of Kiri (paulownia) wood in original red lacquer finish and black lacquer frame. Old working key included to unlock the front door to reach two drawers within. The top has raised edges with iron braced holes to securely carry the box.

Meiji period (1868-1912)

Size: 10” W x 13” D x 13.25” H

An antique Japanese Todana Tansu similar to the western sideboard cabinet or chest made of Momiji (Maple) for the drawer fronts and frame and Keyaki (Zelkova) panels for the sliding doors. with the interior made of Japanese Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Original hand made iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Floating panels for the front, sides and top to prevent the wood from cracks from expansion and shrinkage. Constructed using through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery for strength a...

Antique Japanese 2 section isho tansu (clothing chest) from the Nihonmatsu area. Made with keyaki (elm) wood with dramatic grain and original deep reddish orange translucent lacquer finish. The chest is made up of four large drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand side which has two small drawers behind a locking safe door (with key). Lovely iron hardware includes warabite shaped drawer pulls, large lock plates with pine motif and elaborate cross bracing on the the safe door. Solid K...

Dramatic antique Japanese 2-section mizuya tansu (kitchen chest), made of beautifully grained keyaki (elm) wood, top section has sliding panels that open to one large compartment with one shelf, an opening door on the upper right has a very unusual wooden handle and also opens to a compartment with one self, below that are three small drawers of different sizes, along the middle of the piece are 4 larger drawers with iron warabite shaped drawer pulls, the bottom section is one large compar...

An antique Japanese Kuruma Choba Tansu (wheeled merchant chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the full moon style lock plate and interior Warabite handles. Hinged doors open to a 12 sectional compartment area where valuables were organized and stored. Below are two drawers where additional storage was used. At the base lies two metal retractable pulls used to roll the tansu forward and backwards with wheels corresponding the the same ...

An antique Japanese Kotansu (personal storage chest) made of Toneriko (Japanese Ash) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. All original Urushi lacquer and hand made bronze/nickel hardware including the Mokko handles. The accent corners and backplates have incised designs of feathers, vines, and flowers. The bottom drawer is lacquered in Makie with Bamboo and a landscape design while the body has a lacquered silhouette of auspicious lucky Japanese symboled. Six fully lacquered drawers for storage and or...

A rare antique Japanese Ko Tansu used as a fancy personal storage chest made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Both original finish and hand made iron fittings including the Kakute handles. Likely a specially commissioned custom made chest by a wealthy individual or family. Unusual features include the sliding three door design of cranes and bamboo, the carved decorative base and the triangular hardened wooden nail construction.

Age: Early Meiji Era (1868-1880)

The two fine and old haribako (Japanese Sewing Box) that we offer here on our site are likely the oldest ones you will see offered for sale. They come from the collection of a renowned author on and collector of Asian art. This lovely chest of paulownia and pine has the original hardware, original ruler, and original pincushion. 18.5h x 9d x 7.5w inches, 47h x 23d x 19w cm. Very Good Condition.

Antique Japanese small tansu with 7 drawers. The frame is made of chestnut while the front of the chest is all kiri (paulownia) wood. Sugi (cryptomeria-Japanese cedar) is use for the drawer interiors. The upper portion of the chest has six drawers in two rows. The bottom portion has a single full-width drawer. The hardware is made of iron and consists of half-round lock plates and warabite shaped handles on each drawer.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" high x...

Exquisite Rare Japanese cho-bako or account box made out of keyaki (zelkova Hardwood). The interior is made from kiri (paulownia) wood. Splendid Iron hardware including round locks and Original key. Wonderful Original finish and condition. Age: Edo period, circa 1840s. Size: Length: 17" Width: 12.25" Height: 13.25"

Japanese Meiji period wood suzuri-bako (portable calligraphy box) with three drawers to hold paper, ledgers, and essential writing accessories. The lid swings open by pushing a locking side button and reveals a narrow storage compartment to hold ink stones and brushes. In addition to the top carrying handle and drawer pulls, all the edges of the chest are reinforced and adorned with heavy original black iron hardware. Circa 1880-1890. 9 3/4" high x 8" wide x 11 1/4" deep. Very good and soli...

Beautiful Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest), made of keyaki (elm) with sugi (Japanese cedar) interior, beautiful heavy iron hardware, sliders on top, bottom with removable locking bar (bo) over two drawers, lower right side with safe box, interior of safe with two small drawers, all original deep red translucent lacquer finish, Mikuni area, late Edo Period (mid 19th century). Size: 33 1/2" high x 36 3/4" wide x18 1/2" deep.

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.

Age: Early Meiji Period (1870-1880)
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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. Each side has 2 sets of carrying handles with one set used for long distance moves and a pair of hand held handles for placement in a room.

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A rare an high quality Japanese Matsumoto Choba Tansu (merchant chest from the Matsumoto region of Japan) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with full moon style lock plates and Warabite handles. Recessed side handles lift open to accommodate a wood pole through each handle allowing two persons to carry the tansu from place to place. Solid floating wood panels on the side, the top and the sliding doors were used to prevent cracks over ...