A rare antique Japanese Kasane (stacking chest on chest) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand made iron hardware. Double side by side upper drawer design sometimes considered the matriarch pattern among Sendai Tansu collectors. Beautifully poised Shishi or Botan (Peony) motif on all of the lock plates with unusual scalloped cast framing surrounding each image. Warabite handles with incised Chrysanthemums along the bottoms of each...

An antique Japanese Tansu chest made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles with natural age acquired patina. The handles have unusual embossed designs of a crescent moon, a plum blossom and a Bugaku pattern. Drawer lock plates feature the full moon pattern and each section has side carrying handles...

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...

An antique Japanese two section isho tansu (chest on chest for clothing) made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top and bottom section has two large drawers. Hardware is made of iron and includes round lock plates and square drawer pulls.

Date: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 44" tall X 34.5" long X 16.5" wide

Antique Japanese 2 section 3 ft. Mizuya (kitchen tansu) made with Hinoki (cypress) and Sugi (cedar) wood, with Keyaki (elm) hardwood burl panels. The upper section holds two open compartments behind sliding door panels with chrysanthemum pulls, the lower pair also decorated by horizontal carved panels with floral carvings, and three small drawers below. The lower section is the largest compartment for storage with no shelving behind two large sliding doors with slats...

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

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Originates from northern Honshu in the Tohoku region. All original hand forged iron hardware including the double pine tree catch on the lock plates and the plum blossom handle stoppers (called Atari)...

A rare antique Japanese Gyosho Bako (Peddler's Chest) in a three stacking section set made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. In its original finish it features iron and bronze fittings . Through rope holes at the bottom to allow the stacked sections to be securely fitted allowing the peddler to carry the chest like a backpack...

An antique Japanese Gifu Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest from the Gifu region of Japan) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Kaki (Persimmon) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware including the Warabite handles and the incised decorative sliding door handles. Mortise and tenon joinery with horizontal side supports and sliding doors with Persimmon runners for strength and aesthetic beauty...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu also known as a merchant chest made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods,most likely from the Nigata area of Japan. Featuring a Ryo Biraki (hinged double door) design it has a split level shelf where documents and merchant books were stored. Gumpai style handles and hand made iron fittings decorate this chest.

Merchant chests such as these were primarily displayed in a prominent location in the store...

An antique Japanese Choba (merchant's chest) from the Mikuni area with a keyaki wood front. The top section is two sliding panels of natural urushe lacquer finish. The bottom section consists of two medium sized drawers with a small door adjacent and a hinged door. The hinged door has two interior drawers behind it. The hardware is an ornate lock plate and square handles (kakute)...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), made with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood on the front, sugi (cryptomeria) wood sides and top, and kiri (paulownia) wood drawer interiors...

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware. The locks feature the double Chrysanthemum knobs with the upper bronze plate featuring coins, a wisdom scroll, a treasure bag and 3 Hoju sacred jewels. A treasure mallet swivels to hide the key hole. The Warabite handles each have an upper pine tree and bottom plum blossom motif Atari stopper that protects the...

An antique Japanese Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. The hinged door opens to 4 drawers where the merchant's wares were stored. The bottom drawer was used to keep documents, writing brushes, an inkstone and other business related accessories. Two iron rings on each side used with rope for carrying this chest on a peddler's back. All original finish and hardware with straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Edo Period (1603-186...

Japanese small kiri storage box with a bamboo carrying handle. It has two small squared drawers, one long, thin bottom drawer with a warabite handle, and a lift away panel with a spacious storage area. Size: 12.5" height, 11.5" width, 6.25" depth

19th Century Kyodai (Japanese Mirror Chests) of this size are rare. Well constructed of a very fine mulberry and pine. Japanese antique mirror boxes like these are honestly undervalued and underpriced. They are the last bargains in the Japanese antique world, relative to their true worth and rare beauty. We strongly suggest buying one now, as we really don't expect this to be the case for too much longer. 38 x 19 x 10 inches, 96 x 48 x 25 cm. Excellent Condition.

An antique Japanese Todana Tansu (book storage chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria). All original bronze and hand forged Iron hardware including the stylized Mokko handles. Two sets of sliding doors behind which spacious storage was used to keep books. Two side by side drawers at the bottom for additional storage. Constructed using through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 34 5/8" Wide by 33...

An antique Japanese Mingei folding ladder made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. Used by a landscaper or gardener for pruning Bonsai trees, large shrubs, or fruit trees. All through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery for strength and durability. Folds flat for easy storage. Timeless architectural design reminiscent of Kyomizu Temple in Kyoto.

Age: Late Meiji/Taisho Era (1910-1920)

Dimensions (Opened): 21 1/2" Wide by 34 5/8" High by 24 1/2" Deep