An antique Japanese Kyodai Kesho Bako (mirror & make-up box) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Four drawers and a hinged cover that hides a mirror stand and a bronze hand mirror. The cover flips open to reveal a holding base to which the mirror stand is held in place...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand made iron fittings including the Warabite handles and finish. The front has a natural Kirinoki wood finish while the case was finished in a wiped Urushi lacquer technique. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1880)

Dimensions: 23 3/4" Wide x 20" High x 13" Deep

A rare antique Japanese optometrist roll top tansu complete with lenses and glasses. Original navy corduroy covered pull-out shelf with two side by side storage drawers. The display case of lenses double as a removable tray for portable transport from room to room or place to place. Made of Tochinoki (Horse Chestnut) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods...

An antique Japanese 2 section Nagoya Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress), Akita Sugi (Cryptomeria from the Akita region) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original iron fittings. Constructed using mortise and tenon & through mortise and tenon joinery as well as hardened wood nails. There are side horizontal slats for added strength and support. The top sliding door panels were decorated with beautiful flowing grain Akita Sugi wood boards...

A rare Edo era Gyosho Tansu (peddler's chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron hardware and original dark wiped lacquer technique finish. Unusual features include the front to back swivel carrying handles and three secret compartment boxes. One box hides to the back of either shelf tricking a thief to think that he/she found the precious treasure...

An antique Japanese Funa Tansu (ship chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original hand made iron hardware including the Kakute front drawer handles and the Warabite side carrying handles. Construction includes straight dovetail joinery with hardened wooden nails. Lock plates include parallel vertical bars that double as decorative as well as strong security connectors preventing easy removal from the drawer fronts...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant's chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The sides of the chest feature horizontal cross ribs for added strength and durability. Constructed using mortise & tenon, through mortise & tenon, and double through mortise & tenon joinery. Use of hardened wood nails...

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...

An antique Japanese Funa Tansu (Captain's Chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. It was constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. The base has an original cross beam support that adds strength and durability to this chest...

A rare antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu (wheeled chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original including the finish and hand made iron fittings. Unique all drawer design. Iron rope rings on each corner to help roll this chest from place to place...

An antique Japanese Kasane Tansu (stacked chest on chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. Hinged door hides two small drawers behind. Straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nail construction. Top section has two side carrying handles while bottom section has swivel carrying handles with attached locking pins to secure both sections together.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 36 1/4 W...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant store chest) made of Kuwa (old Mulberry) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand made iron fittings and finish. Two center hinged doors are removable with the hook and loop style hinge design. Front Warabite handles with two carrying handles on each side for positioning the chest and the additional swivel handles used with a wood pole to carry the chest from place to place. Lower right hinged door hides 3 smaller drawers.

Merchant che...

A rare antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (herbal medicine pharmacist chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original finish and hand made iron fittings. Includes swivel side carrying handles which when flipped up allowed a wood or bamboo pole to slide through allowing two attendants to carry the chest about. Sliding doors allowed access to a storage area where herbal books, customer notes and prescriptions were stored. Total of 86 drawers make up this tansu.

Japanese wooden red lacquered cabinet.

Age: Japan, 19th Century
Size: Height 55.5 C.M. / Width 40.5 C.M.
Condition: Nice condition overall. Please refer to the enlargement photos for more details.
Shipment: Worldwide shipping from Bangkok, Thailand at actual cost. Please e-mail us for the shipping fee.

A very rare antique Japanese Funa Tansu (captain's ship chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods with a Urushi lacquer finish. All original hand made iron fittings with strapping over the top, sides and back of the chest. Unusual bottom hinged door design where the right door opens to two drawers behind and the left pho hinged door slides across revealing a small drawer and another pho drawer. This pho drawer is actually a cover that hides a Kirinoki wood pull out box. On...

Rare an unusual antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu (Wheeled Chest) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Strength and durability provided by wood structural slats on all sides as well as the top. Split level shelf behind the sliding front doors with two small storage drawers along the front bottom. Both the finish and the hand made iron fittings are original to the chest.

Age: Mid Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 31 1/2" Wide x 27 1/2" High x 17" Deep

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)

An antique Japanese Tohoku Tansu made of beautiful Keyaki Burl root (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original finish and hand made iron fittings including stylized Kakute handles. The top and sides used a traditional wiped lacquer technique. Raised tea leaf style corners on the drawers which is a traditional design for this region of tansu. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 35 1/4" Wide x 9 ...

An antique Japanese Katana Tansu known as a sword chest made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original finish and hand made iron fittings including the Hirute handles. Construction includes using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 43 3/4" Wide x 12 1/2" High x 12 1/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Katana tansu (sword chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original finish and hand made iron fittings including the Warabite handles. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery with hardened wood nails. Unusual removable wooden 2 part sword holder that floats the swords within the bottom drawer and the two top drawers have a center divider.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 42" Wide x 13 1/4" High x 11 3/4" Deep

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. When separated, the top of each section has a surrounding wood border allowing a table-like surface to display wares for sale.

Age: Late Edo Period ((1800-1...

An antique Japanese Sendai Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The front features a beautiful finish of natural Urushi lacquer with a top and sides finished in a wiped lacquer technique. The Sendai tansu showcases a wide top drawer lock plate that highlights an incised stylized Chrysanthemum blossom with its corresponding leaves. The Mokko style handles also feature Chrysanthemum back plates. It was constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nai...

An antique Japanese Ko Bo Tansu (personal storage chest with locking bar) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hinged door hides three small drawer behind. Unusual tapered locking bar design. All original finish and hand made iron fittings with Kakute handles.

Contemporary uses include using it as a bedside nightstand or complementing any room as a side table.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 26 3/4" Wide x 23 1/2" High x 14" Deep

An antique Japanese 2 Section Kamidana Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. The top section was used as a Shinto shrine with a multi-level platform and original paper charms still attached to the interior walls. Built into the platform are sliding doors where Shinto religious artifacts were stored.

The bottom section has three large drawers, each with spacious storage. The chest was constructed using through mortise and tenon joinery as wel...

An antique Japanese Gifu Mizuya (kitchen chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) with Kakinoki (Persimmon) wood drawer fronts and sliding door panels. All original bronze hand made hardware including handwoven bronze screen wire on the bottom sliding doors. Also, original etched glass on the center sliding doors. Small lift out door covers an additional storage area.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)
Dimensions: 36 5/8" Wide x 66" High x 18 5/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu known as a storage chest on wheels made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Kiri (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Hidden behind the two sliding doors are two small drawers and a split level shelf. Situated below the doors are two side by side drawers for added storage. The sides of the chest feature cross rib supports and through mortise and tenon joinery for additional strength and support.

The Kuruma tansu has become a rare chest over the years. During t...

A very rare antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (medicine chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original finish and bronze hardware. Doe skin drawer pulls used to prevent drawer fronts from marring when the chest is closed. Consisting of 168 small upper drawers to house herbs and medicines with 9 drawers below varying in size used to organize pharmaceutical records, business papers. and writing tools. Of these 9 drawers, the right hand small drawer houses a Suzuri inkst...

A rare antique Japanese Edo era Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Sliding doors in front with various small drawers and shelves that originally store merchant documents, books and other store related items.

The merchant chest served two purposes in a business. The first was its basic utilitarian function of serving as a business records storage and safe for keeping money and valuables. The second less obvious fu...

An antique Japanese scholar's Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. 3 side by side drawers above and below sliding doors where documents, brushes and paper were stored. Behind the doors is a split level shelf where books were kept with 2 small drawers to the right side. Age loss to some of the handle backplates.

Present day use for this chest would work well as a side table or larger bedside nightstand.

Age: Meiji period: ...

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (Merchant Chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Handmade iron fittings featuring the raised tea leaf design on the front corners of each drawer. Sliding doors with locking bar covering a book and business document storage area with shel while the hinged door covers 2 small drawers. Side handles swivel up allowing a wood bar or bamboo pole to be slid through for two people to carry this chest about.

Merchants chest were us...

Antique Japanese Todana Tansu made from Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Originating in the Kansai region of Japan it features sliding doors covering a shelved storage area with 6 drawers. Featuring mortise and through tenon joinery as well as hardened wooden nail construction, it was used as book storage and a multi function tansu in a Japanese home.

Present day uses include using it as a small console chest or bureau.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimension...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hand made iron fittings with hardened wood nail and straight dovetail joinery construction. Opening the hinged door reveals two small storage drawers behind. Original age patina.

This chest was originally used in a Japanese home to store letters, documents, stationary and small keepsakes. In a contemporary home it functions well as a beside stand or a side table. Stunning original finish.

A...

An antique Japanese Mikuni Gyosho Bako (Peddler's Box) that originates from the Chūbu region of Japan. Made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress), and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. Hand made iron fittings and hardened wooden nails complete this unique piece. Behind the hinged door lies 3 drawers and a storage shelf. The carrying handle atop the chest allowed for easy transport from place to place.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 24" High x 8 3/4" Wide x 11" Deep

Antique Japanese Choba Tansu (Merchant Chest) constructed of Keyaki (Elm), Hinoki (Cypress) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Horizontal slates on the sliding doors and sides of the chest make up the traditional design of this piece. It features side pull-up handles, Kakute drawer pulls and rectangular locking plates. Originally used by a shop owner, this chest was typically positioned in a prominent location of the store to showcase the success and longevity of the business. The tansu comes fr...

Antique Japanese low table made all of carved keyaki (elm) wood. The top is made of a single piece of dramatically grained wood with the edges carved to create a gnarled burl effect. The legs are also made of solid keyaki wood and carved with rounded feet. Original deep orangish red translucent lacquer finish.

Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 13 1/2" high x 71 1/2" long x 38" wide

An antique Japanese two sectional kiri (paulownia) tansu with 4 larger drawers with diamond hand forged iron hardware hardware. Side handles interlocking the top section securely onto the bottom section. Natural blond finish with stunning natural kiri wood grain.

Date: Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 46.5" tall X 40.5" wide X 16.5 " deep

An antique Japanese Gifu Choba Tansu made of Hinoki and Sugi wood. Top section has two slat sliding doors with two small interior drawers. The bottom section has a pair of sliding doors , five drawers and a safe compartment.Excellent condition.

Date: Mid Meiji (1868 - 1912)

Dimensions: 35" wide X 17" deep X 62" tall (both sections top section is 24" tall & bottom section is 38"

A Japanese antique merchant (Choba) tansu made of thick quartered sawn keyaki wood with keyaki burl wood doors. The wonderful hardware is hand made iron. The casing is crytomeria. The tansu's top section has three top drawers. The mid section has sliding doors with an interior shelf and adjacent two drawers. The lower section has 4 small drawers and below them 3 more smaller drawers. Beautiful original finish in great condition.

Date: early Meiji 1870's

Dimensions: 36" tall...

An antique Japanese Ko-Giri Tansu from the Taisho period. Made of all-kiri wood with two round locks, "c" shaped handles, original copper hardware.

Date: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 16' tall X 23.5" wide X 12" deep

Japanese Tansu, heavy Keyaki Wood and Black Wrought Iron mounted Hardware one piece Tansu or Chest, Ca. Meiji 1890 - 1910, 30" high, 33" wide, 17 1/2" deep with graduated three(3) long drawers, secondary wood for interior and back is Cedar wood, heavy thick Black Iron large round back plates and handles, black iron wrapped around every corners in front and back, edges of the front decorated with black iron very close together, two(2) round handles on each side lower area for easier lifting becau...

A rare large antique Japanese Kuruma Tansu (wheeled chest) made of solid quartered sawn Keyaki (zelkova) wood with hand forged iron hardware and wooden wheels. Sliders are made of burl keyaki hardwood. The upper portion of the chest has a large compartment opened by sliding panels with horizontal slats and a heavy hand forged iron latch. The bottom portion has two large drawers. Gorgeous original finish with beautiful patina.

Date: Mid Edo Period (1603 - 1868), 19th C

Dime...

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. If a phoenix was used to decorat...

Japanese antique small tansu chest for personal use. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. This tansu has 3 large drawers of different sizes and 2 small drawers in the lower right hand corner. Iron hardware includes pierced corner bracing, round lock plate and drawer pulls.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 27 1/2" high x 29 3/4" wide x 15 1/4" deep.

An unique antique Japanese tansu of hinoki wood and iron hardware. It has the original patina with 10 drawers and a large top shelf. Dates from the Edo period.

Date: 18th/19th C

Dimensions: 38" tall X 37" wide X 11.5" wide

Antique Japanese storage tansu made with all keyaki (elm) wood on the front, sugi (cryptomeria) wood on the top and sides. The upper portion of the tansu has a large compartment opened by sliding panels with wide, horizontal slats. The lower portion has 5 drawers of various sizes. Square drawer pulls are made of iron. Original translucent, deep reddish lacquer finish. This tansu was most likely made to seat into the wall of a house.

Edo Period (circa early 1800's)
Dimens...

An elegant antique Hangai Tansu made of solid quartered sawn keyaki wood with hand forged square iron handles and elaborate key. Hangai is a clothing chest used on ships. It has a single drop-fit door. Keyaki wood has a beautiful wavy natural grain, a bright and calm color and strength. This Tansu comes with a key that unlocks the chest with 2 side locks to uncover two large drawers.

Date: Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 32.5" long X 18.5" tall X 16.25" wide

An antique Japanese Kunimatsu cash register made of hinoki wood with hand painted details in red and gold, tin knobs and scrolling trim. The center has an embossed manufacturer's trademark. The exterior has a white marble ledge. Under the ledge are the numbers in red ink, 50, 10, 5 & 1's. It is a working cash register with a bell when the drawer springs open. There is a key that opens the backside to change the paper roll.

Date: Tiasho period (1912-1925)

Dimensions: 18"...

Japanese antique small Ko Tansu (personal chest) made all of kiri (paulownia) wood with black lacquered iron hardware. This small chest has 4 drawers and 1 small door with 2 hidden drawers. The hardware is all made of blackened iron and includes 4 round drawer pulls, 5 locks and 2 side handles.

Date: Edo Period (c1850)

Dimensions: 12.5" tall X 14" wide X 8.25" deep

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu with locking bar. The upper portion has a full width drawer with a large iron money bag shaped lock plate. Below this are two drawers held in place with a locking bar (with key). The bottom portion has two smaller drawers and a safe box in the lower right hand corner with two small interior drawers. Beautiful and extensive iron work also includes raised corner handware on the drawers and square shaped drawer pulls. Original deep red lacquer finish....

Antique Japanese single section isho tansu (clothing chest). Kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame and drawer interiors. Three full-width drawers, the middle drawer is 3/4 width with two small drawers to it's right hand side. Blackened iron hardware includes moko shaped drawer pulls and round lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 41 3/4" high x 32 3/4' wide x 16 1/4" deep.

Japanese two(2) section Tansu, chest on chest, Ca. Meiji period, late 1800's, 41" high, 41" wide, 17" deep, Black Iron round Back Plate with floral Mon design, beautiful shaped heavy black iron handles. Two(2) small drawers behind black iron mounted small blind door on lower right side. Two(2) small drawers are "as is", one(1) missing small round ring and damaged wooden area in front.

Japanese Paulownia or Kiri wood small Tea, Cha Tansu, Ca. Meiji period, late 1890-1900, 24 1/2" high, 24" wide, 12" deep, 2 sliding doors on top inlaid with Mother of Pearl Plum flowers with low relief Lacquered tree branches above 3 small drawers, one large drawer above 2 drawers in lower section, black iron mounted around corners, leaf design on handles. The condition is as used condition directly imported from Japan, no restoration work was done on this small Cha Tansu.

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest) made of keyaki (elm) wood burl with heavy iron hardware. The upper most portion of the chest has a large full width drawer above a compartment with sliding panels. The middle of the tansu has a horizontal row of three small drawers. The bottom portion of the tansu has a series of three drawers stacked in a vertical row and held in place with a locking bar. The lower right has a safe box with with two small interior drawers and an exterior drawe...

Antique Japanese rare kuruma tansu (wheeled chest). Made of solid quartered sawn keyaki (zelkova) wood with hand forged iron hardware. The upper portion of the chest has a large compartment opened by sliding panels with horizontal slats and heavy iron latch. The bottom portion has one large drawer. There is a small hidden compartment between the two portions of the chest. Gorgeous original finish with beautiful patina.

Mid Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 30 1/2" high x...

Antique Japanese kura tansu (warehouse storage chest). Made of keyaki (elm) wood with iron hardware. The top portion has a large compartment covered by sliding panels with vertical slats. The bottom portion has another compartment covered by sliding panels with horizontal and vertical slats. Heavy wooden braces for strength on sides and back of chest.

Late Edo Period (1644 - 1868)

Dimensions: 35 1/2" high x 35 3/4" wide x 19 3/4"deep.

A rare antique Japanese kuruma tansu (wheeled chest) originally used for storage. Made out of keyaki (elm) wood with hand forged iron hardware in very good original condition. Large sliding panels open to reveal an open shelf on the right side with a hidden storage area under the shelf. The left hand side has an open shelf with 4 drawers tucked underneath. Symmetrical uniform wooden horizontal bracing on the sides and back of tansu. Gorgeous original finish and patina. Unusual to find one ...

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.

Japanese ko tansu (personal chest) with two sliding doors opening to a compartment on top, five smaller drawers, and a sixth drawer extending along the bottom. Two side carrying handles. Pawlonia (kiri) wood with black iron hardware. Late Meiji to early Taisho Period (circa 1900 - 1920). 26 1/8" wide x 24 3/8" high x 13" deep. Very good solid overall condition. There are a few old repairs to the right sliding door, which is a bit difficult to slide open. The original back has a small amou...

Japanese Cedar, Cyprus wood two(2) section Tansu, Ca. Meiji period 1890's, 42" high, 35 1/2" wide, 16 1/2" deep, 2 graduated size long drawers above 2 long drawers in lower section, total 4 long drawers. Old red lacquer on black iron back plates are still visible. Small hole on the lower left side of bottom frame. The condition is original as found condition.

A rare and unusual Japanese cho bako ("cho" meaning small and "bako" meaning box). Made of Keyaki (elm) hardwood with its original lacquer finish. The upper region of the piece holds a pair of narrow sliding door panels, with a center locking pin to hold them securely shut, and vertical slats of branches. The middle region of the chest holds a large drawer, its corner hardware in motifs of raised seed pods, and its largest central lock plate a raised motif of flowers and leaves; The kakute (squa...