An antique Japanese tansu chest called Bodansu (chest with locking bar) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. It originates from the southern island of Kyushu. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles. Six drawers were used for Kimono storage with three drawers being secured by a locking bar with key. Side handles were used for moving the tansu from place to place...

An especially fine Meiji Period (1868 - 1912) Gilded and Red and Black Lacquered Butsudan (Japanese Buddhist Altar) with an endless variety of luxuriously designed details, hidden drawers within secret compartments behind hidden panels, marvelously rendered images and elaborately carved sculpture. All other butsudan pale in comparison with this rare, museum quality showcase piece. This piece would have taken the maker close to 2 years to complete. 65 x 44 x 27 inches (166 x 112 x 69 cm)...

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...

Antique Japanese marquetry box. The front consists of 6 small drawers of various sizes, each intricately inlaid with tessellated hardwood patterns. The sides and top are covered with larger sections framing smaller marquetry pattern bursts that echo those on the drawers.

Age: Taisho Period (early 20th century)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" high x 11 3/4" wide x 5 1/8" deep

The quality of this quite large covered box is so superb that this piece could be an Imperial piece...

A rare antique Japanese Choba Kotansu (merchant small chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Removable hinge doors behind which hides a removable horizontal bar that securely latches the left door in place. Spacious storage behind the doors where the merchant kept his store books and records. Two upper drawers were used to keep money and valuables. Beautiful original calligraphy on the sides and back of the tansu...

An antique Japanese Nihon Matsu Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cyrptomeria) woods. The finish is an original natural Urushi lacquer. Unusual lock plates each featuring auspicious symbols with the upper design showing a lucky crane (for 1,000 years of longevity) and the lower design showing a lucky sea turtle (for 10,000 years of long life). The three central symbols represent Sho Chiku Bai (Pine, Bamboo & Plum Blossom)...

Tibetan tinned copper food container with brass calligraphy, banding and central lid emblem, height 26cm diameter 20cm, woven carrying strap, undated, estimated to be late 19th century, can be viewed in central London and shipped worldwide

Japanese kanto style Kannon Biraki double-stacking personal clothing chest (isho-dansu). Often referred to as a "wedding chest," this tansu would have been used to store a bride's formal wedding kimono. Hinged doors on the upper section open to reveal four drawers. The layout of the drawers is characteristic of the earliest form of kanto style chests. The doors exhibit the traditional configuration of five iron hinges and iron strapping surrounding a round foliate lockplate at the center...

A rare antique Choba Tansu in 2 stacking sections made entirely of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware and patina. Rare design commissioned by a wealthy merchant featuring an extra wide design and a shallow depth. Upper section features 2 sliding doors with 3 side by side drawers. Bottom section features 9 drawers with 2 sliding doors and a hinged door behind which 3 small drawers were used for secure storage...

1800s

The well-potted gourd-form vases are decorated with overglaze green, yellow, aubergine and red enamels, characteristic of 18th Century, but the paste appears to be consistent with the 19th Century. There are no chips or restorations, however, one of the vases has an old hairline extending from the mouth and is approximately three inches long. The other vase is undamaged. There are tiny areas of kiln grit on each vase and a bit of grit adhering to the footrings of each...

Antique Japanese kannon biraki (opening door) isho tansu (clothing chest) in 2 sections. Made with kiri (paulownia) wood front with sugi (cryptomeria) wood top and sides...

Antique Japanese small merchant's box. Although this tansu has the appearance of a gyosho bako (peddler's box), it does not have loops for carrying straps. It was probably custom made for a merchant's raised platform area. All of the drawers feature hand forged iron lock plates and mounts. One of the smaller drawers is stained with ink meaning it would have stored an ink pen for receipts and accounting. Made with all Kiri (paulownia) wood.

Meiji Period (1868-1912) Dimensions:...

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hand made iron fittings with Warabite style drawer pulls. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Original use was for the family storage of ephemera, small valuables, letters, documents, etc. Present day uses include functioning as a bedside stand or being used as an elegant side table.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 20n 1/2" High x...

Late 1700s / early 1800s

As with most blanc de chine figures, this piece was made in a press mold in two halves, then joined together with finishing touches added before the clay was dry. The face was molded separately then attached, and the hands and ribbon were modeled by hand. It is glazed overall except for the base with a pale blue-green tinged white glaze having a slight undulating texture. Guanyin is seated on a rock covered by her flowing robe on the back and sides. The folds of th...

An antique Japanese Geta Bako (shoe chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Two large sliding doors hide a spacious area with 2 removable shelves. Used in an entry way of a Japanese country inn (Ryokan) to store guest wooden clogs and footwear before entering.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 53" Wide by 37 3/8" High by 15 1/4" Deep

18th - 19th Century Detailed Chinese carved greenish-gray jade of deer with bird and flowers. Exquisitely carved and sculpted with fine details, with no defects to speak of. Flowers with multiple stems embracing as the bird sits atop the deers back. Dimensions 3 3/4'' High X 2 1/2'' Long X 1 1/4'' Deep

An antique Japanese Niigata 2 section Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) with hand made iron fittings. The lock plates feature the Sho Chiku Bai motif (Pine, Bamboo, Plum Blossom known as the 3 felicitous friends of winter) with the longevity symbols of the turtles and crane. Each drawer has Kakute handle pulls and the hinged door hides 3 small drawers.

The front of the chest is made of natural Kirinoki while the tansu body was designed using a dark red wiped lacquer technique. Cons...