Antique Japanese choba tansu made of keyaki (elm) wood. The top portion has two small drawers. The middle portion has a compartment opened by sliding panels with horizontal slats. The slats are made of quarter sawn keyaki wood which dramatically accents the striped quality of the wood grain. Below this is a single large drawer. The hardware is made of iron and includes round lock plates.

Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 31" high x 24" wide x 14 3/4" deep.

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 Kotansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia)wood. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Lock plates which symbolize the full moon and decorative corners to each of the drawer fronts. Side carrying handles. Hardened wooden nail construction. Consisting of 5 drawers for organizing and spacious storage.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 23 1/4" Wide by 23 3/4" High by 12" Deep

Japanese antique single section isho tansu (storage chest for clothing), made with all keyaki (elm) wood on drawer fronts, the sides and top are sugi (cryptomeria) wood and lacquered a deep reddish brown, nice iron hardware with warabite shaped drawer pulls, seven drawers of various sizes, Meiji Period. Size: 33 1/4" high x 35 1/2" wide x 17 1/2" deep.

Beautiful and rare large Japanese futon tansu, two sections, all keyaki front with dramatic grain, top section has 4 sliding panels which open to one large compartment, bottom section has 9 drawers of various sizes, a pair of sliding panels with horizontal slats covers a compartment with two small drawers, iron hardware including hirute shaped drawer pulls, the large sliding panels have bronze pulls with a chrysanthemum motif, beautiful deep brown original lacquer finish, Meiji Period. ...

Garniture containing brooch and long earrings made of gold with rubies, pearls and details of enamel.
Marvelous assembly with a great deal of movement. Possibly Russian, circa 1800 (there are no visible seals or markings) and is in its original box.
Dimensions:
Brooch: 8 cm. length X 5 cm. width.
Earrings: 6.3 cm. length X 2.3 cm. width.

This remarkable hira tea bowl displays a subtle grace and refined elegance grounded in classic form, masterfully applied glazing, and a delightful rustic feel bestowed by the hand of time. Though the glazing is described as shiro-yu, or white glazing, it appears more of a creamy shade of beige...

Antique Japanese Gyosho Bako, Edo Period, mid 19th century. It has two moving locks on the exterior. The interior has one large drawer and seven smaller drawers. It measures 13" wide 18" deep 31.5" tall.

This attractive antique full length 18K watch chain has alternating carved ornamental solid gold by-pyramid link (what we call a "fancy" link) which connects to a pair of linked rings, which connects to simple solid gold by-pyramid link. The C1880 chain measures 59 inches long. It can be worn in various lengths, doubled or tripled, with a locket or pendant, or just as is, shown in the images below. A screwed in bolt clip allows you to add a pendant, if desired...

An antique Japanese Suzuribako (calligraphy writing box) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles on the lid and drawer front.

This box originally functioned as an essential instrument for storing writing paper, brushes, ink and the inkstone. Whether it was a merchant writing a customer receipt or a professional calligrapher writing a personal letter for a farmer, this box was always ready for duty...

Antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) from the Tohoku area, made of with Kiri (Paulownia) wood front and Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood frame. Five exterior drawers including an unusual wide and shallow drawer just beneath a compartment with sliding panels. The sliding panels have horizontal slats and frame made of Kurinoki (Chestnut wood). A small safe box on the right-hand side of the tansu has a hinged door which opens to reveal two small drawers on the inside. Lovely natural finish...

An antique Japanese Byosho Bako (peddler's chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware. Two loop rings where a carrying rope was once attached allowing the merchant to carry this chest on his back. The hinged door opens to 5 drawers used for the storage of wares for sale. A few small ink stains on the upper surface attests to the merchant using the top as a writing surface when writing sales...

An antique Japanese Chobako (merchant box) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware. Upper carrying handle and hinged door that hides 4 drawers of varying sizes used by a merchant to store writing paper, receipts, money and calligraphy brushes.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 10" Wide by 12 1/4" High by 14 3/4" Deep

An amusing netsuke form model of a mischievous monkey dressed as a Manzai dancer based on an Ivory model of the late Edo period. The figure is crisply modelled, the head partially bisque with cobalt blue and iron brown glaze applied to the head dress and flowing robes. Both the head and the long tongue are separately modelled from the base. Sarumiwashi, trained monkeys were a popular form of entertainment in Japan, and also performed as part of Shinto rituals relating to the New Year...

An antique Japanese Kanazawa Mizuya Tansu in two sections made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Original Bengara Urushi lacquer finish and hand made bronze hardware including the stylized Mokko handles. Sliding doors all open to spacious storage areas with removable shelves as well as five organizing drawers.. A trick lift-up and out door hides an area for additional storage...

Antique Japanese choba tansu (merchant's chest), keyaki (elm) wood front, sugi (cryptomeria) wood frame, 2 drawers on top, 6 drawers of various sizes on bottom portion, middle portion has sliding panels with horizontal slats of keyaki wood with sugi wood panels, behind sliding panel on right hand side are two shelves and two small interior drawers with keyaki wood fronts and iron hardware, behind the sliding panel on the left side is one interior shelf, extensive iron hardware on front ...

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. The top portion has a full width drawer below which is a compartment covered by two large sliding panels.
The lower portion has 7 drawers of various size and a safe box in the lower right hand corner with two interior drawers...

An antique Japanese 2 section Mizuya tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Two sets of large sliding doors behind which large jars of water from the river or stream were stored for food preparation and cooking...