Catalog (946)

An antique Japanese rare Kannon Biraki tansu (bridal chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original natural Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware including the possible Mikumo family crest on the center locks. Double hinged doors behind which the upper section has 3 full width drawers and the bottom section has numerous smaller drawers with a lift out door hiding two additional drawers. An ingenious trick locking mechanism locks those two drawers from opening unless on...

A vintage Japanese style Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Two large full width drawer with two small drawers and sliding doors behind which is a spacious storage area. Horizontal side ribs add visual design and strength to the chest.

Contemporary function would include using it as a sideboard, a cocktail cabinet or an elegant side table.

Age: Latter 20th Century

Dimensions: 40" Wide by 37 3/4" High by 18 3/4" Deep

A rare antique Japanese Omikuji Tansu (temple fortune telling chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. Original Urushi lacquer over a Bengara stain. Hand made and hand forged iron hardware. Japanese straight dovetail joinery with hardened wood nail construction.

Used in a Shinto Shrine or Buddhist Temple to store paper fortunes for visitors and worshippers. With 100 total drawers, it would be the perfect chest for organizing photos, trading cards, postcards, or any collection of ephemera...

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. Side ribs for visual design and additional strength.

Originally used in the kitchen of a Japane...

An antique Japanese Niigata Kasane (chest on chest) Tansu made of all Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware with a hand applied red lacquer finish. Kakute stye handles. Four large drawers with a small hinged door that hides 2 small drawers. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. Each section has two sets of carrying handles for ease of transport and placement.

Its large size would accommodate a nice collection of tex...

An antique Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original bronze Warabite style handles. Traditional design for elegant storage use in any room decor.

Age: Meiji Era (1890-1900)

Dimensions: 72" Wide by 67 3/4" High by 19 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Fukushima Kasane (chest on chest) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer front with a wiped lacquer technique for the balance of the piece. Hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and the lock plates featuring auspicious good luck symbols like the treasure bag, the Gunbai paddle, and the lucky mallet. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-...

An antique Japanese 2 section store glass display Tansu made of Kurinoki (Chestnut frame) Kirinoki (Paulownia drawer fronts) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria for the balance of the chest) woods. Most glass panes are original showing their wavy characteristic when viewed at an angle. Original hand forged iron Hikute handles. Constructed using double and single through mortise and tenon Japanese joinery. The interior shelves visually line up with the supports for the panes of glass so as not to distr...

An antique Japanese low Mizuya Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original iron handles on upper sliding doors. A pair of large sliding doors allows for spacious storage. Originally used in Japan as a kitchen chest for the storage of dry goods and cooking/serving ware, it would function well as a buffet or sideboard chest.

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

Dimensions: 47 3/4" Wide by 31" High by 14 5/8" Deep

A rare antique Japanese Sado Island Kasane Tansu made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles, decorative lock plates and front of drawer corners. The two upper full width drawers have lock plates that each feature the lucky Phoenix bird while the two lower drawers 3/4 width drawers shows an auspicious crane above and a good luck sea turtle below both representing longevity. The corner hardware and the handle...

An antique Japanese low Tansu with two full width Kimono storage drawers made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles. Unique scalloped lock plates decorate the drawer fronts. Straight dovetail Japanese joinery with hardened wooden nail construction. Side swivel carrying handles allow a long pole through them for ease of carrying the tansu between locations.

Contemporary placement include u...

An antique Japanese 2 section Nihon Matsu Kasane (stacking) Tansu made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original natural Urushi lacquer finish. Hand forged iron hardware with lock plates that feature a quarter moon with a butterfly and Chrysanthemum knobs, Warabite handles with upper Pine tree and lower Plum Blossom Atari, and side handles on both sections. Constructed using Japanese straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

The Nihon Matsu Tansu is po...

This is an antique Japanese 3 section Isho Kimono Tansu made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Each section interlocks by way of a dual carrying handle/locking bar connection. Constructed using Japanese straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. The top section features a shelf for additional storage while the center section has three Kimono trays behind the front doors with two large drawers for additional storage in the bottom section. It was made with remo...

This is a 2 section antique Japanese Kansai Mizuya (Kitchen) tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. Both original hand forged iron hardware and rare copper hand twisted door netting.

This chest was made for the Japanese kitchen to store jars of water, chopsticks, utensils for cooking and dishes. Its elegant design would suit any home decor as well as add storage functionality.

Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 45 3/4" Wide by 64" High by 16" Deep

A rare Japanese antique Sado Island Child's Kimono Tansu made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original natural Urushi wiped lacquer finish with hand forged iron hardware. The lock plates feature cranes and sea turtles that symbolize longevity and the drawer corners feature stylized clouds.

Children's kimono tansu are quite rare to find since they had to be custom made by the tansu maker. They were usually commissioned by a wealthy family as a way to lavish th...

An antique Japanese Ko Bo Tansu (personal storage chest with locking bar) made of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Original Urushi lacquer finish. Bronze hardware features auspicious bamboo symbols and pine tree motif.

Small antique tansu such as this is very popular worldwide due to its functionality and ease of placement due to its small size. Contemporary uses include using it as a side table or a bedside cabinet.

Meiji Era (1868-1912)

21 3/4" Wide by 22 1/2" High by 1...

Single section Hinkoki (Japanese Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) wood merchant glass display tansu. Originally used in a merchant shop to display the stores wares for sale.. Shallow in depth with countertop height. Two shelves are located inside for storage needs with the glass support panes in line with the shelves preventing visual distraction of items being shown. Beautifully finished with natural blond tones. Overall in very good condition.

Age: Meiji period (1868 - 1912) ...

Antique Japanese Kyushu Choba Tansu (merchant chest made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware with a combination of slider and drawer layout. Beautiful original warm lacquer finish. Overall in very good condition.
Merchant chests were proudly owned by shopkeepers and served a dual purpose. The obvious one is a chest to store the business records, books, valuables, and office supplies. The less obvious one was using it as a form of a...