Japanese antique multi-drawer tansu from the Meiji era, constructed with richly figured burl wood drawer fronts that display swirling grain patterns unique to each panel. The chest features an impressive array of small drawers, originally designed for organizing and safeguarding precious goods. The top three drawers include fitted interior trays, suggesting use for incense storage or other finely sorted items, where both protection and accessibility were essential.
Each drawer is fitted... Click for details

Japanese antique two-section kasane tansu (chest on chest) for clothing from the Kyoto area. Made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The top section has sliding panels and a drop-in panel made of kuri (chestnut) wood and six small drawers of various sizes. The bottom section has eight drawers: three large full-width, two medium drawers and three small drawers.
Hardware is made of iron and includes round lock plates and moko shaped drawers pulls.

Age: Early Meiji Period... Click for details

A Japanese antique kimono isho tansu in three stacking sections. The top section has sliding panels over a horizontal row of three small drawers. The sliders open to a shelf with two small interior drawers on the right hand side and a simple shelf on the left. The middle section has large hinged doors which open outward to reveal three full-width slide-out trays originally used for folded kimonos. The bottom section has two full-width drawers. The tansu is made of kiri (paulownia) wood with... Click for details

Japanese antique long getabako (shoe storage) tansu. A large compartment with a full-length shelf is closed with sliding door panels. The panels are made of kiri (paulownia) wood and framed with hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. The large front frame of the tansu is made of heavy keyaki (elm) wood and the sides and top are made of sugi (cryptomeria) wood. The frames of the sliding door panels are lacquered black. The stand has been set on a custom stand of wood which has been lacquered black... Click for details

Low Japanese tansu chest, crafted from cypress and ceder woods. Hand forged iron hardware. The chest opens to reveal two spacious drawers concealed behind hinged doors, each fitted with original iron warabite-style handles. This dual structure—hidden drawers within protective doors—reflects the Japanese tradition of combining practicality with security, protecting valuables from both theft and fire. The warm tone of the cypress, softly patinated with age, contrasts beautifully with the... Click for details

A Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) made all or kiri (paulownia) wood. With an unusual arrangement of drawers in various sizes on either side and a compartment with sliders in the center. A large full-width drawer on the top and another on the bottom. The left has four small drawer and the right has three. Iron hardware includes hirute shaped drawer pulls, round lock plates and corner brackets.

Age: Edo Period (circa early 1800's)

Dimensions: 25" high x 30"... Click for details

Japanese antique choba tansu (merchant's chest) made of hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood. The chest consists of six exterior drawers of various sizes and two compartments with sliding panels. The bottom compartment has three interior drawers in the lower right hand portion. These small drawers are made with unusually thick kiri (paulownia) wood with fronts of unfinished hinoki wood. One of the drawers has a little cover that opens by a finger hole. The tansu's hardware includes round iron lock... Click for details

An original Japanese Meiji period choba tansu, or merchant’s chest, constructed from richly grained keyaki (zelkova) wood with its distinctive swirling patterns, framed with kiri wood and fitted with original iron hardware. This functional yet elegant chest would have served as the nerve center of a shop, holding ledgers, documents, coinage, and essential tools of trade.
The chest features a series of graduated drawers, each fitted with forged iron warabite-style pulls, and reinforced... Click for details

An authentic Japanese (1868–1912) choba tansu, crafted from kiri (paulownia) wood and reinforced with original hand-forged iron fittings. This finely made merchant’s chest reflects the ingenuity and practicality of Japan’s shopkeepers, who used such pieces to organize accounts, store money, and safeguard important documents.
The chest is designed with multiple drawers of varying sizes, a pair of sliding doors at center, and a locking compartment for valuables. Its iron... Click for details

An antique Japanese isho tansu made of keyaki (elm) wood with beautiful grain, lacquer finish and original patina. There are six drawers of various sizes: One large full-width drawer at the top, three medium sized drawers and two small exterior drawers. A safe box on the right hand side has a hinged door that opens to three small interior drawers. Dramatic iron hardware includes elaborate lock plates with scrolling peony vines and moko shaped drawers pulls.

Age: Meiji Period... Click for details