A rare antique Sado Island Funa Tansu (captain's chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original Urushi lacquer and hand forged hand made iron hardware including the Kakute style handles. Featuring various good luck motifs including the treasure bag, the radish, the pine tree, the bamboo, the plum blossom and the Chrysanthemum. The front has a top drawer, a hinged door and a secret sliding door. Behind the sliding door are two drawers, each with a secret box... Click for details

An antique Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware. Three drawers with a pair of hinged doors that open to a spacious interior with two side by side drawers. This area was used to store the merchant records and books while all the drawers were used to secure valuables and provide easy access to merchant tools and accessories.

Age: Late Meiji-Taisho (1910-1920)

Dimensions: 29 3/4" Wide by 29 3/4" High by 14 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Isho Tansu in 3 stacking sections made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original bronze hardware. Top section features 2 sliding doors, a hinged door, and three drawers where fashion accessories were stored. The center section has two hinged doors that open to three full drawers while the bottom section features three more drawers for additional storage. Each section can be used separately in different rooms of a house. Constructed with hardened... Click for details

An antique Chobako (merchant storage box) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Hinged door when opened reveals 6 drawers of varying sizes. In particular is one small drawer with ink stains that stored the inkstone. This chest was an essential merchant accessory used to keep in one place all of the tools and instruments needed to run a successful store.

Age: Edo Period (19th... Click for details

An antique Japanese Tohoku Kasane (chest on chest) Tansu made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and the nickel rim Butterfy motif lock plates. Four large drawers used for kimono storage and two small drawers used to store kimono fashion accessories. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails.

Age: Meiji Period (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 36" Wide by 40 5/8" High by 16... Click for details

An antique Kansai Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles. Two sets of sliding doors hide spacious areas where the merchant kept his business books and records. Four drawers were used to keep valuables and merchant tools and accessories. Behind the bottom sliding doors to the right are three drawers where hidden valuables were stored. A secret false floor on the drawer to... Click for details

A rare antique Ryobiraki Choba Tansu (merchant chest with hinged doors) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original thick gauged hand forged iron hardware. Shackle lock with working key secures the removable hinged doors that open to a pair of sliding doors and four drawers. A secret button unlatches the left hinged door to open. The spacious area behind the sliding doors was used to store merchant business records and books while the drawers were used to store money,... Click for details

An antique Japanese Gifu Choba Tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles. Drawers of varying sizes or organizing and storage. Sliding doors hide a compartment where merchant books and records were stored. Constructed using through mortise and tenon joinery and hardened wood nails. Side horizontal ribs add strength, support and visual permanence to the chest.

Age: Meiji period:... Click for details

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Hangai Tansu (captain's business transaction chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original translucent Urushi lacquer with hand forged iron hardware. Security door with a working top lock and key that hides 6 interior drawers of varying sizes. Constructed using traditional dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wood nails.

Similar use to a merchant Choba Tansu except the Hangai Tansu was seaworthy for travel on the open... Click for details

An antique Japanese Mikuni Isho Tansu (Kimono chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. 5 drawers allow for spacious clothes storage with a hinged security door hiding 2 small drawers where valuables were kept. Constructed using through mortise and tenon joinery and hardened wood nails. Side ribs add strength, support and a visual design element to the piece.

Age: Meiji Period... Click for details