An antique Japanese Kyushu Kotansu (small personal chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original wiped Urushi lacquer housing with a contrasting natural wood front and hand forged iron hardware including the Gunbai handles. The hinged door serves a dual purpose of hiding two drawers behind as well as locking the secret trick vertical drawer separator from turning. Once the separator is swiveled open, the horizontal slatted sliding door slides to the right allowing... Click for details

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... Click for details

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... Click for details

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... Click for details

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... Click for details

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... Click for details

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... Click for details

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... Click for details