A rare antique Japanese Niigata Kiri Children's Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. It features a stylized Chrysanthemum design on each plate which represents the Mon or family crest of the original owner and Gumbai handles. The iron fittings were all hand made and the chest was constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

These children's chests are not often seen in Japan. This is because they were not made in... Click for details

An antique Japanese Kiri Kasane Tansu (stacking chest on chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Using hand made iron fitting and Kakute style handle pulls. Construction includes straight dovetail joinery and hardened wood nails. Two drawers behind the small hinged Kobiraki door.

A secret box can be found hidden behind the bottom small drawer in back of the hinged door. This box also has a slide out top lid and a finger hole pull.

Age: Early Meiji period... Click for details

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu or personal storage chest made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hand made iron fittings and Warabite style handle pulls accent this chest. With a Kobiraki hinged door, it hides 3 small drawers behind. It was constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails. It has an unusual depth in its size which was custom designed for its original owner well over a century ago.

Present day functions for this tansu would include using it as a... Click for details

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Hand made iron fittings with Warabite style drawer pulls. Constructed using straight dovetail joinery and hardened wooden nails.

Original use was for the family storage of ephemera, small valuables, letters, documents, etc. Present day uses include functioning as a bedside stand or being used as an elegant side table.

Age: Meiji period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 20n 1/2" High x... Click for details

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. As a form of advertising, it conveyed... Click for details

A Japanese ranma (transom) with a Hinoki (Cypress) frame and a Kusunoki (Camphor) wood hand carved Chiku Bai theme in highly detailed three dimensional relief. Artist signed Tosho Nakajima. Most likely mounted in a wealthy Japanese home or a fancy Ryokan (country inn). Its main theme is a majestic Plum Blossom tree (Bai) accented with Bamboo (Chiku).

The ranma was often mounted above the Fusuma sliding doors between rooms to allow the air to circulate freely. This allowed each room to... Click for details

An antique Japanese scholar's Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. 3 side by side drawers above and below sliding doors where documents, brushes and paper were stored. Behind the doors is a split level shelf where books were kept with 2 small drawers to the right side. Age loss to some of the handle backplates.

Present day use for this chest would work well as a side table or larger bedside nightstand.

Age: Meiji period:... Click for details

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. The drawers along the bottom were used to store kitchen tools and utensils.

Contemporary functional uses for this chest include using it as an elegant storage cabinet or using the sections separately with the bottom section used as a buffet and the upper... Click for details

An antique Japanese Sakata Bo Tansu also known as a locking bar chest made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original finish using a wiped lacquer technique. The bottom drawer lock plate features a Chrysanthemum blossom motif surrounded by outstretched Chrysanthemum leaves.

There are two small drawers hidden behind the hinged door. Working key unlocks the locking bar. Two lift-up side handles allowed for a large pole to go through where two attendants could... Click for details

An antique Japanese merchant desk made of Keyaki burl (Zelkova), Honoki (Magnolia), and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Elegant two leg support balancing 5 drawers. Bronze metal pulls and through mortise and tenon joinery brings this well designed functional chest together.

Present day contemporary uses for this desk would include additional storage and document shelf atop a full sized counter or large desk as well as an elegant display riser to showcase a statue or porcelain... Click for details