Antique Japanese hangai tansu (captain's chest for business transactions). Two door panels outfitted with heavy iron work set into the frame and open to reveal five drawers on either side. The exterior frame of of the box is made of sugi (cryptomeria - Japanese cedar) while the drawers are made of kiri (paulownia) wood. The exterior has square iron handles while the interior has iron warabite shaped drawer pulls. It comes with a key.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: ... Click for details

Antique Japanese Nihon Matsu isho tansu (clothing chest) in two sections from the Nihonmatsu area of Fukushima Prefecture. Made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. Iron hardware has a deep red lacquer finish and includes hirute shaped drawer pulls and large square lock plates with shōchikubai symbols (three friends of winter: plum, pine and bamboo) and a butterfly key hole cover. The top section has 2 large full-width drawers. The bottom section has two drawers and a safe box in the lower right... Click for details

Exceptional antique Japanese large kannon biraki tansu (chest with hinged doors). Two stacking sections made all of kiri (paulownia) wood. This chest has unusually bold hardware made of iron with traces of red lacquer. Each of the two large doors on the upper portion is fitted with a large iron kiri mon (specifically Gosan-no-kiri-mon) During the Edo Period, this crest became a well established mon of the Japanese government where previously it was used only by the imperial family. The top... Click for details

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Funa Hon Tansu (ship captain's document chest) made of Keyaki burl (Zelkova) in front and Keyaki frame. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Side carrying handles made of Kaki (Persimmon) wood.

Used in a ship captain's quarters to store valuable documents and books. In the event of a pirate attack, these chests were tied by rope and thrown overboard to prevent them from becoming part of the loot. Once the attack was over, they... Click for details

Antique Japanese small tansu with 5 drawers of various sizes. Made of kiri (paulownia) wood and still in it's original condition. Iron hardware includes hirute shaped drawer pulls and each drawer has a lock plate. The sides of the chest have a deep reddish lacquer finish. The deep patination is from hundreds of years of careful use.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1867)

Dimensions: 25" high x 25 3/4" wide x 13 1/2" deep

Antique Japanese gyosho bako (peddler's chest for a traveling salesman). Made with sugi (cryptomeria - cypress) wood on the outside and kiri (paulownia) wood on the inside, this box would have been light enough to carry. The single door opens to reveal a series of 10 light weight stacking trays which slide out like drawers. Each is marked with a character in light ink for organization. There is also an exterior drawer with a round iron lock and square handle. The door closes with an iron... Click for details

An antique Japanese Okidoko (low display stand) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) wood. Used in a Tokonoma as a portable display stand atop which decorations like scrolls were hung or flower arrangements were displayed. Drawers were used to store items for display and the interior shelves were used to display seasonal items. All original bronze hardware.

Age: Meiji Era (1890-1900). Dimensions: 31 1/4" Wide by 12 1/4" Deep by 14 1/4" Deep

A rare antique Sado Island Kasane Tansu made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite handles and original Urushi lacquer finish. All hardware was custom made with no two matching parts. The locking plates feature many auspicious symbols including Ebisu, Daikoku, the Lion Dancers, a crane, two turtles, a Fu Dog and an old wise man. The drawer corners feature a traveler's paraphernalia, the Sho Chiku Bai motif, a Gumbai, and a gathering of dried... Click for details

Antique Japanese tobacco pouch and matching pipe case, each carved with an octopus. The pipe case is made all of boxwood and holds a tobacco pipe made of bamboo with silver and mixed metal fittings. The matching tobacco pouch is carved of kiri wood in the form of a fisherman's basket with a lid made of of boxwood and carved in the form of another octopus. Both practical and whimsical.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: Pipe case: 8" long. Tobacco pouch: 3 1/4" high... Click for details

Antique Japanese cast iron lantern in the form of a rabbit. Sitting upright with long ears alert. The lantern is made to hold a candle, the light escaping through many round cast windows in the rabbit's body.

Age: Taisho Period (1912-1926)

Dimensions: 10 1/2" high x 9 1/2" long x 5 1/2" wide