An antique Japanese Kake Suzuribako (aka calligraphy merchant box) made of Kuri (Chestnut) wood. All original finish and hand forged iron hardware. Hinged lid opens to a storage area where an inkstone and Sumi (ink sticks) were kept. The remainder of the top has a slot where coins were inserted to be kept in the upper drawer out of the sight of wondering eyes. Two additional drawers were used to keep calligraphy brushes and Washi paper used for writing. The handle atop this important daily... Click for details

An antique Japanese Iwayado Kimono Tansu made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original Urushi lacquer finish with hand forged iron hardware. Warabite style handles and Kiri Leaf designed lock plates. A single section chest used for Kimono storage consisting of 4 large drawers, 2 small drawers and a security door behind which 4 smaller drawers were used to store valuables.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 48 1/4" Wide by 37" High by 17 1/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (medicine or herbal chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original bronze hardware including the Hirute style handles and hand forged iron corners.. Organized into 3 distinct sections. The upper section contains 56 small drawers, the center section has 40 medium sized drawers and the bottom section has 4 large drawers for a total of 100 drawers.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 35 1/4" Wide by 35" High by 7 3/4"... Click for details

A rare antique Japanese Ryo Biraki (hinged double door) Kimono Tansu made of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles. The main lock plate features the Paulownia motif with its blooming flowers. The doors have the raised seed pod corners. The hinges display a crescent moon style mount and the drawers handles are positioned close together and below the center line atypical of most other Tansu. Behind the doors lies 4 drawers of varying... Click for details

An antique Japanese 2 section Nagoya Mizuya Tansu (kitchen chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. Cast iron hardware including the Warabite handles. Upper half features 2 pairs of sliding doors and a set of three side by side drawers. Lower half has 2 sliding doors with 2 side by side drawers. The shallow design would accommodate the narrowest of hallways.

Age: Taisho Era (1912-1920)

Dimensions: 35 5/8" Wide by 63 1/8" High by 14 1/2" Deep.

An antique Japanese Iwayado Tansu made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Yamasugi (slow growth mountain Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Main top drawer lock plate has a flying Phoenix with surrounding drawer lock plates featuring Paulownia leaves from which the bird drinks the collected dew to get its energy. A locking bar secures two drawers and a hinged door opens to access four small drawers.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions:... Click for details

An antique Japanese Kyoto Mizuya Tansu in 2 sections made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Keyaki (Zelkova) woods. All original bronze hardware including the Warabite handles. Upper section features 4 sliding doors, a lift-out door, 2 sliding doors behind which is a removable shelf and 4 drawers.

The lower section features 2 sliding doors behind which jars of water were kept for cooking. Side support slats provide strength to the Tansu as well as architectural design.

Age: Meiji Era... Click for details

Antique Japanese sewing box. Made of lacquered wood and inlaid with painted shells. Intended for export. Beautiful details of colorful pheasants and peony blossoms. There is a separate drop-in tray with many small compartments for sewing tools.

Age: Meiji Period (circa early 1900's)

Dimensions: 5 1/8" high x 15 3/8" wide x 11 1/4" deep (when closed)

An antique Japanese long low Todana Tansu made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Kiri (Paulownia) woods. Visually stunning horizontal slats on the two sliding doors cover 6 drawers (3 on each side). Original hand forged iron Hikute handles on each drawer. Additional slats to each side. It would make a wonderful sideboard or base cabinet for a TV monitor.

Age: Meiji Era (1880-1890)

Dimensions: 70 3/4" Wide by 28 3/4" High by 19" D

Antique Japanese gray porcelain tea cup with crackle glaze. Decorated with delicate floral design in iron-rich dark brown/black glaze. Kyoto Ware.

Age: 18th century

Dimensions: 2 1/2" high x 2 5/8" wide

Provenance: From the personal collection of Frederic Cheever Torrey (1864-1935), partner of Vickery, Atkins & Torrey, interior design firm and art gallery founded in San Francisco in 1888.
The gallery, most famous for its role in helping to introduce... Click for details