A rare antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Kikute handles and Urushi lacquer finish). Unusual design with two small drawers secured by a locking security bar and two sets of doors with the upper set having a spacious storage area behind and the bottom set having storage to the left and three small drawers to the right. The main drawer has a lock plate with an incised... Click for details

An antique Japanese Two-Section Kaidan Tansu (stair chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute handles. Made in two sections allowing for easier placement through a door or entrance. Drawers of varying sizes for organizing with a large hinged door with spacious storage behind and a lift out door on the top step with two wooden hooks where security keys were kept. Wear to the edge of the steps is a testament to its... Click for details

An antique Japanese bellow (called Fuigo) made of Suginoki (Cryptomeria) wood. Used by sword makers and metal craftsmen to blow air into a Kama to increase the temperature of the fire.

Age: Meiji Era (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 19 3/4" Wide by 11 1/2" High by 6 3/4" Deep

An antique Japanese Sendai Bo Tansu (locking bar chest from the Sendai region) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles and Urushi lacquer finish. Safe door hides 3 small drawers where valuables were stored. The main lock plate features a key pattern with a flowing vine arabesque with the smaller plates decorated with Paulownia. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden... Click for details

An antique Japanese 2 section tall Kyoto Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made entirely of Hinoki (Cypress) wood. All original hand forged iron hardware with Warabite handles. Copper sliding door handles. Top section features two sliding doors behind which is a spacious storage area where store books and records were kept and below which are 5 drawers. Bottom section features 8 drawers of varying sizes with two sets of sliding doors and a hinged safe behind which are 2 small drawers where... Click for details

An antique Japanese Kannon Biraki Tansu (wedding kimono chest) made of rare Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware including the stylized Kakute handles. Natural Urushi lacquer accentuates the beautiful wood grain. Stippling work to the round lock plates of the two hinged doors. Bottom hinged security door hides two small drawers with a secret box behind the bottom drawer.

The Kannon Biraki tansu was often presented as part of a woman's... Click for details

An antique Japanese Chonin Kobako (merchant storage box) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware with construction using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails. The drawer handles are of the Kakute style comprising six drawers to organize and secure its contents. Traditionally sitting next to the side of the merchant, it was an indispensable chest housing coins and money, important documents, and valuables as well as brushes, an... Click for details

Antique Japanese small lacquer safe box with hinged door and 3 small interior drawers. Decorated on all sides including the drawer fronts with detailed harakusa (octopus vine) design in fine maki-e lacquer on a dense nashiji ground. The drawers are covered on all sides in fine nashiji gold flakes. Hardware is made of silver and incised with a similar scrolling vine motif.

Age: Edo Period (1603-1868)

Dimensions: 3 1/4" high x 3" wide x 5 3/4" deep

Antique Japanese hanging garden lantern in the form of a house with tall roof. Overall diamond shape with four sides and pierced lattice-work doors and windows. One side has a hinged door which opens outward and is latched with a little bronze bird.

Age: Meiji Period (1868-1912)

Dimensions: 13 3/4" high x 15 1/2" long x 12" wide (each side is 9 3/4" wide)

An antique Japanese Kimono Tansu made fo Keyaki (Zelkova) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. Urushi lacquer accentuates the beautiful wood grain. Unusual rare deep design that was specially custom commissioned to be made by a tansu maker. Three large drawers with a security hinged door featuring a dragon motif that hides two small drawers for valuables as well as a secret hiding box. All original hand forged iron hardware with construction using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened... Click for details