An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made entirely of old growth Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original patina and hand forged iron hardware including the Warabite style handles. Designed with 6 exterior drawers, 2 sliding doors and a hinged security door that hides 2 interior drawers. A spacious storage area and shelf behind the sliding doors stored the merchant's books and business records.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 31" Wide by 31" High by 16 5/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Original hand forged iron hardware with Kaute style handles. 6 drawers of varying sizes with a pair of sliding doors and a security door that hides 2 additional drawers and a secret box where valuables were kept.

This Tansu would make a perfect side chest or nightstand.

Age: Edo Period (1800-1850)

Dimensions: 32" Wide by 31'" High by 18" Deep

A rare antique Iwayado Kuruma Choba Tansu (wheeled merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Kijiro Urushi lacquer. Featured metalwork includes motifs of Chrysanthemums and Pine trees symbolizing the Takasago Immortal couple. Unusual pod shaped designs on the recessed drawers.

Age: Meiji period (1870-1880). Exhibited in the Palo Alto Cultureal Museum 1995.

Providence:Zentner Private Family... Click for details

A rare antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (pharmacy or medicine chest) made entirely of Kiri (Paulownia) wood. All original hand forged iron Warabite handles. Original drawer labels left intact. 20 drawers total. Great chest for filing papers and documents. Unusually wide drawers compared to the ubiquitous tiny drawers of the typical Kusuri Tansu.

Age: Edo Period (1750-1800)

Dimensions: 29 3/4" Wide by 36 1/8" High by 15 1/8" Deep

An antique Japanese Gyosho Bako (street peddler's chest) made of Kiri (Paulownia). All original hand forged iron hardware. Hinged door opens to 5 inner drawers of varying sizes where special wares were stored. 4 upper rings were used in conjunction with rope to provide back pack support. Unusual back handle was used to assist in lifting the Tansu onto ones back.

Age: Edo Period (1750-1800)

Dimensions: 12" Wide by 25 3/4" High by 21 1/2" Deep

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

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 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

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