An antique Japanese Tansu chest called Oki Getabako (Large shoe chest) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. Large two sliding doors hides 2 full width shelves. Originally used in a large Ryokan (country inn) in the Kansai region of Japan to store wooden clogs and shoes for guests staying there. Traditionally kept at the entrance of the inn, guests would remove their footwear and change into slippers that were provided. Constructed using through mortise and tenon joinery... Click for details

An antique Japanese Bo Tansu (locking bar chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Warabite style handles. Three full width drawers and bottom partial width drawer with hinged security door hiding 3 small drawers. Underneath bottom small drawer lies a secret area where important flat documents or valuables were hidden from plain sight. Side and rare back slats added strength and visual design to this... Click for details

An antique Japanese Choba Kuruma Tansu (wheeled merchant chest) made fo Keyaki (Zelkova), Kiri (Paulownia) and Sugi (Cryptomeria) woods. All original hand forged iron hardware and Urushi lacquer finish. Drawers were made using Kakute handles. Lock bar added additional security for the 2 full width center drawers. Sliding doors open to a spacious storage area and the hinged door secure 2 small drawers behind. Side slats add strength and support. Iron rings on each side in conjunction with... Click for details

A rare antique Sakata Hangai (captain's business transactions chest) made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original Urushi lacquer and hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. It feature a top drawer and a lift out front security door with lock and key. Behind the door are 5 drawers of varying sizes. In particular is the center bottom drawer that purposely exterior lacquered since it received the most use. This drawer has two covers and... Click for details

An extremely rare Sado Island Funa Tansu made of Keyaki Burl (Zelkova), old growth Keyaki, and old growth Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original Urushi lacquer finish and hand forged handmade iron hardware including the Kakute style handles. The top drawer opens to a 4 compartment design with 2 covers. It was exterior lacquered for a smooth opening. The bottom right side hinged door opens to a small upper drawer and a bottom false drawer front that hides a wooden box for valuables. The... Click for details

A rare antique Sado Island Funa Tansu (captain's chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original Urushi lacquer and hand forged hand made iron hardware including the Kakute style handles. Featuring various good luck motifs including the treasure bag, the radish, the pine tree, the bamboo, the plum blossom and the Chrysanthemum. The front has a top drawer, a hinged door and a secret sliding door. Behind the sliding door are two drawers, each with a secret box... Click for details

A rare antique Ryobiraki Choba Tansu (merchant chest with hinged doors) made of Hinoki (Cypress) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original thick gauged hand forged iron hardware. Shackle lock with working key secures the removable hinged doors that open to a pair of sliding doors and four drawers. A secret button unlatches the left hinged door to open. The spacious area behind the sliding doors was used to store merchant business records and books while the drawers were used to store money,... Click for details

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Hangai Tansu (captain's business transaction chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. All original translucent Urushi lacquer with hand forged iron hardware. Security door with a working top lock and key that hides 6 interior drawers of varying sizes. Constructed using traditional dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wood nails.

Similar use to a merchant Choba Tansu except the Hangai Tansu was seaworthy for travel on the open... Click for details

A rare antique Japanese Sakata Funa Tansu (captain's chest originating from Sakata, Japan) made of Keyaki (Zelkova) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. The sides and top of the body used solid unspliced thick wood boards. All original Urushi lacquer finish and heavy gauge hand forged iron hardware. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wood nails. Carrying handles to each side and 6 drawers of varying sizes.

The Funa Tansu was usually kept in the captain's... Click for details

An antique Ryobiraki Choba Tansu (merchant chest with double doors) made entirely of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. Original hand forged iron hardware including the Hirute style handles. Behind the doors are 7 drawers with 2 shelves for merchant books and records. The bottom shelf has a coin slot where coins were dropped into the drawer below. Constructed using straight dovetail Japanese joinery and hardened wooden nails.

This chest would make a beautiful side table or accent piece in... Click for details