An antique Japanese Kansai Tansu in an unusual and unique multi-drawer design made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) wood. All original bronze hardware with straight dovetail joinery and using hardened wood nails in its construction. Divided compartment behind the sliding upper doors with wall separator allows for strength on its top where heavy objects can be displayed. Handles were designed in the Hirute style.

Age: Late Meiji Period (1890-1912)

Dimensions: 33 1/4" Wide x 36 3/8" High x... Click for details

Pair of Chinese Buddhist embroidered silk panels, one of a peach, the other a persimmon, the interior with an assortment of auspicious woven items, the double fish, gourd, teapot, instrument, mythical animal, floral arrangements plus more. Very charming.

El Cerrito Estate
Dates Qing 19th Century
Size of Each H 10 7/8" x W 11 3/4"

An antique Japanese Ko Tansu (personal storage chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Hidden behind the hinged door are two small drawers. All original hand made iron fittings with Gumbai handle with a natural wood grain finish and straight dovetail joinery construction.

Chests such as these were used in a home to store letters, photos, miscellaneous ephemera, small valuables and other sundry items. It was an invaluable piece of Japanese furniture that... Click for details

Woodblock "Calme.'truck' " by Paul Jacoulet 1941, showing two Polynesian lovers in a scenic outdoors setting. Signed in pencil "Paul Jacoulet" with a red butterfly seal with title and date. Jacoulet was born in France in 1902 but lived his entire life in Japan studying and mastering woodblock technique producing 166 masterpieces.

Boston Estate
Dates Showa 1941
H 14" x W 17"

Large Japanese antique sumie dragon flying in clouds scroll. Exuberantly painted on silk with lovely splashes of ink. Brown brocade mounting. Good condition. Signed and sealed signed Hōgen Nyosen, one of the names used by Kanō Chikanobu (1660-1728), a leading Kano-school painter of the eighteenth century Edo. (Hōgen means "dharma eye" and Nyosen means "river-like"). Translation reads that he painted it at the age of 67. The characters are: 法眼如川行年六十七歳筆 Hōgen Nyosen... Click for details

An antique Japanese Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Suginoki (Cryptomeria) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. Original Urushi lacquer front with a wiped lacquer technique used on the body. Hand made iron fittings with the round sliding door handles featuring an incised design of a lucky Pine tree and an old Minka (thatched roof Japanese home). The bottom hinged door opens to reveal a set of 3 small drawers.

Merchant chests provided two important key elements for the... Click for details

Japanese woven bamboo five tiered basket emulating chinese style with whimsical lacquer overlay of scholar objects and buddhist objects, including a mirror with inscriptions, a plaque with the god of scholarship, a bird, seal with deer on top, water bucket with neolithic chinese designs, paste seal box, religious gong, a sun emblem, a split bamboo handle with tightly knotted with gold painted designs, all interior compartments in black lacquer.

Los Angelus Collection
Meiji Period... Click for details

Pair of antique Japanese bronze candlesticks modeled as guardians with cartouche on bottom. Dates from Meiji period.

Provanence East Coast Estate
Meiji Age (1868-1912)
Size H 10 3/4" x W 3 1/2" x D 2 3/4"

A very rare antique Japanese Kusuri Tansu (medicine chest) made of Kirinoki (Paulownia) and Hinoki (Cypress) woods. All original finish and bronze hardware. Doe skin drawer pulls used to prevent drawer fronts from marring when the chest is closed. Consisting of 168 small upper drawers to house herbs and medicines with 9 drawers below varying in size used to organize pharmaceutical records, business papers. and writing tools. Of these 9 drawers, the right hand small drawer houses a Suzuri... Click for details

A rare antique Japanese Edo era Choba Tansu (merchant chest) made of Keyaki (Zelkova), Kurinoki (Chestnut) and Suginoki (Cryptomeria) woods. Sliding doors in front with various small drawers and shelves that originally store merchant documents, books and other store related items.

The merchant chest served two purposes in a business. The first was its basic utilitarian function of serving as a business records storage and safe for keeping money and valuables. The second less obvious... Click for details