A rare antique Japanese Cha Tansu (tea chest) made of Kuwanoki (Mulberry) and Kirinoki (Paulownia) woods. The tansu was made using solid Kuwanoki burl wood in front and solid Kuwanoki wood on the case and back. The sliding doors open to a spacious storage area while the lift-out door opens to a split shelf area for book storage. Two drawers feature lock plates in the form of stylized Cherry Blossoms.

There are secret locking tabs that lock the left and right drawer of the set of three upper drawers. The two drawers below each lock with a tab accessed from the drawer compartments to their right. Especially rare is a secret box that is hidden behind the upper left drawer and accessed from the center drawer compartment. Two recessed carrying handles are accessed from the top of the tansu. The bronze hardware and the finish are all original to the piece.

Age: Late Meiji to Early Taisho (1900-1920)

Dimensions: 31 3/4" Wide x 33 1/2"High x 14 7/8" Deep