Fine Japanese Tansu Chest – Ko-Tansu Small Cabinet (Sold)

This piece has found its home. It is kept here as a record of what has passed through our hands.

A fine Japanese antique chest (Ko-Tansu / Choba-dansu ), dating from the late Edo to Meiji period.

This compact merchant’s chest is richly adorned with wrought iron hardware (jidai kanagu ) including lock plates, hinges, decorative corner fittings, and a removable locking bar (kan’nuki ). These elements provided both security and an elegant aesthetic, typical of chests used by merchants to store documents, valuables, and money.

The structure consists of:

3 drawers on the left side
1 small drawer at the upper right
1 hinged door on the right with 2 interior drawers inside
1 wide bottom drawer

The chest comes complete with two original keys: one for the locking bar and drawers, and another for the small door lock.

Made of natural wood (keyaki or sugi) with a warm reddish-brown finish, and fitted with robust iron handles, this tansu showcases traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Compact and versatile, it is ideal for use as a decorative antique storage or as a functional accent piece in modern interiors.

Size and Weight:

Height: 56.5 cm
Width: 60 cm
Depth: 31 cm
Weight: 11,450 g

NOTICE:

This item is large and will be shipped via Japan Post surface (sea) mail.
Delivery takes at least 3 months, so please be patient and do not open a claim during this period.

Please note: Surface mail is not available for the following countries:
Spain / USA / Ukraine / Kazakhstan / Kyrgyzstan / Croatia / Georgia (Géorgie) /
Sweden / Tajikistan / Denmark (incl. Faroe Islands) / Germany /
France (incl. Corsica, Andorra, Mayotte) / Belarus (Bélarus) /
Malta / Romania / Russian Federation.

If your shipping address is in one of these countries, we must use an alternative method (extra cost) or cancel the order.

Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included and are the buyer’s responsibility.
Your local customs or delivery service may contact you via phone or email for clearance procedures.
Please ensure you can respond. If unanswered, the parcel may be returned, and re-shipping will cost more than double.
Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation.

Sold — no longer available.