Rare Tansu
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
20th Century Korean Campaign Furniture
Brass
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Scholar's Objects
Bronze
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Ladders
Cedar
Antique Late 17th Century Japanese Furniture
Wrought Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Dressers
Pine
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Chandeliers and Pendants
Brass, Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Sideboards
Cedar
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Sideboards
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Sculptures and Carvings
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar, Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Side Tables
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Sofa Tables
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antiquities
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Cabinets
Brass
Antique 19th Century Korean Cabinets
Nickel
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Furniture
Iron
Antique 17th Century Japanese Edo Furniture
Cedar
People Also Browsed
21st Century and Contemporary American Industrial Wall Lights and Sconces
Glass
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vanities
Faux Leather
2010s North American Modern Side Chairs
Hardwood
2010s American Brutalist Wall Lights and Sconces
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Brutalist Decorative Art
Wood
2010s French Modern Chairs
Oak
2010s British Scandinavian Modern Lounge Chairs
Sheepskin, Beech
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Scandinavian Modern Wall Lights an...
Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Doors and Gates
Steel
Antique Late 19th Century Portuguese Baroque Beds and Bed Frames
Walnut
20th Century Japanese Showa Metalwork
Bronze
2010s Mexican Mid-Century Modern Stools
Hardwood
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Lacquer
Gold, Silver, Bronze
Early 20th Century Spanish Pedestals
Wood
Recent Sales
Antique Late 18th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Vintage 1920s Japanese Taisho Cabinets
Cedar, Paper
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Sideboards
Cedar
Antique 19th Century Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Furniture
Wood
Vintage 1920s Japanese Cabinets
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Wood, Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Cabinets
Chestnut
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Scholar's Objects
Bronze, Copper
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Cabinets
Chestnut
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Cabinets
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Furniture
Other
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Cabinets
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Wood, Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Korean Metalwork
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Sideboards
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables
Cedar
Antique 19th Century Korean Cabinets
Nickel
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Cabinets
Wood, Cedar
Antique Mid-18th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Other
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Cabinets
Cypress
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Cabinets
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique 1870s Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Antiquities
Wood, Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Oak
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Rare Tansu For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Rare Tansu?
Finding the Right storage-case-pieces for You
Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.