Skip to main content

Japanese Apothecary

1780s-1850s Edo Japanese antique black Urushi medicine chest of drawers cabinet
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
Mid size apothecary chest, medicine chest of drawers - "Kusuri dansu" in Japanese - product of late
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Wood

1780s-1850s Edo Japanese antique medicine chest of drawers, cabinet wabi sabi
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
Mid size apothecary chest, medicine chest of drawers - "Kusuri dansu" in Japanese - product of late
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Wood

1780s-1850s Edo Japanese antique medicine chest of drawers 2pc cabinet wabi sabi
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
New finds from old Kura (traditional style warehouse) in Kanto area, Japan. A pair of 2 different
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Japanese Kusuri Dansu – Apothecary Box With Yosegi Marquetry & Raden Inlays
Located in Bilzen, BE
"Japanese Kusuri Dansu – Apothecary Box With Yosegi Marquetry & Raden Inlays " A finely crafted
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Boxes

Materials

Wood

Large Japanese Arita Bottle/Vase Apothecary Shape, 20th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Interesting and finely painted Japanese Bottle. Great decoration. Additional information: Material
Category

20th Century Chinese Showa Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Recent Sales

Japanese Apothocary Tansu Chest
Located in Seattle, WA
Japanese apothecary chest (kusuri dansu) with unusually large square drawers. The chest consisting
Category

Japanese Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Japanese Apothocary Tansu Chest
Japanese Apothocary Tansu Chest
H 40.5 in W 31 in D 12 in
18th Century Japanese Apothecary Chest
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 18th c. Japanese kusuri dansu, apothecary chest. Kiri wood FOR OUR COMPLETE INVENTORY PLEASE
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Japanese Apothecary Cabinets

Very Large 19th Century Japanese Apothecary/Display Cabinet With Glass Doors
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare 19th century apothecary chest in perfect condition. It consists of two pieces with 50 small
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Glass, Wood

Japanese 19th Century Meiji Period Apothecary Cabinet with 27 Drawers and Doors
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Japanese Meiji period apothecary cabinet from the 19th century, with 27 drawers, sliding doors
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Antique East Asian 36 Drawers Apothecary Cabinet Chest, circa 1920s
Located in Germantown, MD
Authentic east Asian herbal medicine chest hand crafted in a classic Korean / Japanese antique
Category

Early 20th Century Korean Anglo-Japanese Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Wood, Elm

Japanese Antique Apothecary Chest, Taisho Era (1912–1926), Wabi Sabi
Located in Hitachiomiya-shi, 08
This Japanese apothecary chest (kusuri tansu) was crafted during the Taisho Period (1912–1926) in
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cypress

Personal Medicine Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
This personal medicine chest with is from Japan and is made from paulowina wood.
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Personal Medicine Chest
Personal Medicine Chest
H 36 in W 45 in D 7.5 in
Metal Console Cabinet with Drawers
Located in Surrey, BC
Excellent metal cabinet retaining traces of original black finish with stencilling hilights. The original handles are a detailed brass and are original to the piece. Drawers are fun...
Category

Antique Early 1900s American Industrial Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Metal Console Cabinet with Drawers
Metal Console Cabinet with Drawers
H 36 in W 72 in D 20 in
Japanese Shagreen Apothecary Tansu
Located in New Windsor, NY
Japanese shagreen clad mini tansu. Beautifully cast and engraved floral and scrolled hardware
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Cabinets

Materials

Shagreen, Wood

Japanese Shagreen Apothecary Tansu
Japanese Shagreen Apothecary Tansu
H 21.5 in W 24 in D 14.5 in
Japanese Early 20th Century Apothecary Chest with 28 Drawers and Brown Patina
Located in Yonkers, NY
A large Japanese antique apothecary chest from the early 20th century, with 28 drawers and brown
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Iron

Japanese Antique Apothecary Drawers 1860s-1900s/Tansu Storage Mingei Cabinets
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
An old Japanese medicine chest. Furniture from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). Material is cedar
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Antique Apothecary Drawers 1800s-1860s / Tansu Storage Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese apothecary drawer storage. The furniture is from the Edo period (1800s
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Antique Black Apothecary Drawers 1860s-1900s / Tansu Cabinet Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese apothecary drawer storage. The furniture is from the Meiji period
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Japanese antique wooden Medicine drawer/1868-1920/MINGEI/Meiji-Taisho
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Introducing a cedar wood medicine chest (kusuri-dansu) made in Japan from the Meiji period to the
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Antique Huge Medicine Tansu 1800s-1860s / Chest of Drawer Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This account consists of five companies, I specialize in Japanese antiques and select carefully
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Cedar

Very Rare Japanese Black Antique Drawer / 1750-1900 / Chest of Drawers / Storage
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
We have a unique Japanese aesthetic sense. And only we can introduce unique items through our
Category

Antique Late 18th Century Japanese Edo Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Cedar

Large Antique Japanese Arita Bottle Apothecary Shape, 18/19th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Interesting and finely painted Japanese Bottle. Great decoration. Additional information: Material
Category

Antique 18th Century Chinese Bottles

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Apothecary Chest
Located in Seattle, WA
Japanese Apothecary chest used for the sorting and storage of medicinal herbs. Constructed of Sugi
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Apothecary Cabinets

Japanese Apothecary Chest
Japanese Apothecary Chest
H 40.25 in W 35.5 in D 11.5 in
Turn of the Century Japanese Apothecary Sign
Located in New York, NY
Turn of the Century Japanese Apothecary Sign detailing a list of medicines.
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Paintings and Screens

Materials

Gold Leaf

Late 19th Century Small Japanese Apothecary Cabinet
Located in Raalte, NL
Antique late 19th century Japanese softwood pharmacists cabinet with 48 drawers with text on the
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Softwood

Japanese Apothecary Cabinet
Located in Seattle, WA
Japanese kusuri-dansu (apothecary chest), used for the sorting and storage of medicinal herbs
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Furniture

Japanese Apothecary Cabinet
Japanese Apothecary Cabinet
H 20 in W 39 in D 8.25 in
Japanese Seed Chest
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Seed Chest
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Apothecary Cabinets

Materials

Metal

Japanese Seed Chest
Japanese Seed Chest
H 2 in W 14 in D 7 in
Early 17th Century Porcelain Apothecary's Blue & White Bottle Jar
Located in London, GB
An early 17th century blue and white porcelain apothecary's bottle, decorated with floral scenes in
Category

Antique Early 17th Century Japanese More Asian Art, Objects and Furniture

Early 20th Century Apothecary Cabinet
Located in Stamford, CT
Early 20th century Japanese apothecary cabinet.  
Category

Early 20th Century Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Apothecary Cabinet
Early 20th Century Apothecary Cabinet
H 33 in W 32 in D 10.75 in

People Also Browsed

Handcrafted Mexico Brass Stone Aztec Calendar Desk Stash Trinket Cigarette Box
By Los Castillos
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful decorative handcrafted brass and stone tile inlay cigarette stash/trinket box. The box has a wonderful form and design. Top has an Aztec calendar made of brass. Has a great...
Category

Mid-20th Century Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass

Japanese Marquetry Hanging or Table Cabinet, Meiji Period, c. 1900, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A large and remarkable Japanese lacquer and marquetry decorated table or hanging cabinet, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan. The cabinet of square form surmounted by an arched top wit...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass, Copper

JapaneseAntiques Terasaki kogyo, Gold background, Bamboo and plum folding screen
Located in Niiza, JP
material: paper and cloth Unfolded size: 1600 x 1660 mm Can be folded in half: 800 x 1660 mm, 6 kg Estimated packing size: (Sandwich with 12mm plywood) 10 × 95 × 185cm 30kg A bold ...
Category

20th Century Paintings and Screens

Materials

Paper

Pine Sideboard, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Large wooden sideboard in its original paint, made around 1900. The sideboard consists of two parts. The top section has two doors with two shelves. The bottom section has two drawer...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Hungarian Rustic Sideboards

Materials

Glass, Pine

Pine Sideboard, 1900s
Pine Sideboard, 1900s
$3,289
H 84.65 in W 46.07 in D 19.69 in
Bureau / Secretary Gustavian in Blue Painted In Pine. 18th Ctr. Swedish
Located in Kastrup, DK
Gustavian secretary crafted in pine, finished in a charming blue tone with an elegant patina. The piece is composed of two sections with refined detailing throughout. The upper cabi...
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Swedish Gustavian Secretaires

Materials

Brass

Hungarian Art Deco Chest of Drawers in Walnut
Located in Houston, TX
Chest of drawers is made out of fine walnut wood. It has four-narrow drawers with round chrome handles and one wide drawer on the bottom. Chest is elevated by the rectangular base. H...
Category

Vintage 1930s Hungarian Art Deco Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Walnut

Antique Pair of 19th Century Painted Pier Display Cabinets / Bookcases Quality
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Antique Pair of 19th Century Painted Pier Cabinets / Bookcases – Fine Quality Display Furniture A fine quality 19th-century matching pair of painted pier display cabinets / bookcase...
Category

Antique 19th Century Vitrines

Materials

Wood

Antique Pair of 19th Century Painted Pier Display Cabinets / Bookcases Quality
Antique Pair of 19th Century Painted Pier Display Cabinets / Bookcases Quality
$2,399 Sale Price / set
30% Off
H 41.34 in W 20.87 in D 10.24 in
Japanese Export Carved Dragon Chair
Located in New York, NY
Eye catching highly carved sculptural dragon armchair. Japanese dragon motif carried throughout arms and chair with fantastic detailed hand carvings. Victorian era cabriole legs fini...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Wood

Japanese Export Carved Dragon Chair
Japanese Export Carved Dragon Chair
$2,800
H 34 in W 27 in D 19 in
Old Japanese stone and concrete display stand/late 20th century/bonsai stand
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a one-of-a-kind exhibition stand that utilizes an old L-shaped concrete made around the latter half of the 20th century. The L-shaped stone material that serves as the main ...
Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Other Furniture

Materials

Stone, Concrete

1860s-1910s Meiji Japanese antique wabi sabi Urushi mid Tansu chest of drawers
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
From Kanto or Tohoku area, Japan. This mid tall size, Urushi lacquered Tansu chest of drawers is a product of Meiji era (circa 1860s - 1910s) , estimate from the style & conditions....
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Kaidan Tansu Japanese Stair Chest, Japan, 19th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
This rare Kaidan Tansu is an original 19th-century Japanese stair chest from the Meiji period (circa 1890). Crafted in richly patinated wood, it combines functional storage with the ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Kaidan Tansu Japanese Stair Chest, Japan, 19th Century
Kaidan Tansu Japanese Stair Chest, Japan, 19th Century
$11,506
H 72.25 in W 39.38 in D 36.62 in
Japanese 19th Century Kabuki Theater Gold Dance Costume Dragon And Phoenix
Located in South Burlington, VT
A large, glamorous and impressive Japanese Kabuki Theater Kimono Dance Costume with a handsome dragon and phoenix motif dating to the Meiji period, 19th century. Hand crafted of brow...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Textiles

Materials

Metallic Thread

Japanese Asian Antique Shino Yaki Ware Studio Pottery Wabi-Sabi Chawan Tea Bowl
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful Japanese Mingei Nezumi Shino Ware (志野焼, Shino-Yaki) pottery Chawan tea bowl for tea ceremony that features a sumptuous glaze with wonderful subtle shifts in color, patter...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Ceramics

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Bronze okimono depicting Fujiwara no Yasumasa signed Miyao
Located in Milano, IT
Patinated and gilded bronze okimono depicting the famous warrior Fujiwara no Yasumasa playing the flute, signed Miyao. The hitatare, moved by the wind, shows patterns of phoenixes an...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Metalwork

Materials

Bronze

A Japanese Satsuma ceramic lobed bowl
Located in Milano, IT
Satsuma ceramic lobed bowl with curved corners and embellished with a refined scene of daily life along a watercourse on the outside. The interior is adorned with graceful butterflie...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

A Japanese Satsuma ceramic lobed bowl
A Japanese Satsuma ceramic lobed bowl
$4,066
H 2.17 in Dm 3.15 in
Mid-20th Century Japanese Satsuma Tea set, 21 pieces
Located in Pomona, CA
This Vintage Satsuma tea service set are hand painted richly decorated with a dense gilt & Thousand Flowers pattern. Comprising: Teapot, Sugar bowl, Milk jug, 5 cups & saucers. Marke...
Category

Mid-20th Century Chinese Chinese Export Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic

Mid-20th Century Japanese Satsuma Tea set, 21 pieces
Mid-20th Century Japanese Satsuma Tea set, 21 pieces
$1,320 Sale Price / set
20% Off
H 4 in W 8 in D 6 in
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Japanese Apothecary", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Finding the Right Storage-case-pieces for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces 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 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. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, 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.

Read More

37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name

Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.

The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home

Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.

What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?

The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.

This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once

Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.

Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition

Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.

Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way

Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.

Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture

In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.

These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project

From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.