Tansu Small Chests
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Cabinets
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Pine
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 20th Century Japonisme Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm
Vintage 1920s Japanese Anglo-Japanese Cabinets
Cherry
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 1860s Japanese Meiji Furniture
Wrought Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Dressers
Fir, Pine
20th Century Japanese Taisho Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Cabinets
Zebra Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Japonisme Cabinets
Iron
Antique 19th Century Korean Campaign Furniture
Brass
Antique Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Cabinets
Iron
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Dressers
Pine
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Organic Modern Cabinets
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Iron
Antique 17th Century Japanese Edo Furniture
Cedar
Vintage 1970s Chinoiserie Night Stands
Brass, Enamel
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Furniture
Cedar
People Also Browsed
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Furniture
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary German Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Plywood
Vintage 1930s English Art Deco Cabinets
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Chestnut, Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Side Tables
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Cabinets
Wood, Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Vintage 1920s Japanese Cabinets
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets
Cedar
Mid-20th Century American Hepplewhite Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Vintage 1950s North American Chinoiserie Cabinets
Mahogany
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Jewelry Boxes
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and C...
Brass
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Recent Sales
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Japanese Cabinets
Wood
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Furniture
Antique 19th Century Japanese Cabinets
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Iron
20th Century Japanese Japonisme Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron, Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Korean Campaign Blanket Chests
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Steel, Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Late 20th Century American Campaign Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Brass
20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Metal
Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique 19th Century Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese More Asian Art, Objects and Furniture
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Pine
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood, Cedar, Pine
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Elm, Pine
Antique 1890s Japanese Meiji Furniture
Cedar
20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Brass, Iron
Antique 1890s Japanese Cabinets
Iron
20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture
Metal
Antique 19th Century Japanese Furniture
Metal
Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Furniture
Wood
Antique 19th Century Japanese Cabinets
Metal
Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Furniture
Cedar
Vintage 1920s Japanese Furniture
Oak
Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Cedar
20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Korean Metalwork
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Furniture
Wood
Early 20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Night Stands
Iron
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century Korean Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Sets
Brass
Antique 19th Century Japanese Furniture
Iron
Mid-20th Century Korean Chinoiserie Night Stands
Metal
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Antique 18th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Japonisme Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Cedar
Tansu Small Chests For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much are Tansu Small Chests?
Finding the Right Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets 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.
- What is a Tansu chest?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021Tansu refers to Japanese portable storage chests. When tansu became a well-known feature of life in Japan — the chests’ emergence is said to be rooted in the Genroku era of the Edo period (1688–1704) — the country’s traditionally minimalist households had little to no proper seats, tables, or other pieces of furniture. Tansu were intended to be multipurpose cabinets. These case pieces were used to store things of everyday utility, such as clothing and various personal items. Tansu are regarded as collectible furniture with a timeless appeal. Shop a collection of antique, vintage, and contemporary Tansu from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.
- What is a tansu chest used for?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022A tansu chest is a Japanese cabinet designed for easy transportation and can store a variety of items, including clothes and personal items. Tansu chests often feature multiple compartments to keep items organized. Shop a selection of authentic tansu chests on 1stDibs.
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