Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

All Original C. 1850 Japanese Tansu Chest, 2 Parts

About the Item

This 2-part antique Japanese tansu has lovely old-patina wood and and attractive hand-forged iron handles and other hardware. It can be used as-shown, stacked or separated and raised on simple metal stands. When separated, the two drawer sets make excellent side chests. Japanese storage tansu chests were used to hold clothing and other personal effects in a 19th Century Japanese home. Because Japanese homes were (and are) relatively small, furniture was also relatively small. Rooms were used for multiple purposes and furniture needed to be lightweight, portable and removeable. Accordingly, storage chests had handles for receiving carrying poles. The distinctive iron hardware provided structural stiffness in the corners and also served a decorative function. The patina is richly worn and no new lacquer or sealer has been added to the surface; it has been kept as-found. The drawer interiors are all clean and drawer operation is smooth. It should be noted that many Japanese pieces are very lightly constructed and good drawer operation cannot be assumed. The piece is solid, clean and original -no new parts. The finish features all the minor scratches, abrasions and small gouges that we expect and want to find on vintage Japanese antiques. The piece does not appear to have been stripped but only limited traces of the old varnish on the drawer fronts remain. The dark oxblood on the sides is quite intact. The metal fittings show desirable rust and oxidization -even the small nail heads, which is very good. This piece is a remarkable find - a "time traveler" that connects us directly to the distant past.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 41.5 in (105.41 cm)Width: 35.75 in (90.81 cm)Depth: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
    Pine
  • Place of Origin:
    Japan
  • Period:
    Mid-19th Century
  • Date of Manufacture:
    circa 1850
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: 22T010191stDibs: LU886431276232

More From This Seller

View All
Rare C. 1850 Antique Japanese 2-Part Tansu Chest with Original Patina
Located in Chicago, IL
Japanese storage tansu chests were used to hold clothing and other personal effects in a 19th Century Japanese home. Because Japanese home...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Dressers

Materials

Pine

Rare C. 1850 Antique Japanese 2-Part Tansu Chest with Original Patina

Rare C. 1850 Antique Japanese 2-Part Tansu Chest with Original Patina

$3,800 Sale Price
34% Off
19th Century Antique Japanese Tansu Chest, 2 Parts
Located in Chicago, IL
Japanese storage tansu chests were used to hold clothing and other personal effects in a 19th Century Japanese home. Because Japanese home...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Dressers

Materials

Pine, Fir

19th Century Antique Japanese Tansu Chest, 2 Parts

19th Century Antique Japanese Tansu Chest, 2 Parts

$4,200 Sale Price
25% Off
Walnut Side Chest with Solid Drawers
Located in Chicago, IL
This walnut side chest dates to the 1960's and is an example of "brutalist" or "mid-century socialist's" furniture design. The furniture and art of Eastern Europe in the post-war per...
Category

Late 20th Century Czech Brutalist Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal

Walnut Side Chest with Solid Drawers

Walnut Side Chest with Solid Drawers

$5,900 Sale Price
25% Off
An Indian Wedding Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
This massive wooden wedding chest was made the earliest part of the 19th century in Gujarat, India. The chest originally contained dowry items (such as clothing and blankets) and was...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Teak

An Indian Wedding Chest

An Indian Wedding Chest

$3,400 Sale Price
29% Off
A Low Teak Wood Four Drawer Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
During the 1930's and 1940's Art Deco, with its modern. streamlined designs, became the worlds' most popular and widespread furniture style. It was particularly popular in India, as ...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Teak

A Low Teak Wood Four Drawer Chest

A Low Teak Wood Four Drawer Chest

$1,200 Sale Price
25% Off
A Butterfly Style Storage Cabinet With Carved Spandrels
Located in Chicago, IL
A Chinese Provincial-style wooden butterfly cabinet from the 19th century, with carved spandrels, drawers, doors and faded oxblood patina. This sturdy...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Chinese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Elm

A Butterfly Style Storage Cabinet With Carved Spandrels

A Butterfly Style Storage Cabinet With Carved Spandrels

$3,400 Sale Price
30% Off

You May Also Like

Japanese Tansu Chest in 2 parts
Located in East Hampton, NY
Wonderful old two part Japanese tansu with side locks.... can be separated for use as nightstands, as well....
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Japanese Tansu Chest in 2 parts

Japanese Tansu Chest in 2 parts

$3,400
Large Japanese Keyaki Wood Iron Mounted Tansu Chest with 8 Drawers
Located in San Francisco, CA
An outstanding Meiji period Japanese keyaki wood (elm) tansu of large size with 8 drawers, 3 large 2 medium and 3 small, and 2 cabinets with small interior drawers. The piece has iro...
Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Large Japanese Keyaki Wood Iron Mounted Tansu Chest with 8 Drawers

Large Japanese Keyaki Wood Iron Mounted Tansu Chest with 8 Drawers

$4,250 / item
Japanese Tansu Jewelry Chest
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An elegant Japanese Tansu Jewelry chest. Made of Japanese elm-keyaki. Handles on the sides, top drawer lined with velvet.
Category

Vintage 1960s Japanese Anglo-Japanese Cabinets

Materials

Elm

Japanese Tansu Jewelry Chest

Japanese Tansu Jewelry Chest

$2,500 / item
Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Faversham, GB
A superb Tansu chest from the late Edo to early Meiji period in kiri wood commonly known as the princess tree. The chest has a large freize drawer to the top with a series of three ...
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Oak

Japanese Tansu Chest

Japanese Tansu Chest

$3,107
Japanese Tansu Chests
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Beautiful pair of Japanese Tansu chests. These are out of a great Palm Springs estate. These are old Meiji period chests that have been refitted with new ...
Category

20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Japanese Tansu Chests

Japanese Tansu Chests

$6,375 Sale Price / set
25% Off
20th Century Japanese Tokyo Tansu Chest in Two Parts
Located in Torino, IT
This 20th-century Japanese Tokyo Tansu chest for clothing produced at the beginning of the Taisho period it’s an example of furniture characteristic of this period in Japan and in vo...
Category

20th Century Japanese Taisho Furniture

Materials

Iron

20th Century Japanese Tokyo Tansu Chest in Two Parts

20th Century Japanese Tokyo Tansu Chest in Two Parts

$7,414

Recently Viewed

View All

More Ways To Browse

Remarkable 2
Japanned Finish
Japan Chest
Chest Of Drawers On Stand Antique
Tansu Furniture
Stacking Chest
Stripped Chest Of Drawers
Japan Tansu
Japanese Tansu Furniture
Japanese Tansu
Japanese Tansus
Hand Forged Iron Handles
Japanese Wood Chest Storage
Japanese Antique Storage Cabinet
Japanese Chest Of Drawers Antique
Antique 2 Drawer Stand
Commode Japan
Antique Tansu
View All Popular Commodes and Chests of Drawers Searches