Antique Japanese Choba Merchant Tansu Chest With Hikido Sliding Door And Warabite Pull Multi-sized Drawers - 1920s Taisho Era (25D-D006)

Antique Japanese Choba Merchant Tansu Chest With Hikido Sliding Door And Warabite Pull Multi Sized Drawers (SKU 25D-D006)

Taishō-era choba tansu with hikidō sliding doors, warabite pulls, and richly patinated merchant storage.

This handsome antique choba tansu was originally used in a Japanese merchant’s shop, where its front-facing drawers and sliding doors stored ledgers, seals, and valuables. The case is finished in a deep reddish-brown lacquer that has mellowed beautifully with age, highlighting the grain of the sugi (cedar) and hinoki (cypress) timbers and the dark iron hardware that protects each corner and opening.

A wide upper drawer spans the top, beneath which sit a pair of framed hikidō sliding doors with circular brass finger pulls and an iron lock plate, opening to a generous interior compartment. The base is composed of multi-sized drawers, each fitted with classic warabite-style iron pulls and robust lock plates, offering versatile storage that works equally well as a sideboard, media console, or entry chest while preserving the authentic character of a Taishō-period merchant tansu.

• Origin: Japan, likely a regional merchant shop
• Era: Taishō period (early 20th century)
• Material: Lacquered softwood (likely sugi/cedar and hinoki) with forged iron hardware
• Use: Choba tansu merchant chest for shop-front storage and display
• Features: Hikidō sliding doors; warabite pulls; multi-sized drawers; brass finger pulls; iron corner bracing and lock plates; side carry handles; rich original patina with visible wear from use
• Dimensions: 37 1/2"W x 15 1/4"D x 32"H
• Condition: Excellent vintage condition with age-appropriate surface wear, small losses, and patination consistent with use

A versatile and evocative choba tansu that brings authentic Taishō-era merchant atmosphere to contemporary interiors.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage and antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.