Antique Japanese Two Section Choba Tansu Merchant Chest, 1900 - 1912 (Late Meiji) | SKU: 26M-D010

Japanese Choba Tansu Merchant Chest | Antique Storage Cabinet & Living Room Statement Piece, 1927-1945 (Early Showa), SKU 26M-D010

A commanding two-section choba tansu in warm sugi, dressed with bold iron hardware and slatted sliding doors -- a rare survivor of Japan's merchant tradition.

A choba tansu is a traditional Japanese merchant chest, purpose-built for the counting rooms and shop floors of Edo- and Meiji-era commerce, where a merchant needed quick access to ledgers, cash, seals, and correspondence. This Early Showa example follows that long lineage faithfully: constructed in two stackable sections of straight-grained softwood, most likely sugi (Japanese cedar), the chest is wrapped on its sides with horizontal slatted panels that serve both as ventilation and as a visual signature of the choba form. Each section features a pair of sliding slatted doors -- secured by forged iron latch hardware -- that conceal interior shelving and a small pull-out drawer inside the upper cabinet. Below the sliding doors, multiple pull-out drawers of varying depths are arranged in a graduated layout, each fitted with cast iron D-ring pulls and accented by large oval iron lock plates with decorative riveting. The lower right corner carries an especially ornate iron corner fitting -- a cruciform strap assembly with heart-cut corner brackets -- that speaks to the skill of the hardware smith. The warm honey tone of the wood, the straight, visible grain, and the contrast of matte black ironwork give this piece the quiet authority of handcrafted Japanese antique furniture made for daily working life.

In today's home, this choba tansu is as versatile as it is visually striking. Tall and architecturally interesting, it works beautifully as a living room accent piece or entryway storage cabinet, where its slatted doors and layered drawer arrangement invite curiosity without visual clutter -- perfectly suited to a Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic interior. The sliding door compartments are ideal for concealing media equipment, books, or linens, while the multiple drawers handle everything from office supplies and mail to craft materials or bar accessories. Style it alongside ceramics and natural textiles for a grounded, organic look. It would also serve well as a home office storage tower or a dining room sideboard with Japanese character. A genuinely exceptional gift for collectors of Japanese antique furniture or anyone drawn to authentic, handcrafted Asian design.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1900-1912 (Late Meiji)
• Material: Hinoki (Japanese cypress); forged and cast iron hardware throughout
• Use: Merchant's counting-room storage chest (choba tansu) -- used to organize ledgers, cash, seals, and documents in a commercial setting
• Modern Use: Living room accent cabinet and display storage; entryway console with concealed storage; home office tower organizer
• Features: Two-section stacking construction; horizontal slatted side panels; upper and lower sections each with sliding slatted doors secured by iron latch hardware; multiple pull-out drawers of varying depths with cast iron D-ring pulls and large oval iron lock plates; ornate cruciform iron corner strap fitting with heart-cut bracket detail; small interior drawer visible within upper cabinet compartment
• Dimensions: 35"W x 15 3/4"D x 62 1/4"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and fully functional piece of Japanese antique furniture -- the choba tansu brings centuries of merchant craft and wabi-sabi character into any modern interior.

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.