Antique Japanese Isho Tansu, Taisho period (1912-1926) | SKU: 26M-A026

Antique Japanese Isho Tansu, Taisho period (1912-1926) | SKU: 26M-A026

A tall, stately antique Japanese tansu with sliding doors, lockable cabinet, and graduated pull-out drawers -- a masterwork of Taisho-era joinery.

An isho tansu is a traditional Japanese clothing chest designed to store folded kimono and textiles in a tall, multi-section format. This handsome example, dating to the Taisho period (1912-1926), is constructed from richly straight-grained hardwood -- likely keyaki (zelkova) or a closely related Japanese hardwood -- finished to a warm honey tone that has only deepened with age. The piece is composed of stacked sections: a top unit fitted with sliding fusuma-style doors, a middle cabinet section secured by a lockable double-door with beautifully cast iron handles featuring intricate foliate relief work, and a lower base section housing multiple graduated pull-out drawers. Black iron corner hardware, hinge plates, and carrying handles frame each section with the bold, graphic metalwork that defines the best Japanese antique furniture of this era. The original key is included, a rare and welcome detail in a piece of this age.

Standing nearly 64 inches tall, this isho tansu commands presence as a statement piece in any room. In a modern bedroom, it functions beautifully as a wardrobe or linen cabinet, offering generous concealed storage behind both the sliding upper doors and the lockable double doors, while the lower drawers handle folded clothing, accessories, or linens with ease. In an entryway or living room, it makes an exceptional hallway console or display cabinet -- the warm wood tones and bold black hardware complement Japandi style and wabi-sabi aesthetic interiors with equal ease. The combination of open-shelf access, locked cabinet space, and multiple deep drawers makes it extraordinarily versatile. A truly rare gift for collectors of Japanese antique furniture or anyone seeking a meaningful housewarming gift with genuine history.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1912-1926 (Taisho)
• Material: Straight-grained hardwood, possibly keyaki (zelkova); black cast iron hardware and fittings; original lock with key
• Use: Isho tansu -- traditional Japanese clothing and textile storage chest
• Modern Use: Bedroom wardrobe or linen cabinet; entryway console with concealed storage; living room display cabinet in a Japandi or wabi-sabi aesthetic setting
• Features: Three-section stacked construction; upper sliding door compartment with round finger pulls; middle lockable double-door cabinet with ornate foliate cast iron handles and working key; lower section with multiple graduated pull-out drawers, each fitted with decorative oval bail pulls; bold black iron corner brackets and hinge plates throughout; interior shelving visible in the cabinet section
• Dimensions: 35 3/4"W x 16 1/2"D x 63 3/4"H
• Condition: Excellent

A commanding piece of Japanese antique furniture -- over a century of quiet craftsmanship ready to bring warmth, storage, and storied beauty to any modern home.

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 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.