Skip to main content

Japanese Tansu Chest

to
57
450
39
856
1
6
2
1
1
1
1
13
418
423
1
324
30
13
5
3
10
9
1
2
4
5
1
742
328
327
262
74
820
815
807
16
15
854
854
854
8
4
1
1
1
Sort By
Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
This study and simple Tansu storage chest features a lightweight Fir Wood construction and black
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Hudson, NY
Description: Japanese Sendai Chest, with iron hardware. 19th century.
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
A Japanese Taisho period single-section wardrobe cabinet from the late 19th century, with two
Category

20th Century Japanese Sideboards

Materials

Metal

Two-Part Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted in Japan during the 20th century, this Kiri wood tansu chest is a fine example of Japan
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Blanket Chests

Materials

Metal

20th Century Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Chicago, IL
An early 20th century Japanese paulownia wood stacking tansu with iron hardware.
Category

20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Pair of Japanese Tansu Chests
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Japanese black lacquer and gilt mon motif 5 drawer tansu chests with original brass
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Natural Wood Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in East Hampton, NY
Elegant natural wood tansu chest in two pieces.
Category

Mid-20th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

19th Century Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in East Hampton, NY
Exceptional two part tansu chest with blackened steel hardware....
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Steel

Japanese Tansu Chest Cabinet 1900s Taisho Period Keyaki Wood w/ Moko Handles
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is this stunning example of a Japanese Tansu Chest from the Taisho Period
Category

20th Century Cabinets

Materials

Wood

Pair of Japanese Tansu Chest Side Tables, C. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to be versatile and portable, Japanese tansu chests were multipurpose storage cabinets
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Cabinets

Materials

Steel, Iron

Pretty Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Wainscott, NY
Unusual scale and shape for a Tansu. Coloration is very pretty and elegant. Multiple drawers
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Wardrobes and Armoires

Materials

Metal

Antique Japanese Tansu Chest With Drawers on Contemporary Metal Stand Console
Located in Centennial, CO
A stunning and unique antique Japanese tansu chest with two interior drawers that sits on a custom
Category

Vintage 1920s Japanese Edo Cabinets

Materials

Iron

19th Century Japanese Tansu, Chest of Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
All original, 19th century. Double stacked (two pieces) Japanese tansu cabinet with four drawers
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Antique Japanese Tansu Chest with 15 Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century Japanese shop chest. Original hand forged hardware. Hinoki wood. 15 Drawers for all
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Japanese Tansu Chest, 19th Century, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
Japanese tansu cabinet, chest of drawers, with classic lacquer finish, including the persimmon
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Cabinets

Materials

Iron

20th Century Japanese Tansu Chests on Custom Mounts
Located in Chicago, IL
A Tansu chest from Japan, separated with each piece on its own custom stand. Can be used as shown
Category

20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

20th Century Japanese Tansu Chest in Two Parts
Located in Chicago, IL
Crafted in Japan during the 20th century, this Kiri wood tansu chest is a fine example of Japan
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Pine

Japanese Tansu, Chest of drawers, Late 19th Century
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Japanese Tansu cabinet in natural fir wood retaining original iron hardware, Meiji period, circa
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Japanese Tansu Chest on Stand, Early 20th century
Located in San Marino, CA
Japanese katanadansu, a low, wide chest originally designed to store sword blades without the hilt
Category

20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Vintage Nine-Drawer Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Somis, CA
A vintage Japanese Tansu with nine elegant drawers. The Meiji period piece has full capacity
Category

20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Black Japanese Tansu Chest, Meiji Period
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful vintage, Meiji Period, Japanese Tansu with seven full capacity drawers. Large, unique
Category

20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Iron

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
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Dressers

Materials

Pine, Fir

Vintage Japanese Tansu Chest with Sliding Glass Doors
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful vintage Japanese Tansu with five drawers and a pair of each glass and wood sliding
Category

20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Brass

Meiji Period 19th Century Japanese Tansu Chest with Sliding Panels and Drawers
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Japanese Meiji period tall tansu chest from the late 19th century, with drawers and sliding
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century Japanese Tansu Chest on Custom Stands
Located in Chicago, IL
A Tansu chest from Japan, separated with each piece on its own custom stand. Can be used as shown
Category

20th Century Japanese Dressers

Vintage Japanese Tansu Chest, Dresser with Four Trays and Drawers
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful vintage Japanese Tansu dresser with four shallow pullout trays and four full capacity
Category

20th Century Japanese Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vintage Japanese Tansu Chest in Natural Finish, Set of Two
Located in Somis, CA
An elegant vintage Japanese Tansu consists two individual chests that can be used separately
Category

20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

Henredon Solid Pine 14-Drawer Japanese Tansu Chests of Drawers, Pair
By Henredon
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of 14-drawer Japanese tansu dresser chests By Henredon Furniture USA, circa
Category

Late 20th Century American Anglo-Japanese Dressers

Materials

Brass

Meiji Japanese Tansu Chest, Eight-Drawer with Black Iron Hardware and Key
Located in Somis, CA
A beautiful vintage Japanese Tansu with eight full capacity drawers. The finish is an unique orange
Category

20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Japanese Cedar Tansu Chest of Drawers, Edo Period, Late 18th Century
Located in New York, NY
A seven-drawer Japanese Tansu chest in cedar and elm wood. Edo Period, circa 1780. Original trim
Category

Antique 1780s Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Elm, Cedar

Japanese Cherry Lacquer Tansu Chest, c. 1880
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to be versatile and portable, Japanese tansu chests were multipurpose storage cabinets
Category

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

Materials

Iron

Japanese Lacquered Sendai Tansu Chest, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to be versatile and portable, Japanese tansu chests were multipurpose storage cabinets
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Iron

Japanese Sendai Tansu Chest with Floral Iron Hardware, C. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to be versatile and portable, Japanese tansu chests were multipurpose storage cabinets
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Iron

19th Century Korean Chest
Located in Houston, TX
work and handles. This rare blanket chest is similar to a Japanese Tansu chest and is finished in a
Category

Antique 19th Century Korean Cabinets

Materials

Nickel

Japanese Stacking Tansu Chest, c. 1880
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to be versatile and portable, Japanese tansu chests were multipurpose storage cabinets
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Chinese Meiji Dressers

Materials

Iron

Japanese Matsumoto Stacking Tansu Chest, C. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Designed to be versatile and portable, Japanese tansu chests were multipurpose storage cabinets
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Iron

Japanese Meiji Period Brown Lacquered Tansu Sideboard with Doors and Drawers
Located in Yonkers, NY
the Meiji period in Japan. The piece is the top half of an original 2-section tansu. This large
Category

20th Century Japanese Meiji Furniture

Materials

Elm

Japanese Tansu Cypress Chest
Located in Sheffield, MA
Japanese Tansu red cypress chest has black iron fittings including locks and 1 large drawer, 1
Category

20th Century Japanese Japonisme Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Japanese Black Lacquer Tansu Chest.
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Black Lacquer Tansu Chest with Gold Leaf and Mon Design.
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Lacquer

Antique Japanese Meiji Black Tansu Chest
Located in Kastrup, DK
A Japanese Meiji period six drawer tansu chest. This façade showcases four large drawers followed
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Other Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Japanese 19thC Ko Tansu Chest of Drawers
Located in London, GB
A Meiji period Kirinoki wood and forged iron 'Ko Tansu' chest of drawers. Japan, Circa 1880.
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Other, Iron

Japanese Tansu
Located in San Marino, CA
Japanese Tansu
Category

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

Elegant Pre-War Japanese Tall Tansu Clothing Chest
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant Pre-War Japanese Tall Tansu Clothing Chest.
Category

Vintage 1930s Japanese Japonisme Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Cedar and Pine Tansu Chest, Japan, circa 1890
Located in Culver City, CA
Cedar and Pine Tansu Chest Japan, circa 1890 34.25”l x 18”d x 38.25”h.
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Cedar, Pine

Antique Japanese Tansu
Located in East Hampton, NY
Beautiful cedar clothing tansu chest in 2 pieces....
Category

20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Japanese Edo Tansu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Japanese edo tansu with the date marked on the bottom, 1840. Two sections of drawers that can be
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Antique Japanese Tansu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th c. tansu with four drawers on contemporary iron base. Beautiful iron work! Can work as a pair
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Antique Japanese Meiji period tansu chest of drawers dresser
Located in Yonkers, NY
Fine Japanese Meiji period tansu chest of drawers ca 1870. The chest retains its original surface
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Antique Japanese Meiji period tansu chest of drawers dresser
Located in Yonkers, NY
Fine Japanese clothing tansu (chest of drawer), Sendai Prefecture, early Meiji period, ca 1870
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Antique Japanese Tansu Clothing Chest Bo Ishu-Dansu
Located in Portland, OR
Antique clothing chest with upper locking drawers. Taller than standard indicating this was made
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Metal, Iron

Fine Japanese Edo Period Keyaki Choba Tansu Merchant s Chest
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine Japanese late Edo period keyaki wood (elm) Choba tansu (merchant's chest) with multiple
Category

Antique 1850s Japanese Edo Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Japanese Antique Large Tansu 1860s-1900s / Sideboard Cabinet Wabisabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is a large antique Japanese Tansu chest, crafted during the Meiji period (1860s–1900s). It is
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sideboards

Materials

Cedar

Tansu Chest from Japan, Showa Period, Mid-20th Century
Located in New York, NY
A Tansu chest of drawers from Japan. Showa period, mid-20th century. Clear cedar, with elmwood in
Category

Vintage 1950s Japanese Showa Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Brass

Japanese Antique Medicine Chest 1860s-1900s/Chests of Drawers Storage Tansu
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A drawer containing old Japanese medicine. Furniture from the Meiji era. (1860s-1900s) The
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Cedar

19th Century Japanese Tansu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful 19th c. Japanese 5 drawer tansu on contemporary iron base. Two pieces. FOR OUR COMPLETE
Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Japanese 17th c. Tansu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1700's Japanese Nihon Mitsu tansu with secret drawers. Beautiful iron work, butterfly details.
Category

Antique 18th Century and Earlier Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

Andrianna Shamaris Antique Japanese Wabi Sabi Wood Tansu Chest
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Kiri wood wabi sabi clothing chest from the 20th century in this hard to find miniature
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood, Reclaimed Wood

  • 1
  • ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Japanese Tansu Chest", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Japanese Tansu Chest For Sale on 1stDibs

Choose from an assortment of styles, material and more with respect to the Japanese tansu chest you’re looking for at 1stDibs. Frequently made of wood, metal and cedar, every Japanese tansu chest was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a Japanese tansu chest — find older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A Japanese tansu chest, designed in the mid-century modern, folk art or Art Deco style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. Many designers have produced at least one well-made Japanese tansu chest over the years, but those crafted by Henredon, Baker Furniture Company and Alessandro for Baker Furniture are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Japanese Tansu Chest?

The average selling price for a Japanese tansu chest at 1stDibs is $2,500, while they’re typically $255 on the low end and $28,750 for the highest priced.

Finding the Right Case Pieces And Storage Cabinets for You

Of all the vintage storage cabinets and antique case pieces 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 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. Alternatively, apothecary cabinets are charming case goods similar in size to early dressers or commodes but with uniquely sized shelving and (often numerous) drawers.

Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard that features colored glass and metal details, 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.

Questions About Japanese Tansu Chest
  • 1stDibs ExpertNovember 2, 2021
    Tansu 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.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    A 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.

Read More

37 Cheerful Home Bars, Where Everybody (Literally) Knows Your Name

Simple or sophisticated, equipped with console, cart or custom cabinetry, these stylish bar areas deserve a toast.

The Ultimate Guide to Types of Tables for the Home

Whether you’re just moving in or ready to give your home a makeover, our guide will give you pointers on tables that are fitting for every room, nook and hallway.

What Exactly Is a Secretary Desk, and What Is It Used For?

The furniture equivalent of a Swiss Army knife, it's the multifunctional piece you didn't know you needed.

This Shelving System with Oxidized Brass Tubes Is Retro and Futuristic at Once

Italian studio DimoreMilano mustered great ingenuity when crafting these sculptural shelves, which are built without any screws.

Ask an Interior Designer: Work-from-Home Edition

Leaping into a design project, whether it's refreshing the bedroom or redoing the whole house, can be overwhelming. Luckily, we know more than a few interior designers. You asked questions on Instagram, and now they're answering.

Collected and Eclectic, ‘Wunderkammern’ Are Back in a Big Way

Introduced nearly 500 years ago, curiosity cabinets are finding new fans among today's collectors and designers.

Meet the Incredible Woman Transforming Fallen Trees into Sleek Furniture

In the hands of New York Heartwoods cofounder Megan Offner, unwanted local trees become works of design art.

These New York Architects Love a Complicated Project

From Brooklyn townhouses to Maine campgrounds, Trattie Davies and Jonathan Toews relish a challenge, like transforming a former warehouse space into the new 1stdibs Gallery.