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sellingantiques.co.uk
ID #SA1178040
FOR SALE
£650
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Japanese Choba Tansu – Merchant’s Chest
Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors
for sale €761     $826
£650
Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors

Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors

Sellingantiques Verified Since Jul 2017
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  • About Us
    A family run business , second generation of antique dealers est 1977 with 3 warehouses over 6000 sq ft
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Id #SA1178040
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Japanese Choba Tansu – Merchant’s Chest

19th century
Description

This traditional Choba Tansu, or merchant’s chest, exemplifies the harmonious blend of function and beauty. Crafted from richly stained hardwood—likely keyaki (zelkova) or sugi (cedar), it showcases the expressive grain and enduring strength prized in Japanese joinery. Designed for practical use in merchant shops, the chest features a thoughtful arrangement of storage: a column of drawers in varying sizes lines the left side, ideal for organizing tools, documents, and small wares. At the centre, a pair of sliding doors with vertical slats conceals a spacious, shelved compartment, while additional drawers above and below offer layered utility. Blackened iron fittings and handles provide both structural integrity and striking visual contrast. Side-mounted carrying handles suggest portability, allowing the chest to be repositioned with ease.

Physical Dimensions
Height
80cm (31.50")
Width
86cm (33.86")
Depth
37cm (14.57")
Declaration

Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors has dated this Japanese Choba Tansu Chest to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1178040
Dealers Internal Reference
SAI3985
Dealers Notes

All measurements are done to the widest point .

Please feel free to contact me with any enquiry or for more pictures .

Delivery :

We can arrange to deliver any where in the world just let us know your destination and we will get a quote for you .

Here at Sinclair's Antiques and Interiors we do our utmost best to ensure all our items are described and photographed to show any flaws or damage such as shrinkage splits, losses or lifts to veneer, repairs or marks. However giving the age and the fact that each piece will have had years of polishing to create its own individual character we cannot describe every minor mark separately and therefore recommend you either visit our warehouse or request extra photographs.

We offer a 7 day money back guarantee if you are unhappy with any of your items purchased from us however cannot refund the return shipping cost.

If you are not sure please do not purchase without contacting us.

Description
This traditional Choba Tansu, or merchant’s chest, exemplifies the harmonious blend of function and beauty.
“
Crafted from richly stained hardwood—likely keyaki (zelkova) or sugi (cedar), it showcases the expressive grain and enduring strength prized in Japanese joinery.
Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors

Designed for practical use in merchant shops, the chest features a thoughtful arrangement of storage: a column of drawers in varying sizes lines the left side, ideal for organizing tools, documents, and small wares. At the centre, a pair of sliding doors with vertical slats conceals a spacious, shelved compartment, while additional drawers above and below offer layered utility. Blackened iron fittings and handles provide both structural integrity and striking visual contrast. Side-mounted carrying handles suggest portability, allowing the chest to be repositioned with ease.

Height
80cm (31.50")
Width
86cm (33.86")
Depth
37cm (14.57")
Date of Manufacture

Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors has dated this Japanese Choba Tansu Chest to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1178040
Dealers Internal Ref
SAI3985
Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors
Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors
Sellingantiques verified Since Jul 2017

A family run business , second generation of antique dealers est 1977 with 3 warehouses over 6000 sq ft

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors Profile Page

Relevant Links
PDF SHARE
SAVE
A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware.
1 / 12
Archive I A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware.

Japanese Choba Tansu – Merchant’s Chest

Archive II A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View II
Archive III A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View III
Archive IV Scale Reference for A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware.
Archive V A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View V
Archive VI A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View VI
Archive VII A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View VII
Archive VIII A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View VIII
Archive IX A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View IX
Archive X A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View X
Archive XI A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View XI
Archive XII A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware. View XII
Enlarged Archival View
Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors

Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors
Telephone 07977 119 787
Location
91 Main Street
Thornton
Fife
KY1 4AQ
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/sinclairs
Verified Since Jul 2017
Items For Sale 618
Items Sold 2,408
Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors
Sinclairs Antiques and Interiors
Verified Since Jul 2017
View Dealer Info
Location: 91 Main Street, Thornton, Fife , KY1 4AQ, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/sinclairs
Verified
Jul 2017
For Sale
618
Sold
2,408
A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware.
Japanese Choba Tansu – Merchant’s Chest
Ref: SA1178040
A Japanese Choba Tansu merchant chest featuring dark reddish-brown wood, sliding slatted doors, multiple small drawers, and black iron hardware.
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Scale Reference
Archival Detail

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Every single antique dealer on our platform is individually approved by our internal team. We verify their professional trade history, ethical standards, and photographic quality to ensure a secure, high-standard buying environment. Upon joining, every dealer agrees to a strict 9-point code of conduct. While issues can occasionally arise, our dealers typically resolve them swiftly and directly with the buyer. In fact, since our founding in 2002, Sellingantiques has only had to step in to help resolve an issue on roughly five occasions—a true testament to the quality of our dealers and their dedication to your happiness.

Secure Transit

Our dealers are highly experienced in packing and shipping fragile, high-value antiques. Because you are in direct contact with the dealer, you will be able to easily go through all available shipping and insurance options together to ensure your item arrives safely.

The Sustainable Choice

Antiques are the ultimate green purchase. By choosing historical pieces over newly manufactured goods, you completely eliminate the carbon footprint of modern mass production while preserving exceptional, timeless craftsmanship.

FAQs

A Choba Tansu is a traditional Japanese wooden chest historically utilized by merchants and shopkeepers during the Edo and Meiji periods to securely store account ledgers, money, and valuables.

These chests were typically constructed using native Japanese timbers such as keyaki (zelkova), pine, or cedar, bound with hand-forged iron plates, sliding doors, and protective lacquered finishes.

Authentic pieces feature hand-cut joinery, hand-forged iron handles and corner braces, natural wear around locking plates, and genuine aged patina on both the timber and metalwork.

A Choba Tansu functions effectively as a focal sideboard in an entryway or living room, harmonising well with minimalist decor, neutral colour palettes, and organic textures.

Keep the chest away from direct sunlight and central heating sources to prevent timber shrinkage, dust regularly with a dry microfibre cloth, and avoid applying harsh chemical polishes.
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