19C Antique Japanese Mizuya Tansu - Merchant’s Chest

An antique Japanese Mizuya Tansu (merchant’s chest), dating from the mid -late 19th century, spanning the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Configured as a kasane-tansu (stacking chest), the piece separates into two sections for transport. The upper section features traditional koshi-do slatted sliding doors, while the lower section contains multiple drawers of varying sizes, providing practical storage for a merchant’s papers, ledgers, money, and other business materials.

Materials

The exterior frame is constructed from nice old Japanese Cedar, with a heavily grained, darkened exterior and lighter timber used throughout the drawer interiors. The chest retains its original hand-forged iron hardware, including the drawer pulls, lock plates, and fittings. The combination of natural wood, iron hardware, and slatted doors gives the chest its distinctly utilitarian merchant character.

Dimensions
HEIGHT: 174.2cm / 68.6"
WIDTH: 180 cm / 70.9"
DEPTH: 60.6cm / 23.9"

LARGE DRAWER - h30 x w82.9cm / 11.8 x 32.6"
MEDIUM DRAWER - h13.9cm x w31.3cm / 5.5 x 12.3"
SMALL DRAWER - h13.9cm x w14.6cm / 5.5x 5.7"

Condition & Antique Character

The chest has a naturally aged and worn appearance, with extensive surface rubbing, fading, scratches, dents, and variations in colour throughout the timber. The exterior finish has worn back over time, exposing the underlying wood grain and giving the piece a dry, rustic character.

The original iron fittings have developed a deep, naturally darkened patina, with further signs of handling and use visible across the drawers, doors, and frame. Minor timber losses, edge wear, old repairs, and other marks of age may be present. The chest retains the character of a working piece of merchant furniture rather than a highly restored decorative object.

Doors and drawers open fully. Some drawers contain separations, pictured.

The chest carries signs of historical woodworms throughout which has been treated professionally.

Please examine the photographs carefully, as they form part of the description.