Mohr & McPherson carries the most extensive collection of Japanese cabinets (tansu) in the Northeast. The clean lines and practical configuration of these traditional case goods have placed them in the zeitgeist of today's design sense. Both reproduction and original antiques are available through our three area showrooms.

      The word tansu (meaning movable cabinet) describes the chests, trunks and cabinets of traditional Japan.     The word tansu (meaning movable cabinet) describes the chests, trunks and cabinets of traditional Japan. During the Edo and Meji periods spanning the mid 17th to early 20th centuries tansu designs were expanded to function as storages unit for almost every article used by the Japanese. Ranging from very small and simple boxes with drawers (Ko dansu) to huge cabinets on wooden wheels (kuruma dansu) tansu were used to organize and move almost every object of value and significance. Depending on the status of the owner a tansu could be made of rare prestige woods with exquisite hardware or of simple softwoods with no ornamentation. What they all had in common is a design sense that spoke of tradition, craftsmanship and utility. To know tansu is to know the history and culture of Japan.

Return to our Japanese Tansu Collection.