Antique Japanese Ko tansu, Taisho era 1912-1926 | SKU: 26J-0299-2

Antique Japanese Ko tansu, Taisho era 1912-1926 | SKU: 26J-0299-2

A compact personal chest in boldly figured hardwood, with a hinged lift-top lid and multiple drawers -- handcrafted Japanese antique furniture at its most intimate scale.

A Ko tansu is a small personal chest used in traditional Japanese households to safeguard everyday valuables -- letters, hair ornaments, seals, coins, and keepsakes that a person kept close at hand. This fine example, dating to the Taisho era (1912-1926), showcases the care that craftsmen devoted even to compact domestic pieces. The exterior is clad in a richly figured hardwood -- most likely keyaki (zelkova) -- whose dramatic swirling flame grain ripples across every drawer front and body panel, making each surface as visually arresting as a landscape painting. The top lid swings open on iron butterfly hinges to reveal a shallow divided compartment within, while the drawer section below offers a layered arrangement of varied-size pull-out drawers, each fitted with a cast metal ring pull or a knob pull. The joinery is tight, the drawers slide cleanly, and the low platform base grounds the piece with quiet authority -- hallmarks of handcrafted Japanese antique furniture made to last generations.

Today this Ko tansu translates beautifully into modern living as a statement jewelry box and bedroom organizer -- the lift-top compartment holds rings and earrings, while the drawers neatly sort necklaces, watches, or cufflinks. On a home office desk it serves equally well as a desktop organizer for stationery, stamps, or memory cards, its warm amber tones adding a wabi-sabi aesthetic to a minimalist workspace. Its compact footprint -- just under a foot wide -- makes it ideal for a dresser top, nightstand surface, or entryway accent shelf. Whether gifted as a unique housewarming gift or added to an existing collection of antique Japanese craft, this chest brings unmistakable character to any room.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: Taisho, circa 1912-1926
• Material: Boldly flame-grained hardwood, possibly keyaki (zelkova); iron hardware
• Use: Personal storage chest for valuables, documents, and accessories
• Modern Use: Jewelry box and bedroom organizer; desktop organizer for a home office; decorative accent on a dresser, nightstand, or entryway shelf
• Features: Hinged lift-top lid with iron butterfly hinges and divided interior compartment; multiple pull-out drawers in varied sizes with a mixed layout of ring pulls and a knob pull; dramatic swirling flame grain across all exterior panels; low platform base; secondary plain wood interiors
• Dimensions: 11 1/2"W x 7"D x 9"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare pocket-sized treasure of Japanese antique furniture -- this Taisho-era Ko tansu brings over a century of quiet craftsmanship and flame-grain 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.