Antique Japanese Ko tansu With Key, Early Showa 1927-1945 | SKU: 26J-0440

Antique Japanese Ko tansu, Early Showa 1927-1945 | SKU: 26J-0440

A rare surviving Showa-era portable lockable cabinet -- complete with original iron key and brass chain -- bearing handwritten calligraphy inside.

A Ko tansu is a compact, portable Japanese cabinet designed for the secure storage of personal valuables, documents, or correspondence. During the Early Showa, such pieces were prized by merchants, officials, and households alike for their practicality and discretion. This handcrafted example is constructed from softwood -- likely sugi (Japanese cedar) -- with a warm, honey-amber patina deepened by well over a century of use. The front features a single raised-panel door framed by cleanly jointed stiles and rails, fitted with a diamond-shaped iron keyhole escutcheon. The original iron key, suspended from a brass chain, remains with the piece -- an exceptional detail rarely preserved in Japanese antique furniture of this age. An iron D-ring carrying handle mounted to the top confirms the piece's portable intent, allowing it to be transported safely between rooms or locations. The interior reveals a fixed shelf dividing the cabinet into two open compartments, and the floor of the lower compartment bears a brushed ink inscription in Japanese -- a personal mark or provenance note from the original owner that adds irreplaceable historical character.

Today this charming antique Ko tansu translates beautifully into a modern living space. Its compact footprint and lockable door make it a distinctive bedside storage cabinet or a desk organizer for a home office -- ideal for securing small valuables, journals, or correspondence in wabi-sabi aesthetic style. Collectors of Japanese antique furniture will appreciate the intact hardware, the original key, and the rare interior inscription, while design-minded buyers will love how its warm cedar tones and hand-planed surfaces complement Japandi style interiors. It also makes a truly unique housewarming gift or a gift for Japanophiles seeking something with genuine Showa-era provenance. Display it on a shelf, a writing desk, or an entryway console as a living piece of Japanese history.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: Showa, 1927-1945
• Material: Softwood, likely sugi (Japanese cedar); iron hardware; brass hinges and chain
• Use: Portable lockable cabinet for secure storage of documents, valuables, or personal correspondence
• Modern Use: Bedside storage cabinet with lock; home office desk organizer; decorative living room accent or display piece
• Features: Single raised-panel hinged door; diamond-shaped iron keyhole escutcheon; original iron key on brass chain; iron D-ring carry handle on top; fixed interior shelf; brushed ink calligraphy inscription on interior floor; aged honey-amber patina throughout
• Dimensions: 9 1/4"W x 13 3/4"D x 13 1/4"H
• Condition: Excellent -- consistent with age; original hardware, key, and chain intact; interior inscription present and legible

A rare and complete piece of Japanese antique furniture -- this Showa-era Ko tansu brings over a century of handcrafted history and quiet elegance 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.