Vintage Japanese Cha Tansu Tea Chest, 1946 - 1965 (Mid Showa) | SKU: 26M-C037

Japanese Cha Tansu Tea Chest | Vintage Storage Cabinet & Entryway Console, 1946-1965 (Mid Showa), SKU 26M-C037

A beautifully proportioned mid-century Japanese tea cabinet with stepped shelves, sliding doors, multiple drawers, and charming hand-carved panel details.

A cha tansu is a traditional Japanese tea chest -- a specialized cabinet designed to organize and display the many utensils, canisters, and accessories of the Japanese tea ceremony. Unlike the more formal lacquered chests of earlier periods, mid-century cha tansu were crafted for everyday household use, blending practical storage with quiet elegance. This example, dating to the Mid Showa era (1946-1965), is constructed from kiri wood (paulownia), finished in a warm honey tone that has mellowed beautifully with age. The stepped, asymmetric layout is the hallmark of the cha tansu form -- an upper section with sliding panel doors fitted with recessed metal ring pulls, flanked by open display niches, sits above a lower tier housing multiple pull-out drawers with cast metal bail handles and a small hinged door panel decorated with a delicate hand-carved landscape motif. Quatrefoil-shaped cutouts on the side panels serve as carry handles and add a graceful decorative accent. The interior reveals well-fitted shelves and clean, unlined drawer boxes -- the honest craftsmanship of Japanese antique furniture at its most functional.

In a modern home, this cha tansu adapts effortlessly to a wide range of roles. Its compact footprint and layered storage make it an ideal entryway console -- the open niches can display plants, books, or decorative objects, while the drawers corral keys, mail, and small accessories. Styled against a bare plaster or whitewashed wall, it leans naturally into a Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic. It would also serve beautifully as a living room accent cabinet for media storage, bar accessories, or curated collectibles, or as a home office storage unit keeping stationery and documents neatly out of sight. A unique and thoughtful housewarming gift for anyone who appreciates handcrafted Japanese antique furniture with genuine history.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Kiri wood (paulownia); cast metal bail handles; recessed metal ring pulls
• Use: Tea utensil and ceremony accessory storage (cha tansu)
• Modern Use: Entryway console with display niches; living room accent cabinet or bar storage; home office organizer
• Features: Stepped asymmetric silhouette; sliding upper panel doors with recessed metal ring pulls; multiple pull-out drawers with cast metal bail handles; hinged side door with hand-carved landscape panel; quatrefoil carry-handle cutouts on both side panels; open display shelves; interior fitted shelving
• Dimensions: 28 1/4"W x 13 1/2"D x 30"H
• Condition: Excellent

A timeless piece of Japanese antique furniture -- the cha tansu's stepped form and honest craftsmanship bring warmth, history, and effortless Japandi style to any modern interior.

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 vintage and 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.