Antique Japanese Ko Tansu Small Chest, 1912 - 1926 (Taisho) | SKU: 26M-G071

Japanese Ko-Tansu Small Chest | Antique Nightstand & Bedroom Organizer, 1912-1926 (Taisho), SKU 26M-G071

A finely crafted Taisho-era ko-tansu with multiple drawers, iron corner fittings, and warm honey-toned kiri wood -- a rare piece of handcrafted Japanese antique furniture.

A ko-tansu is a compact Japanese storage chest -- literally a "small tansu" -- designed to organize personal belongings, documents, or clothing within a traditional Japanese home. This example dates to the Taisho period (1912-1926), an era known for its refined blending of classical Japanese joinery with subtle modernist sensibility. Constructed from kiri (paulownia), the chest displays the wood's characteristic straight, open grain in a warm honey tone that has deepened beautifully with age. The asymmetric drawer layout -- combining a column of smaller side drawers with a bank of wider full-width drawers -- is a hallmark of regional Japanese cabinetry from this period, offering cleverly varied storage in a compact footprint. Iron corner hardware reinforces the frame at every edge, and select drawers feature a distinctive round iron lock escutcheon -- a practical and visually striking detail. Each drawer is fitted with a delicately shaped iron bail pull, hand-forged with a graceful scalloped profile typical of Taisho-era craftsmanship.

In a modern home, this ko-tansu transitions effortlessly from antique curio to everyday furniture. Its compact scale makes it an ideal bedside table or nightstand in a bedroom, with its multiple drawers providing discreet storage for jewelry, accessories, or reading essentials -- a perfect fit for Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic interiors. In a home office it serves as a desktop organizer or side table with character, while in an entryway it offers a stylish spot to sort keys, mail, and small items. Its warm wood tones and handcrafted iron hardware complement both minimalist decor and richer traditional settings. A truly unique housewarming gift or gift for collectors of Japanese antique furniture.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1912-1926 (Taisho)
• Material: Kiri (paulownia) with iron corner fittings, lock escutcheons, and bail pulls
• Use: Compact personal storage chest for clothing, documents, or household items
• Modern Use: Bedside nightstand with drawer storage; home office side table and desktop organizer; entryway accent chest
• Features: Asymmetric drawer layout combining wider full-width drawers with a column of smaller side drawers; iron corner reinforcement hardware at all edges; circular iron lock escutcheons on select drawers; hand-forged scalloped iron bail pulls on every drawer; clean dovetail-style joinery visible on drawer interiors
• Dimensions: 24"W x 12"D x 16 3/4"H
• Condition: Excellent

A timeless piece of Japanese antique furniture -- this Taisho ko-tansu brings the warmth of hand-forged iron hardware and century-old kiri wood craftsmanship into 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 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.