Antique Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1900 - 1911 (Late Meiji) | SKU: 26M-018

Japanese Ko-Tansu Small Chest | Antique Jewelry Box & Desktop Organizer, 1868-1911 (Meiji), SKU 26M-018

A compact hikidashi drawer chest from late Meiji Japan -- richly lacquered kiri wood with bold iron hardware throughout.

A ko-tansu is a small-format Japanese tansu chest, designed to sit on a desk, shelf, or floor and keep personal valuables, documents, or household sundries neatly sorted within multiple hikidashi (pull-out drawers). This handsome example dates to approximately 1900-1911, the final years of the Meiji era, when Japanese antique furniture craftsmen were producing some of their most refined small chests -- combining traditional joinery with assertive iron fittings that doubled as both hardware and decoration. The exterior is finished in a deep lacquered red-brown, applied over kiri (paulownia) -- the classic wood of choice for Japanese tansu due to its light weight, natural resistance to moisture, and long-term dimensional stability. The drawer interiors reveal pale, unfinished kiri, still fragrant and clean after more than a century of use.

In a modern home, this handcrafted Japanese ko-tansu is as versatile as it is beautiful. On a bedroom dresser or nightstand it functions as a jewelry box and accessory organizer, its multiple drawers keeping rings, watches, and small keepsakes perfectly sorted. On a home office desk it brings Japandi-style character to everyday storage -- corralling stationery, USB drives, and small tools with wabi-sabi warmth. It also shines as a living room accent piece, displayed on a console or shelf as a collector's showpiece. A unique gift for collectors or Japanophiles who appreciate genuine Japanese antique furniture with a story to tell.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1868-1911 (Meiji), circa 1900-1911
• Material: Kiri (paulownia) wood with lacquered red-brown exterior finish; cast iron hardware with decorative reposse pulls and corner reinforcements
• Use: Personal storage chest -- originally used to organize documents, valuables, or household items in a home or merchant setting
• Modern Use: Jewelry box and accessory organizer; desktop stationery or home office storage; living room or bedroom accent piece in a Japandi or wabi-sabi interior
• Features: Multiple hikidashi (pull-out drawers) in a tiered layout -- including a combination of full-width and split side-by-side drawers; each drawer fitted with a cast iron bar pull on a decorative backplate with floral embossing; keyhole escutcheons on drawer fronts; iron corner brackets reinforcing all edges; clean unfinished kiri interiors; rich aged patina throughout
• Dimensions: 11 1/4"W x 18"D x 16 1/2"H
• Condition: Good antique condition -- surface lacquer shows age-appropriate wear, light scratching, and natural patina consistent with over 100 years of use; iron hardware with natural oxidation; drawers slide smoothly; no structural damage

A rare and beautifully preserved piece of Japanese antique furniture -- this late Meiji ko-tansu brings over a century of quiet 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.