Antique Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1900 - 1911 (Late Meiji) | SKU: 26M-791

Japanese Ko-Tansu Small Chest | Antique Jewelry Box & Desk Organizer, 1868-1911 (Meiji), SKU 26M-791

A rare late Meiji-era ko-tansu with concealed hikidashi drawers, heavy iron hardware, and a fold-out locking door -- a masterwork of Japanese antique craft and security design.

A ko-tansu is a small personal chest used in traditional Japanese households to safeguard valuables such as documents, seals, coins, and precious keepsakes. This late Meiji example -- dating to approximately 1900-1911 -- represents the pinnacle of handcrafted Japanese antique furniture from the period when artisans were still applying generations-old ironworking techniques to compact, portable storage. The body is constructed from darkly lacquered hardwood, encased on all edges and corners with heavy forged iron strapping and decorative cloud-form corner plates secured with hand-set rivets. A flat iron carry handle is mounted to the top lid, allowing the entire chest to be transported with ease. The front face opens via a hinged door secured by an elaborate surface-mounted iron lock plate fitted with a keyhole and a round knob pull -- a design typical of the choba-dansu and ko-tansu tradition where security was paramount. Behind the door, two pull-out hikidashi drawers are revealed, each fitted with a small ring pull; the lower drawer features its own secondary lock mechanism, indicating it was intended for the most sensitive contents. The interior woodwork is smooth, cleanly jointed, and shows the careful hand of a skilled Japanese craftsman working within a well-established regional tradition.

In a modern home, this compact ko-tansu is as versatile as it is striking. Its deep ebony-brown tones, bold iron hardware, and wabi-sabi patina make it a natural centerpiece for Japandi-style living room decor or a study in contrasts on a minimalist desk. Use it as a jewelry box or keepsake chest on a bedroom dresser, where the locking door adds genuine security alongside its decorative appeal. It also works beautifully as a home office organizer -- storing stationery, USB drives, or correspondence behind its sturdy iron-bound facade. With its carry handle intact and its structure sound, this is an exceptional gift for collectors of Japanese antiques or Japanophiles who appreciate objects with real history and character.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1868-1911 (Meiji), circa 1900-1911
• Material: Darkly lacquered hardwood body; forged iron edge strapping, corner plates, lock hardware, and carry handle; brass ring pulls on hikidashi drawers
• Use: Personal valuables chest (ko-tansu) -- used to store documents, seals, coins, and keepsakes under lock and key
• Modern Use: Jewelry box or keepsake chest for bedroom decor; home office desk organizer; living room accent piece in a Japandi or wabi-sabi interior
• Features: Hinged front door with surface-mounted iron lock plate and keyhole; multiple pull-out hikidashi drawers concealed behind the door, lower drawer with secondary locking mechanism; decorative cloud-form iron corner mounts riveted throughout; flat iron carry handle on lid; clean interior woodwork with smooth-sliding drawers
• Dimensions: 4 1/2"W x 8 1/2"D x 7 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent -- rich patina on iron hardware consistent with age; wood body sound and structurally intact; drawers slide smoothly; lock hardware present and complete

A rare and functional piece of Japanese antique furniture -- this Meiji-era ko-tansu brings over a century of craftsmanship, security, and quiet beauty 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.