Antique Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1912 - 1926 (Taisho) | SKU: 26M-G029

Japanese Ko Tansu Small Chest | Antique Bedside Cabinet & Desktop Organizer, 1912-1926 (Taisho), SKU 26M-G029

A compact hikidashi chest of warm-toned wood, fitted with multiple pull-out drawers and blackened iron hardware -- handcrafted Japanese antique furniture at its most functional.

A ko tansu is a small-format Japanese chest of drawers -- a compact cousin of the full-size tansu -- designed to keep personal valuables, documents, and daily essentials neatly organized within arm's reach. Crafted during the Taisho era (1912-1926), this handcrafted Japanese antique chest is built from kiri (paulownia), giving the piece its warm honey tone and pleasingly lightweight character. The carcass is reinforced at the corners and along the drawer dividers with blackened iron hardware -- a hallmark of traditional Japanese tansu construction -- lending a graphic, almost graphic-arts contrast to the mellow wood. The drawer arrangement is pleasingly varied: several full-width hikidashi drawers run through the upper portion of the chest, while the lower section features a pair of side-by-side smaller compartments, one fitted with a decorative ring pull, alongside a wider base drawer below. The interiors are clean, unlined wood, and the drawers slide with the smooth, snug fit that characterizes quality period joinery.

Today this versatile ko tansu transitions effortlessly into a modern home. Sized to serve as a bedside nightstand, it offers more drawer storage than most contemporary equivalents while adding the warmth of a wabi-sabi aesthetic to any bedroom decor. In a home office it works beautifully as a compact desk-side organizer -- keeping stationery, cables, and papers sorted in a way that feels intentional rather than cluttered. The flat top surface is ideal for a lamp, a small plant, or a tray of curated objects, making it equally at home as an entryway accent or a living room side table. A distinctive and practical gift for collectors of Japanese antique furniture or anyone drawn to Japandi-style interiors.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1912-1926 (Taisho)
• Material: Pale straight-grained hardwood, likely kiri (paulownia); blackened iron corner fittings and drawer hardware
• Use: Personal storage chest -- originally used in Japanese homes and merchant settings to organize documents, valuables, and daily necessities
• Modern Use: Bedside nightstand with drawer storage; home office desk-side organizer; entryway accent table or living room side table
• Features: Multiple hikidashi pull-out drawers in varied widths; lower section with side-by-side small compartments including a decorative ring pull; blackened iron corner brackets and bail-style drawer pulls throughout; clean unlined interiors; smooth-sliding dovetailed construction
• Dimensions: 12"W x 20"D x 25 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent

A beautifully proportioned piece of Japanese antique furniture -- the ko tansu brings century-old craftsmanship and quiet Taisho-era elegance 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.