Antique Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1927 - 1945 (Early Showa) | SKU: 26M-630

Japanese Hikidashi Small Chest | Vintage Desktop Organizer & Jewelry Cabinet, 1927-1945 (Early Showa), SKU 26M-630

A compact hikidashi drawer chest with hand-carved wood pulls -- handcrafted Japanese antique furniture with genuine wabi-sabi character.

A ko tansu is a small-format Japanese chest of drawers used to store personal belongings, stationery, sewing notions, or household sundries. This compact example, dating to the Early Showa period, features multiple pull-out hikidashi drawers stacked in a clean upright case constructed from a warm-toned hardwood -- likely sugi (cryptomeria) or a similar domestic species -- with lighter secondary wood lining the drawer interiors. What sets this piece apart are the hand-turned cylindrical wood pulls, each shaped from a naturally grained branch segment, giving the chest an organic, folk-craft sensibility that speaks to the resourceful craftsmanship of prewar rural Japan. The joinery is tight and the drawers slide with a satisfying fit, reflecting the quiet skill of a local artisan working within the mingei (folk craft) tradition.

In a modern home, this ko tansu is a versatile and charming accent piece. Place it on a desk as a home office organizer to sort stationery, cables, or small tools -- its compact footprint makes it ideal for a Japandi-style workspace. On a vanity or dresser it functions beautifully as a jewelry cabinet, keeping rings, earrings, and keepsakes neatly separated across its multiple drawers. It would also suit a bathroom counter for organizing small toiletries, or a living room shelf as a decorative accent with practical storage. A genuine gift for collectors of Japanese antique furniture and a perfect find for anyone drawn to the wabi-sabi aesthetic.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1927-1945 (Early Showa)
• Material: Hardwood case, possibly sugi (cryptomeria) or similar domestic species; lighter secondary wood drawer interiors; hand-turned natural branch-segment wood pulls
• Use: Personal storage chest -- originally used to organize stationery, sewing notions, or household small items
• Modern Use: Desktop organizer or home office storage; vanity jewelry cabinet; living room or entryway decorative accent with practical drawer storage
• Features: Multiple pull-out hikidashi drawers in an upright stacked case; each drawer fitted with a distinctive hand-turned cylindrical wood pull with natural grain character; clean plinth base; compact tabletop scale; folk-craft mingei aesthetic
• Dimensions: 10 1/2"W x 12 1/2"D x 15 1/2"H
• Condition: Good vintage condition -- surface shows honest age-related wear, light scratches, and minor marks consistent with prewar use; drawers slide well; pulls intact

A quietly beautiful piece of Japanese antique furniture -- this ko tansu brings the warmth of Early Showa craftsmanship and the timeless appeal of the wabi-sabi aesthetic to any modern home or workspace.

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.