Antique Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1946 - 1965 (Mid Showa) | SKU: 26M-915

Japanese Drawer | Antique Desktop Organizer & Bedside Drawer Unit, 1946-1965 (Mid Showa), SKU 26M-915

A handcrafted hikidashi chest with a rare dedication inscription -- a one-of-a-kind piece of Japanese antique furniture steeped in personal history.

A ko tansu is a small-format Japanese chest fitted with multiple hikidashi (pull-out drawers), traditionally used to organize personal items, documents, stationery, or craft supplies in a home or professional setting. This compact example is constructed from a warm-toned hardwood displaying a pronounced open grain, consistent with nara (Japanese oak) -- a durable and widely used timber in Mid Showa-era furniture. The carcass is cleanly built with tight-fitting dovetail-style corner joinery visible at the top, and each drawer slides smoothly on wooden runners. Every drawer front is fitted with a cast metal bar pull finished in a dark patina, lending a quietly utilitarian character that is thoroughly of its era. The overall form is upright and compact, designed to sit on a desk, shelf, or tatami-room cabinet.

What makes this piece truly exceptional is the ink dedication brushed across the side panel in traditional calligraphy. The inscription records a gift presented to a teacher -- a touching record of a personal relationship and a specific moment in Showa-era Japan that elevates this ko tansu far beyond an ordinary vintage Japanese chest. In a modern home, this piece works beautifully as a desktop organizer in a home office, a bedside drawer unit for small essentials, or a living room accent to store jewelry, craft supplies, or stationery -- perfectly suited to a Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic. It also makes a compelling gift for collectors or a unique gift for Japanophiles who appreciate pieces with a genuine story behind them.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa) -- side inscription references Showa 34 (1959), suggesting gifting date; construction style consistent with mid-20th century
• Material: Hardwood with pronounced open grain, likely nara (Japanese oak); cast metal bar pulls with dark patina
• Use: Personal storage chest -- originally used to organize documents, stationery, or personal effects on a desk or shelf
• Modern Use: Desktop organizer or home office storage; bedside drawer unit; living room or entryway accent chest for jewelry, craft supplies, or small accessories
• Features: Multiple pull-out hikidashi drawers, each fitted with a cast metal bar pull; tight-fitting dovetail-style corner joinery at top; clean unfinished drawer interiors; ink brush dedication inscription on side panel recording a teacher gift -- a rare provenance detail
• Dimensions: 9 3/4"W x 11 1/2"D x 14"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and deeply personal piece of Japanese antique furniture -- handcrafted with quiet precision and carrying a genuine human story that brings warmth and meaning to 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.