Vintage Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1946 - 1965 (Mid Showa) | SKU: 26M-510

Japanese Ko Tansu Hikidashi Chest | Vintage Dresser & Bedroom Organizer, 1946-1965 (Mid Showa), SKU 26M-510

A compact mid-century hikidashi chest with richly figured drawer fronts and brass bar pulls -- handcrafted Japanese antique furniture at its most honest and functional.

A ko tansu is a small-format Japanese chest of drawers -- literally a "little tansu" -- designed to store personal effects, correspondence, craft tools, or clothing accessories within arm's reach of a low-seated lifestyle. This Mid Showa example, dating to roughly 1946-1965, is a handsome study in the understated Japanese antique furniture tradition: a tall, narrow carcass constructed from sugi (cryptomeria cedar) on the sides and top, with drawer fronts veneered in a boldly figured hardwood displaying swirling, burl-like patterning -- possibly tochi (horse chestnut) or a similarly figured domestic species. The joinery at the top corners is visible and precise, and each hikidashi (pull-out drawer) slides on unfinished wood runners with satisfying snugness. The metal bar pulls are aged brass, lending a warm patina consistent with decades of daily use. The overall finish is a deep amber-brown that has mellowed beautifully with time.

In a modern home this versatile ko tansu adapts effortlessly to a range of settings. Stand it beside the bed as a compact nightstand with generous bedroom storage -- each drawer ideal for books, accessories, or folded linens. In a home office it serves equally well as a desktop-height filing chest or craft supply organizer. Its slim footprint makes it an ideal entryway furniture piece for keys, scarves, and small everyday items. The warm wood tones and wabi-sabi aesthetic pair naturally with Japandi style interiors, mid-century modern decor, or any space that values honest materials and quiet utility. A thoughtful housewarming gift or a prized find for collectors of vintage Japanese craft.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Sugi (cryptomeria cedar) carcass; drawer fronts in boldly figured hardwood, possibly tochi (horse chestnut) or similarly figured domestic species; aged brass bar pulls
• Use: Personal storage chest -- originally used to organize clothing accessories, stationery, craft tools, or household sundries
• Modern Use: Bedroom nightstand with drawer storage; home office supply or filing organizer; entryway furniture for daily essentials
• Features: Tall narrow profile with multiple pull-out hikidashi drawers; each drawer fitted with a centered brass bar pull; visible finger-joint corner construction on top panel; smooth unfinished wood drawer interiors; warm amber-brown aged finish with natural patina throughout
• Dimensions: 13"W x 12 1/2"D x 24"H
• Condition: Excellent

A quietly striking piece of vintage Japanese antique furniture -- the ko tansu brings warmth, craftsmanship, and timeless storage 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.