Vintage Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1946 - 1965 (Mid Showa) | SKU: 26M-947

Japanese Ko Tansu Small Chest | Vintage Jewelry Box & Desktop Organizer, 1946-1965 (Mid Showa), SKU 26M-947

A compact mid-century hikidashi chest in warm hardwood, fitted with ornate brass hardware and a charming hinged cabinet door.

A ko tansu is a small-format Japanese storage chest -- "ko" meaning small, "tansu" meaning chest of drawers -- traditionally used on a writing desk, dressing table, or beside a futon to keep personal items neatly sorted. This handcrafted Japanese antique furniture piece dates to the mid-Showa period, a time when Japanese craftsmen began blending Western decorative motifs with traditional tansu construction. The body is built from a warm-toned hardwood, likely nara (Japanese oak) or a similar close-grained domestic species, with a rich amber-brown finish that has deepened beautifully with age. Multiple hikidashi (pull-out drawers) sit alongside a small hinged cabinet section, giving the piece a versatile, asymmetric layout typical of this transitional era. Each drawer is fitted with a cast brass bail handle featuring delicate foliate engraving, while the cabinet door carries a charming brass wreath-and-ribbon ring pull -- fine details that speak to the decorative sensibility of postwar Japanese craft.

Today this ko tansu makes a beautiful and highly functional addition to a modern home. On a bedroom dresser or vanity table it serves as a compact jewelry organizer, keeping rings, earrings, and accessories neatly sorted. On a home office desk it works equally well as a desktop stationery chest -- storing pens, paper clips, and small supplies with vintage charm. Its modest footprint and warm wood tones make it a natural fit for Japandi style interiors, wabi-sabi aesthetic shelving displays, or as a standalone living room accent piece alongside plants and books. A truly unique housewarming gift or gift for collectors of vintage Japanese craft, this piece brings quiet personality to any space.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Solid hardwood, likely nara (Japanese oak) or similar close-grained domestic species; cast brass hardware
• Use: Personal storage chest -- originally used on a writing desk or dressing table to organize small daily items
• Modern Use: Jewelry box or vanity organizer; desktop stationery chest for a home office; decorative accent piece on a shelf or side table
• Features: Multiple hikidashi pull-out drawers with cast brass bail handles featuring foliate engraving; one hinged cabinet door with an ornate brass wreath ring pull; carved panel detail on door front; wooden side carry-out grip; warm amber-brown finish; solid construction throughout
• Dimensions: 14 1/4"W x 9 1/2"D x 10"H
• Condition: Excellent

A beautifully crafted piece of Japanese antique furniture that brings warmth, history, and everyday utility 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.