Vintage Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1966 - 1989 (Late Showa) | SKU: 26M-501

Japanese Ko-Tansu Small Chest | Vintage Jewelry Box & Desktop Organizer, 1966-1989 (Late Showa), SKU 26M-501

A boldly grained hikidashi drawer chest finished in rich lacquer -- a rare and striking example of Late Showa Japanese antique furniture.

A ko-tansu is a small personal chest used in Japanese households to store keepsakes, documents, sewing supplies, or everyday valuables within arm's reach. This compact example is clad entirely in what appears to be cherry bark veneer -- a traditional Japanese craft technique known as kabazaiku -- in which thin strips of natural bark are applied over a wood substrate and sealed with a warm lacquer finish. The result is the chest's most captivating feature: a dramatic, dappled surface of deep auburn and golden amber that shifts with the light, giving the piece an almost painterly quality. The drawers slide smoothly on unfinished kiri (paulownia) interior boxes, each lined with a vivid red fabric base that adds a luxurious contrast to the dark exterior. Cast metal pulls with ornate scrollwork surrounds complete the handcrafted Japanese aesthetic.

In a modern home, this vintage Japanese ko-tansu makes a beautiful jewelry box or bedroom decor accent on a vanity or dresser top -- the red-lined drawers are ideally suited to storing rings, earrings, or small keepsakes. It also works as a desktop organizer in a home office, corralling stationery, business cards, or small tools in style. Its compact footprint and wabi-sabi aesthetic make it a natural fit for Japandi-style interiors, and it would make a memorable housewarming gift or gift for collectors of Japanese craft objects. Display it on a shelf, console table, or bedside surface and let the extraordinary bark surface speak for itself.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Cherry bark veneer (kabazaiku) over wood substrate with lacquer finish; kiri (paulownia) drawer interiors lined with red fabric; cast metal pulls with copper-tone bar
• Use: Personal storage chest (ko-tansu) for keepsakes, documents, or household valuables
• Modern Use: Jewelry box or vanity organizer; desktop storage for a home office; decorative accent for Japandi or wabi-sabi styled interiors
• Features: Striking kabazaiku bark veneer exterior with deep lacquer gloss; two pull-out hikidashi drawers with red fabric-lined interiors; ornate cast metal scrollwork pulls with copper-tone bar; smooth-sliding unfinished wood drawer boxes; compact rectangular form with lightly rounded top edges
• Dimensions: 10 1/2"W x 7"D x 6 1/2"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and beautifully crafted piece of Japanese antique furniture -- the extraordinary kabazaiku bark surface makes this ko-tansu a genuine collector's treasure for 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.