Vintage Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1966 - 1989 (Late Showa) | SKU: 26M-555-9

Japanese Hikidashi Drawer | Vintage Jewelry Box & Bedroom Organizer, 1966-1989 (Late showa), SKU 26M-555-9

A handcrafted hikidashi drawer chest adorned with an auspicious tsuru crane and rising sun motif -- gifted to commemorate a special occasion in Heisei 2 (1990).

A ko-tansu is a compact Japanese chest of drawers -- smaller than a full tansu -- traditionally kept in the bedroom or dressing area to store personal keepsakes, accessories, and folded garments. This exceptional example is crafted from boldly grained hardwood, possibly keyaki (zelkova), finished in a deep warm red that showcases the wood's natural figure across every panel. The front face carries a continuous scene painted across the stacked hikidashi drawers: a pair of tsuru (Japanese cranes) soaring above pine boughs against a vivid red sun -- a classic motif symbolizing longevity, good fortune, and celebration. The imagery is rendered with striking detail, including feather texture, green accents, and gold-toned pine needles. Each drawer is fitted with a cast metal bail pull with decorative knob terminals, adding an elegant traditional accent. The open-drawer image reveals clean wood interiors and well-fitted dovetail-style corner joinery, attesting to careful construction. The back panel bears an inscription dated Heisei 2, April 1 (1990), identifying this piece as a celebratory gift -- making it a rare, personally documented example of vintage Japanese antique furniture.

In a modern home, this ko-tansu makes a stunning bedroom decor accent -- equally at home on a dresser top, vanity, or nightstand as a jewelry box and keepsake organizer. Its compact cube form and vivid crane painting also make it a compelling living room accent or home office storage piece for stationery and small valuables. Perfectly suited to a Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic interior, it brings an authentic layer of Japanese craft and symbolism to any shelf or console. A truly unique gift for collectors or Japanophiles, this piece carries both beauty and a documented personal history rarely found in vintage Japanese small furniture.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1990-2018 (Heisei) -- inscription dated Heisei 2, April 1 (1990)
• Material: Boldly grained hardwood, possibly keyaki (zelkova), with painted crane and pine decoration; cast metal bail pulls
• Use: Personal storage chest for accessories, keepsakes, and small folded items
• Modern Use: Jewelry box and bedroom organizer; living room decorative accent; home office storage for stationery and small valuables
• Features: Multiple hikidashi pull-out drawers; continuous crane-and-rising-sun painting across drawer fronts; cast metal bail pulls with decorative knob terminals; clean wood interiors with fitted joinery; dedicatory inscription on back panel dated 1990
• Dimensions: 9"W x 7"D x 9"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare, personally inscribed piece of handcrafted Japanese antique furniture -- where traditional tsuru symbolism and fine woodcraft combine to bring warmth, history, and beauty 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.