Vintage Japanese Small Hikidashi Drawer, 1966 - 1989 (Late Showa) | SKU: 26M-987

Japanese Ko-Tansu Small Chest | Vintage Drawer Cabinet & Desktop Organizer, 1966-1989 (Late Showa), SKU 26M-987

A compact hikidashi chest in richly grained hardwood -- handcrafted with the quiet precision of traditional Japanese joinery.

A ko-tansu is a small-format Japanese chest fitted with multiple hikidashi (pull-out drawers), traditionally used to store personal items such as accessories, correspondence, medicines, or sewing tools within the home. This example, dating to the Late Showa period, is built with a sturdy carcass in what appears to be sugi (cryptomeria cedar) -- visible in the straight, resinous grain of the side panels -- while the drawer fronts display a boldly figured hardwood with swirling linear grain consistent with keyaki (zelkova) or a similar dense Japanese hardwood. The contrast between the lighter carcass and the darker, richly marked drawer faces gives the piece a striking two-tone warmth. The drawers are arranged in a classic ko-tansu layout: a pair of smaller side-by-side hikidashi at the top, followed by a graduated series of full-width drawers below, each fitted with a cast brass bail handle on a ball-end mount. Drawer construction is clean and well-fitted, with unfinished natural wood interiors showing good depth and capacity throughout.

This vintage Japanese chest translates effortlessly into modern interiors. Its compact, nearly cubic form makes it ideal as bedroom decor -- sitting on a dresser top or nightstand as a jewelry organizer or accessory chest. In a home office, it works beautifully as a desktop organizer for stationery, craft supplies, or small collectibles, bringing a wabi-sabi aesthetic to an otherwise utilitarian workspace. The warm wood tones and aged brass hardware complement Japandi style, mid-century modern, and natural material interiors alike. A thoughtful housewarming gift or a unique gift for collectors of handcrafted Japanese antique furniture.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Sugi (cryptomeria cedar) carcass; drawer fronts in boldly grained hardwood, possibly keyaki (zelkova); cast brass bail handles
• Use: Personal storage chest -- originally used to organize small household items, accessories, or sewing tools
• Modern Use: Desktop organizer or home office storage; bedroom jewelry and accessory chest; living room accent piece for Japandi-style decor
• Features: Pair of smaller side-by-side hikidashi at top; several full-width graduated drawers below; two-tone wood contrast between carcass and drawer faces; cast brass bail handles with ball-end mounts; clean unfinished wood drawer interiors; well-fitted traditional joinery throughout
• Dimensions: 12"W x 11"D x 17"H
• Condition: Excellent

A beautifully proportioned piece of Japanese antique furniture that brings the warmth of Showa-era craftsmanship and a wabi-sabi aesthetic into 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.