Vintage Japanese Tobacco Tray Set, 1966 - 1989 (Late Showa) | SKU: 26M-040

Japanese Tabako-bon Tobacco Tray Set | Vintage Smoking Stand & Wabi-Sabi Desk Display, 1966-1989 (Late Showa), SKU 26M-040

A complete vintage tabako-bon set -- darkwood tray stand, bamboo tobacco canister, stoneware ash pot, and hand-painted porcelain cup -- embodying the quiet elegance of Japanese antique smoking culture.

A tabako-bon is a traditional Japanese tobacco tray used to hold the accessories needed for a smoking session -- typically a container for loose tobacco, a small ceramic vessel for ash, and a cup for tea or sake served alongside. This set brings together four beautifully matched pieces presented on a compact, arch-frame wooden stand with a flat-lipped tray base. The stand is crafted from a richly grained dark hardwood -- likely keyaki (zelkova) or a comparable dense hardwood -- finished to a warm reddish-brown tone with a clean, architectural silhouette that reflects the restrained aesthetics of late Showa craft. The bamboo tobacco canister features a fitted dark wood cap and hollow tube body, a classic form used throughout Japan for loose-leaf storage. The stoneware ash pot -- or haifuki -- is a standout piece: a squat, sand-textured vessel in warm terracotta brown adorned with multiple white roundels painted with blue-and-black bamboo and floral motifs, fitted with a rattan-wrapped swing handle and a brass lid mount. The hand-painted porcelain teacup completes the set with polychrome overglaze enamels depicting a ho-o (phoenix) among lotus and foliage, with a maker's mark visible on the base -- a fine example of vintage Japanese porcelain painting in the Imari-influenced tradition.

Today this charming tabako-bon set offers far more than its original smoking-room role. Displayed as a curated vignette on a side table, console, or low shelf, it makes an outstanding living room accent in a Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic interior. The wooden stand can serve as a miniature display rack for small objects or a bedside tray for rings and keys, while the bamboo canister works beautifully as a desk organizer for brushes, pens, or incense sticks. The painted porcelain cup doubles as a tea bowl or decorative catch-all. Presented together, the full set is a rare and sophisticated unique gift for collectors of Japanese antiques, Japanophiles, or anyone who appreciates handcrafted Japanese ceramics and objects of daily beauty.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1966-1989 (Late Showa)
• Material: Richly grained dark hardwood (stand and tray); bamboo with fitted dark wood cap (tobacco canister); sand-textured stoneware with white roundel painted decoration and rattan-wrapped handle with brass fittings (ash pot/haifuki); hand-painted porcelain with polychrome overglaze enamels (teacup)
• Use: Tabako-bon -- a traditional Japanese tobacco tray set used to organize smoking accessories including a tobacco canister, ash vessel, and accompanying cup during a smoking session
• Modern Use: Living room or entryway vignette display; desk organizer (bamboo canister for pens or brushes); bedside tray for jewelry and small items
• Features: Arch-frame hardwood stand with flat tray base; hollow bamboo canister with fitted dark wood cap; stoneware haifuki with multiple hand-painted white roundels depicting bamboo and floral motifs in blue and black, rattan swing handle, and brass lid fitting; polychrome overglaze enamel porcelain teacup with ho-o (phoenix) and lotus motif; maker's mark on cup base
• Dimensions: 11"W x 7 1/2"H x 9"H
• Condition: Excellent

A rare and complete example of vintage Japanese antique smoking culture -- four beautifully crafted objects that bring warmth, history, and wabi-sabi elegance 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.