Vintage Japanese Card Index Cabinet, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0411

Vintage Japanese Card Index Cabinet, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0411

A compact multi-drawer filing cabinet from mid-Showa Japan -- built for order, patinated by decades of honest use.

A card index cabinet -- known in postwar Japanese offices as a card-box or file chest -- was an essential piece of vintage Japanese office furniture, used to sort and retrieve index cards, receipts, inventory slips, and correspondence in shops, schools, and government offices throughout Japan's rapid postwar reconstruction era. This example features multiple drawers arranged in a neat grid, each fitted with a recessed metal label-frame pull that once held a handwritten category tab. The exterior is finished in a deep reddish-brown lacquer that has developed an appealing crazing and wear pattern over the decades, while the unfinished wood interiors remain clean and intact -- a mark of the utilitarian craftsmanship common to mid-Showa Japanese vintage furniture. The straight-grained wood construction, compact low-profile form, and uniform hardware all point to a well-made piece produced during Japan's mid-century boom in functional office goods.

Today this handcrafted Japanese cabinet translates effortlessly into a modern home. Its compact footprint and multiple pull-out drawers make it ideal as a home office storage unit -- perfect for organizing art supplies, stationery, or small tools on a desk or work table. Set it on a sideboard or shelf to serve as a Japandi-style living room accent, storing remote controls, coasters, and small accessories with character to spare. It also shines as a bedroom organizer for jewelry, watches, or folded accessories -- a truly unique housewarming gift for collectors or anyone drawn to the wabi-sabi aesthetic of beautifully aged, purposeful objects.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Wood with dark lacquer finish; light-toned unfinished wood drawer interiors; metal label-frame pulls
• Use: Office or shop card index and document storage cabinet
• Modern Use: Home office desktop organizer; bedroom jewelry and accessory drawer unit; living room or entryway accent storage
• Features: Multiple drawers in a uniform grid arrangement; each drawer fitted with a recessed metal label-frame pull and rounded knob; dark lacquer exterior with natural crazing and age wear; clean unfinished wood interiors; flat top surface suitable for display
• Dimensions: 23"W x 15"D x 18"H
• Condition: Good vintage condition -- lacquer shows expected crazing and surface wear consistent with age; drawer interiors clean and functional

A compact and characterful piece of vintage Japanese office furniture that brings mid-century Showa charm and practical storage 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 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.