Vintage Japanese Cha Bako Tea Storage Chest with Tin Lining, Early Showa 1927-1945 | SKU: 26J-0432-5

Vintage Japanese Cha Bako Tea Storage Chest with Tin Lining, Early Showa | SKU: 26J-0432-5

A large Japanese tea storage chest with timeworn wooden surfaces, bold side markings, and a practical tin-lined interior made for commercial use.

This vintage Japanese cha bako is a substantial wooden tea chest used by a tea manufacturer or retailer to store tea. It has a fitted lift-off lid, finger-jointed corner construction, and a single deep interior lined in sheet metal, with matching metal lining to the underside of the lid. The exterior shows layered dark finish, extensive wear from use, and painted characters on one side, while the front includes a small diamond-shaped wooden escutcheon detail. Inside, the lining is stamped "YODO LEAF," reinforcing its purpose-built construction for protecting contents from moisture and outside odors.

Today, this cha bako offers strong visual presence as well as useful storage. Its generous scale makes it suitable for linens, papers, studio materials, or household goods, and its worn surfaces bring character to wabi-sabi, folk craft, rustic, or Japandi-inspired interiors. The aged wood and intact metal lining preserve the honest, utilitarian appeal of a box originally made for the tea trade.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: Early Showa 1927-1945
• Material: Wood with tin sheet lining to the interior and underside of lid
• Use: Commercial cha bako for storing tea
• Modern Use: Decorative lidded storage for linens, supplies, papers, or household items
• Features: Lift-off lid; single deep tin-lined interior; finger-jointed corner construction; painted characters on one side; diamond-shaped wooden detail on front; visible "YODO LEAF" marking on lining; heavily worn original surface
• Dimensions: 27"W x 17"D x 19"H
• Condition: Good vintage condition with heavy exterior wear, scuffs, losses to finish, oxidation and waviness to the metal lining, and age-consistent imperfections throughout; structurally solid with strong decorative presence

A one-of-a-kind Japanese tea chest with generous scale, graphic surface character, and enduring utilitarian charm.

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.