Vintage Japanese Sayama-cha Tea Shipping Crate (Cha Bako), Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0432-7

Vintage Japanese Sayama-cha Tea Shipping Crate (Cha Bako), Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0432-7

A rare Sayama-cha shipping crate from postwar Japan -- complete with foil-lined interior and original hand-printed label artwork.

A cha bako is a traditional Japanese bulk tea crate used to transport and store large quantities of loose-leaf tea from the growing region to merchant wholesalers and tea houses. This substantial example originates from the Sayama tea-growing district of Saitama Prefecture -- one of Japan's most celebrated tea regions, prized for leaves grown in cool hill air with a distinctive rich flavor. The front panel carries a boldly printed label featuring a serene landscape motif with rolling hills, a solitary tea picker, and lush tea-field greenery rendered in dark ink, green, and warm yellow -- a graphic style typical of mid-Showa commercial packaging at its most evocative. A band of green-painted lettering runs along the lid rim on all four sides, and a quality association mark appears at the base of the label panel, lending the crate an air of official commercial provenance. The softwood body is assembled from horizontal slats, and the interior of both the crate and removable lid is lined with crinkled metal foil -- a standard practice in Japanese tea packaging to protect the leaves from moisture and light during transit and storage.

In a modern home, this vintage Japanese tea crate makes a striking wabi-sabi accent that brings warmth, graphic character, and a genuine story to any room. Sized generously enough to serve as a living room storage chest or entryway trunk, it can corral blankets, magazines, or seasonal linens with ease. Flipped to use as a low side table or plant stand, the flat slatted lid provides a stable surface. Tea collectors and Japanophiles will find it equally at home displayed as a decorative accent in a kitchen or studio, where its hand-printed label artwork functions like framed folk art. It also makes an extraordinary housewarming gift for anyone who loves Japanese vintage furniture, vintage packaging design, or the wabi-sabi aesthetic -- a truly one-of-a-kind conversation piece.

• Origin: Sayama district, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Softwood slat construction; paper label panels with hand-printed graphic design; metal foil interior lining on crate body and lid
• Use: Bulk transport and storage of Sayama-cha (Sayama green tea) leaves; issued under a quality evaluation association
• Modern Use: Living room blanket or magazine chest; entryway trunk; decorative accent or folk-art display piece
• Features: Removable flat lid with paper-covered slatted top; green-painted calligraphic band encircling lid rim on all sides; large front and side label panels with landscape and tea-picker motif in green, yellow, and dark ink; full metal foil lining on interior walls and underside of lid for moisture protection; horizontal slat body construction with visible original patina
• Dimensions: 27"W x 17"D x 19"H
• Condition: Good vintage condition consistent with age and commercial use -- label panels largely intact with expected wear and minor losses; green paint band shows cracking and flaking at corners; foil lining intact; wood body solid throughout.

A one-of-a-kind piece of vintage Japanese craft history -- where functional trade packaging becomes a living room statement that no mass-market furniture can replicate.

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.