Vintage Japanese Chabudai Low Table, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0400

Vintage Japanese Chabudai Low Table, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0400

A generously sized round chabudai with a rich red lacquer top and collapsible black-lacquered leg frame -- a hallmark of mid-century Japanese home life.

A chabudai is a traditional Japanese low table designed for floor-seated dining, tea service, and family gathering. Typically used atop tatami mats with cushions (zabuton) arranged around all sides, the chabudai became the social centerpiece of the Japanese household -- a symbol of togetherness that endured from the Meiji era well into the postwar Showa period. This example is a notably large round chabudai, its wide circular top finished in a deep red-brown lacquer that reveals a fine, straight wood grain beneath -- consistent with a lacquered wood or wood-veneer construction common to mid-Showa production. The underside is finished in contrasting black lacquer, and the folding leg frame features red-lacquered leg blocks at each corner, a practical and decorative detail typical of quality postwar Japanese craft. The collapsible frame allowed the table to be stored flat against a wall when not in use -- an elegant solution to the flexible, multi-use spaces of traditional Japanese homes.

In a modern home, this vintage Japanese chabudai makes a striking living room coffee table for a floor-level or low-seating arrangement -- perfectly suited to a Japandi style or wabi-sabi aesthetic interior. Placed on a wool or jute rug with floor cushions or a low sofa, it becomes an instant conversation piece. Its generous diameter also works beautifully as a meditation or yoga room accent table, or as a statement display surface for books, botanicals, and ceramics. The bold red lacquer top brings warmth and color to minimalist decor, making it a unique housewarming gift or a standout find for collectors of vintage Japanese furniture.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Wood with red lacquer top surface; black lacquer underside and folding leg frame; red-lacquered leg blocks at corners
• Use: Traditional Japanese low floor dining and tea table for tatami-mat rooms
• Modern Use: Living room coffee table for floor or low seating; meditation or yoga room accent table; decorative display surface for books, plants, or ceramics
• Features: Large round top with deep red-brown lacquer finish showing visible wood grain; contrasting black-lacquered underside; collapsible square leg frame with red-lacquered corner blocks; folds flat for easy storage
• Dimensions: 31 1/2"Diameter x 10"H
• Condition: Good vintage condition; age-consistent light scratches and surface wear visible on top and underside, consistent with decades of use

A rare oversized chabudai that brings the warmth of vintage Japanese living into any modern home -- equally at home as a coffee table, display piece, or floor dining table in a Japandi or wabi-sabi inspired interior.

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.