Vintage Japanese Ko tansu, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0512-1

Vintage Japanese Ko tansu, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0512-1

A compact handcrafted tansu chest in warm honey-toned wood, with beveled drawer fronts and decorative black metal drop handles -- mid-century Japanese storage at its most charming.

A Ko tansu is a small personal storage chest, traditionally used in Japanese households to keep medicines, writing tools, sewing supplies, or other everyday essentials close at hand. This handcrafted example dates to the mid-Showa era, a period when Japanese craftsmen blended traditional tansu construction methods with subtle Western influences -- evident here in the graceful drop-ring metal pulls with their shaped decorative backplates. The carcass is built from a warm, honey-toned hardwood with a fine, flowing grain, finished to a smooth clear oil or lacquer sheen that highlights the natural character of the wood throughout, including the drawer interiors. The flat top with softly rounded edges, clean plinth base, and beveled drawer fronts all speak to careful, considered craftsmanship typical of vintage Japanese furniture from this postwar period.

At just over fourteen inches wide, this vintage Japanese Ko tansu is perfectly sized for modern living. On a bedroom dresser or nightstand, it becomes a beautiful jewelry box or watch organizer. On a home office desk, it offers Japandi-style desktop storage for stationery, small tools, or keepsakes. It would also make a distinctive bathroom organizer for grooming essentials, adding a wabi-sabi aesthetic warmth to any countertop. Its compact footprint and timeless lines make it an ideal housewarming gift or a standout piece for collectors of Japanese vintage furniture and mid-century modern decor.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Hardwood with clear oil or lacquer finish; black metal drop-ring pulls with shaped backplates
• Use: Personal household storage chest -- medicines, writing tools, sewing notions, or small valuables
• Modern Use: Jewelry box or watch organizer; desktop stationery storage; bathroom countertop organizer
• Features: Multiple drawers in a stepped layout -- two smaller side-by-side drawers at top, graduated full-width drawers below; beveled drawer fronts; decorative black metal drop-ring handles with ornate backplates; smooth flat top with rounded edges; plinth base; warm grain visible on all interior and exterior surfaces
• Dimensions: 14 1/4"W x 10 1/4"D x 12"H
• Condition: Excellent

A beautifully preserved piece of vintage Japanese furniture -- small in scale, generous in character, and ready to bring warmth and quiet order 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.