Vintage Japanese Ko tansu, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0512-3

Vintage Japanese Ko tansu, Mid Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0512-3

A compact mid-century Ko tansu in dramatically figured hardwood -- an extraordinary example of postwar Japanese craft with striking natural grain.

A Ko tansu is a small personal chest of drawers used in traditional Japanese households to store documents, craft tools, personal effects, and other small valuables. This fine mid-Showa example showcases drawer fronts cut from a boldly figured hardwood -- most likely keyaki (zelkova) -- displaying swirling burl patterns, tight wavy grain, and dramatic oval eyes that shift in tone from warm amber to deep chestnut. Each drawer front reads almost like a painted landscape, a quality that skilled craftsmen prized highly and that collectors of vintage Japanese vintage furniture seek out today. The plain softwood carcass and light secondary wood drawer boxes are characteristic of honest postwar construction, where visual impact was concentrated entirely on the face of the piece. Dark metal bar pulls with faceted hexagonal terminals complete the look with a quiet, utilitarian elegance typical of early postwar Japanese design.

At just under a foot and a half tall, this Ko tansu fits beautifully on a desk, dresser, or bedside table, making it an ideal piece of bedroom decor or home office storage. Use it as a jewelry box to house rings, earrings, and watches in individual drawers, or as a desktop organizer for art supplies, stationery, or small collectibles. Its wabi-sabi aesthetic and warm natural tones complement Japandi style interiors as effortlessly as mid-century modern or minimalist decor. A truly unique housewarming gift or gift for collectors, it arrives with decades of character already built in -- no styling required.

• Origin: Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Boldly figured hardwood drawer fronts, possibly keyaki (zelkova); softwood secondary wood carcass and drawer boxes; dark metal bar pulls with faceted terminals
• Use: Personal storage chest for documents, craft supplies, and small valuables
• Modern Use: Jewelry box or watch display on a dresser; desktop organizer for a home office; decorative accent and collector's display piece
• Features: Multiple stacked drawers, each faced with highly figured wood showing burl, wavy grain, and oval-eye figure; rounded front corner moldings; flat top surface; low plinth base; each drawer fitted with a dark metal bar pull
• Dimensions: 11 1/2"W x 13 1/2"D x 18"H
• Condition: Excellent

A striking piece of vintage Japanese vintage furniture -- where the natural drama of the wood grain becomes the art.

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.