Vintage Japanese Kabazaiku Cherry Bark Small Tansu, Mid-Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0394

Vintage Japanese Kabazaiku Cherry Bark Small Tansu, Mid-Showa 1946-1965 | SKU: 26J-0394

A rare small-format tansu clad in authentic Kakunodate cherry bark -- one of Japan's most celebrated folk craft traditions.

A kabazaiku tansu is a small personal storage chest surfaced in yamazakura (wild cherry) bark, a craft perfected in Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, where artisans have practiced the technique for over 200 years. The bark is hand-pressed and burnished onto a wood core, producing the distinctive mottled amber-and-mahogany patterning visible across every panel of this chest. Each piece of bark is unique, meaning no two kabazaiku items are ever identical -- a quality prized by collectors of vintage Japanese craft and mingei folk art alike. The maker's label affixed to the side panel confirms this chest's Kakunodate origin, lending it both provenance and regional collectibility. The asymmetric drawer layout -- a pair of upper drawers above a single wider lower drawer -- is a hallmark of traditional kobako-style small tansu design, and the cast metal bail handles with their fluted chrysanthemum rosettes add a refined decorative touch consistent with mid-Showa production quality.

At just 11 inches wide, this handcrafted Japanese tansu is perfectly scaled for a dresser top, vanity, or home office desk. Its warm tortoiseshell-like surface makes it a natural fit for Japandi style interiors or wabi-sabi aesthetic arrangements. Use it as a jewelry box to keep rings, earrings, and watches beautifully organized in the lacquered red drawer interiors, or as a desktop organizer for stationery, cards, and small keepsakes. It also makes a striking bathroom organizer for storing hair accessories and personal items in style. With its combination of regional rarity, handmade character, and compact footprint, this piece is a truly unique gift for collectors, Japanophiles, or anyone who appreciates the intersection of function and folk art.

• Origin: Kakunodate, Akita Prefecture, Japan
• Era: 1946-1965 (Mid Showa)
• Material: Wood core surfaced in kabazaiku (yamazakura wild cherry bark); red-lacquered drawer interiors; cast metal bail handles with fluted rosette mounts
• Use: Small personal storage tansu for accessories, sewing notions, or valuables
• Modern Use: Jewelry box or vanity organizer; desktop storage for a home office; decorative accent chest for bedroom or bathroom
• Features: Distinctive hand-burnished kabazaiku cherry bark exterior with mottled amber-on-mahogany patterning; asymmetric drawer layout with a pair of upper drawers and a wider lower drawer; red-lacquered interiors; cast metal bail handles with chrysanthemum-form rosettes; original Kakunodate maker's label on side panel; low plinth base
• Dimensions: 11"W x 8"D x 8"H
• Condition: Excellent

A one-of-a-kind piece of vintage Japanese craft -- where the living texture of wild cherry bark meets centuries of Akita artisan tradition.

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.