Vintage Japanese Ko Dansu Side Cabinet - Cedar | Taisho

A vintage Japanese ko dansu side cabinet. Made from sugi (cedar) wood, with iron hardware. Taisho period, c.1920.

The cabinet is constructed with bold, pronounced cedar grain across all drawer fronts and the carcass, giving it a strong linear quality. Four drawers are arranged across the face -- one full-width at top, one full-width in the middle, and two side-by-side drawers at the base, each with ring pulls and circular lock plates. Iron corner brackets reinforce all edges. A side carry handle is visible, suggesting this piece may have originally been portable. Works well as a bedside cabinet or small entryway chest.

Ko dansu were small household storage cabinets used in Japanese homes for personal items, documents, and valuables. Their compact form and mix of drawers and concealed compartments made them a versatile everyday fixture.