Antique Japanese Mizuya Tansu Kitchen Cabinet Taishō Period 61.5"H

Antique Japanese Mizuya Tansu Kitchen Cabinet Taishō Period 61.5"H

Japan, Taishō period, circa 1920s

Dimensions: 61.5"H × 31"W × 15"D

This antique Japanese mizuya tansu (kitchen storage cabinet) dates to the Taishō period and reflects the transitional aesthetics and practical craftsmanship of early 20th-century Japan. Traditionally used in kitchens and tea preparation spaces, mizuya cabinets were designed for organized storage of dishes, trays, and utensils, combining sliding doors, drawers, and ventilated compartments.

The cabinet features a hinoki (Japanese cypress) face, prized for its fine grain, light tone, and resistance to moisture, paired with a sugi (Japanese cedar) case and interior, valued for its light weight and aromatic qualities. The upper section includes sliding panel doors with woven reed or slatted inserts for airflow, while the midsection offers drawers and lattice-front compartments intended for drying or storing tableware. The lower cabinet provides enclosed storage behind solid sliding doors.

Iron hardware is simple and functional, consistent with Taishō-era utilitarian design. The overall form balances elegance and restraint, with warm patina and visible grain developed through decades of use.

Condition is consistent with age and use, showing surface wear, patina, and minor marks typical of an authentic early 20th-century working cabinet. Structurally sound and well-proportioned, suitable for use or display in a kitchen, dining space, or as distinctive storage in a modern interior.

Please contact us for details on shipping this tansu via white-glove service.