Cupboard - Wood - Japan - Old Karimoku

Vintage Old Karimoku Japanese Mid-Century Wooden Display Cabinet – Authentic Mizuya Tansu Showcase with Slotted Doors for Japandi Interior


Description
An extraordinary vintage Japanese display cabinet (Mizuya Tansu), crafted during the Showa era by Japan’s leading furniture manufacturer, Old Karimoku (featuring the authentic gold-letter maker’s mark badge).


About Old Karimoku (オールドカリモク):
Founded in Aichi Prefecture in 1940, Karimoku started as a precision woodworking factory before evolving into Japan's premier furniture maker. Items produced between the 1960s and 1980s are celebrated today as "Old Karimoku." Renowned for combining traditional Japanese joinery with European Mid-Century Modern functionality, Old Karimoku pieces are globally prized for their exceptional wood selection, structural durability, and timeless aesthetic.


Design & Craftsmanship:
This impressive architectural showcase exhibits a rich reddish-brown wood grain with traditional slatted paneling (Koshi-do). The upper section houses a four-panel slatted cabinet above a spacious central showcase with glass sliding doors, ideal for displaying fine ceramics or glassware. The lower section features smooth-sliding drawers and versatile storage compartments.


Interior Appeal:
As Japandi and Japanese Mid-Century Modern designs continue to dominate Western interior trends, authentic signed furniture by Old Karimoku is exceptionally sought after. This cabinet serves as a magnificent statement centerpiece for contemporary living rooms, dining areas, or modern lofts.


Condition:
Exhibits authentic vintage wear consistent with age and use. Natural signs of history include light finish rubbing and small paint/wood surface chips along the frame edges, door margins, and internal corners, as well as minor natural wood seam gaps on top. The glass sliding doors operate with a slightly stiff movement typical for vintage wooden tracks. Overall structural frame and glass panels remain sound and solid. Please carefully inspect all close-up photographs to evaluate the detailed physical condition before bidding.


Material & Wood Craftsmanship:
Constructed from high-grade natural Japanese hardwood (incorporating solid timber framing and select patterned veneers such as Zelkova/Keyaki or Japanese Chestnut), this cabinet features a lustrous reddish-brown finish that mimics traditional Japanese lacquerwork (Urushi). The upper showcase incorporates thick clear glass sliding panels set within precision-milled wooden tracks, while the drawers and cabinet doors are fitted with original vintage hardware and hand-carved wooden knobs.


Period
1970s–1980s (Showa Period / Old Karimoku Era)
Dimensions & Estimated Weight