Japanese work and storage table – Showa period (c. 1950-1979) #101

Japanese work table with storage space – Showa period (c. 1950-1979) Dimensions: Folded table: Length: 140 cm Depth: 85 cm Height: 80 cm. Extendable table: Length: 183 cm Depth: 85 cm Height: 80 cm. Style: Showa. Materials and techniques: Shorea (Shorea spp.), Japanese ash (Fraxinus mandshurica var. Japonica), Plywood. Place of origin: Japan. Period: Late Showa era. Date of manufacture: Circa 1950-1979. Condition: Good. Wear is consistent with age and use. Functional Japanese table for domestic use, made with a mixed structure of hardwood and plywood, adopting a hybrid format between a work table and tansu. It features sliding doors, open interior shelves, and an overhanging side wing, and is dated to the Shōwa period. Designed as a central piece of furniture, this item was intended for work, preparation, support, or storage in a domestic setting, a family workshop, or a semi-professional space. This type of furniture reflects the logic of the early Shōwa era, where functionality, durability, and cost-effectiveness took precedence over decorative pursuits. The construction combines Shorea (Shorea spp.) and Japanese ash (Fraxinus mandshurica var. Japonica) in the structural and visible elements — frames, legs, supports, and load-bearing parts — while plywood is used for panels and secondary surfaces. This combination is characteristic of the time, when the introduction of plywood allowed for resource optimisation without compromising the overall strength. The wood exhibits a dark, deep, and very stable patina, with visible wear on the upper surface, edges, and contact areas, resulting from continuous use. UNIQUE PIECE.