Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 23

Small old Japanese low table made of zelkova wood/modern side table

$1,500
£1,130.90
€1,322.50
CA$2,123.10
A$2,161.32
CHF 1,244.67
MX$26,045.96
NOK 14,447.18
SEK 14,576.31
DKK 9,884.72

About the Item

This mini low table is a one-of-a-kind combination piece, assembled from two old Japanese work tables. Its tabletop and base come from separate zelkova (keyaki) work tables with different origins, brought together to create a construction unlike anything else. The tabletop is made from a single, remarkably thick slab of zelkova—19.5cm thick—that once served as a work table. Notches cut into both ends allowed fingers to grip and lift it, suggesting it was moved from place to place depending on the task at hand. It is not possible to say exactly what kind of craftsman used this table, but this general form is a very orthodox shape for Japanese work tables, one that is seen relatively often. That said, a zelkova work table this large, this thick, and with this much substantial weight rarely comes onto the market, making it a relatively rare find. Despite having served as a work table, it shows little sign of heavy use, and the surface remains in relatively beautiful condition, allowing you to fully appreciate the wood grain that is so distinctive of zelkova. The base is also made of zelkova, taken from a work table of a distinctive shape. It is not clear exactly what kind of work it was originally used for, but it displays a striking grain pattern reminiscent of bamboo shoots—a hallmark figure of zelkova wood—giving it a compelling presence. This base has been finished with a natural lacquer to give it a darkened, near-black tone. By deliberately creating this contrast between the natural wood tone of the zelkova tabletop and the blackened base, the piece has been transformed into a refined mini low table that highlights the beauty of the material itself. Although compact in size, the tabletop alone weighs approximately 27kg, and combined with the base, the piece has excellent stability. It can easily and reliably support items such as a floor lamp or a laptop computer. Its presence fits comfortably into minimal, modern interiors, and blends just as naturally into more industrial, pared-back spaces—making it a piece that suits a wide range of settings. On one side of the tabletop, near the finger notch, you will find traces of old insect damage, but please be assured that there are no active insects at present. Zelkova is an extremely hard wood, so there is no risk of pieces flaking off or the wood crumbling. We hope you will enjoy this trace, too, as part of the accumulated memory of the era this work table has passed through. Above all, the beautiful bamboo-shoot-like grain that spreads across the tabletop—one of zelkova's most defining characteristics—is truly captivating, and this is a piece we can recommend with full confidence. Because combining two old work tables of different origins depends so heavily on timing and chance encounters with the right materials, it is almost impossible to recreate this same pairing again. In that sense, this is a truly once-in-a-lifetime combination piece. We warmly invite you to bring the history and culture carried by these old Japanese work tools into your own space. Size: W51.5cm × D37.3cm × H34-34.5cm Weight: 35.7kg (Tabletop: 26.9kg + Base: 8.8kg) Item No.: TA145 [Our Social Role] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We are a specialized team dealing in antiques and vintage items, comprised of stores based on three distinct brands. While focusing on Japanese items, we also offer a carefully curated selection of attractive goods from around the world—each evoking the culture and history of its country of origin. Unlike the traditional Japanese antique furniture and art that have been appreciated overseas until now, we shine a light on the tools and furniture that were used for many years in ordinary Japanese homes and farmhouses. These objects have gained a unique charm over time, their beauty deepened by the history accumulated through daily life. In today's world, however, many of these precious items are discarded during home demolitions. We are committed to reassessing their value and passing them on to future generations. Drawing from our extensive experience—having seen tens of thousands of items through direct purchases, markets, and auction houses—we carefully select and present only the most captivating pieces. This is something made possible only through the years of knowledge and expertise we have cultivated. Rather than focusing on the widely known facets of Japanese art and culture, we highlight the subtle beauty born from the everyday life of common people. It is this rediscovered beauty, steeped in history, that we strive to share with the world.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 13.59 in (34.5 cm)Width: 20.28 in (51.5 cm)Depth: 14.69 in (37.3 cm)
  • Style:
    Showa (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1920-1960
  • Condition:
    This is a combination table assembled from two old Japanese work tables: the tabletop and the base originally come from separate pieces. Please be sure to read the description regarding the condition of the item.
  • Seller Location:
    Sammu-shi, JP
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: TA1451stDibs: LU5487251352672

More From This Seller

View All
Mid-20th Century Old Japanese Keyaki Wood Craftsman's Work Table TA139

Mid-20th Century Old Japanese Keyaki Wood Craftsman's Work Table TA139

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an antique work table once used by a Japanese craftsman, made of solid keyaki (Japanese zelkova) wood. It is believed to date from around 1950 to 1980. The keyaki timber is e...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Hardwood

Antique Japanese wooden stool / 1900-1925 / withered coffee table

Antique Japanese wooden stool / 1900-1925 / withered coffee table

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old wooden mortar made in Japan during the Taisho to early Showa period, in the first half of the 20th century. Originally, it was a traditional Japanese tool used for pou...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Stools

Materials

Wood

Early-Mid 20th Century Japanese Wabi-Sabi Wooden Low Table / Display Stand TA140

Early-Mid 20th Century Japanese Wabi-Sabi Wooden Low Table / Display Stand TA140

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a wooden low table made of sugi (Japanese cedar) or pine. It is thought to have been crafted from very old reclaimed timber — antique wood dating from the late 19th to early ...

Category

20th Century Japanese Showa Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Softwood

Antique Old Japanese wooden low table / 20th century / Display stand/ TA141

Antique Old Japanese wooden low table / 20th century / Display stand/ TA141

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old Japanese wooden trough, believed to have been made around the 20th century. It is thought to be a type of feed manger, once used to hold fodder or straw for cattle and...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Showa Sofa Tables

Materials

Softwood, Pine

Vintage Japanese wooden low table / 1950's / Sofa table / Wabi sabi / Mingei

Vintage Japanese wooden low table / 1950's / Sofa table / Wabi sabi / Mingei

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a Japanese vintage keyaki wood low table, believed to date from the mid-Showa period, circa 1950s to 1960s. The material is keyaki, Japanese zelkova, a wood that has long be...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sofa Tables

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique Low Table 1860s-1920s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi

Japanese Antique Low Table 1860s-1920s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi

By Axel Vervoordt

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a rare old Japanese wooden low table, believed to date from the late Meiji period to the Taisho period, circa 1860s to 1920s. The tabletop is made from a single solid slab o...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables

Materials

Wood

You May Also Like

Large Dug Out Japanese Cedar Coffee/Sofa Table Wabi Sabi (5)

Large Dug Out Japanese Cedar Coffee/Sofa Table Wabi Sabi (5)

Located in London, GB

A unique, large dug-out Japanese coffee table. Heavily patinated cedar op on heavily patinated carved dug-out cedar base. Made using 19th C. Japanese elements in our London workshop....

Category

Antique 1890s Japanese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Cedar

Large Dug Out Japanese Cedar Coffee/Sofa Table Wabi Sabi (4)

Large Dug Out Japanese Cedar Coffee/Sofa Table Wabi Sabi (4)

Located in London, GB

A unique, dug-out Japanese coffee table/sofa table. Patinated cedar top on heavily patinated dug-out cedar base. Made using 19th C. Japanese elements in our London workshop. H56cm x...

Category

Antique 1890s Japanese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Cedar

Large Dug Out Japanese Cedar Coffee/Sofa Table Wabi-Sabi (6)

Large Dug Out Japanese Cedar Coffee/Sofa Table Wabi-Sabi (6)

Located in London, GB

A unique, large dug-out Japanese coffee table. Heavily patinated cedar top on heavily patinated carved dug-out cedar base. Made using 19th C. Japanese elements in our London workshop...

Category

Antique 1890s Japanese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Vintage Low Table in Cedar and Ash, Showa Period, Wabi Sabi, Mingei

Japanese Vintage Low Table in Cedar and Ash, Showa Period, Wabi Sabi, Mingei

Located in Hitachiomiya-shi, 08

Japanese Vintage Low Table, Showa Period, Wabi Sabi, Mingei This Japanese vintage low table was crafted in the Showa Period (1926-1989). Made from a combination of sugi (Japanese c...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Ash, Cedar, Lacquer

Japanese Two-Tone Coffee Table, Wood Construction, Organic Design

Japanese Two-Tone Coffee Table, Wood Construction, Organic Design

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A Japanese two-tone coffee table crafted from carefully joined wood, highlighting the beauty of contrasting grains and tones. Set on a natural trunk base, the piece balances organic ...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood