Japanese Wooden Merchant Crate, 1940s

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This original Japanese merchant’s crate is a beautiful, sturdy utilitarian piece with a strong, authentic presence.

Dimensions: height 13 cm, … Read more This original Japanese merchant’s crate is a beautiful, sturdy utilitarian piece with a strong, authentic presence.

Dimensions: height 13 cm, width 66 cm, depth 42 cm.

It’s a low, open wooden box with classic dovetail joinery and metal corner protectors—exactly the kind used in shops and warehouses to stack, transport, and display goods. The wood shows attractive grain, time-worn colour variation, and honest signs of use that give it instant character.

Along the sides you’ll find carved markings typical of trade and transport crates. These include the kanji 買 (purchase/procurement) and 産 (production/origin). There is also a clear brand logo reading “Itami”. Together, these marks served as practical sorting and identification information—where it came from, who handled it, and how the contents were labelled within the trade.

Today, it remains both useful and decorative. Use it in the kitchen as a fruit or vegetable crate, as a magazine holder, an open storage tray for towels and textiles, or a stylish organiser for bottles, jars, and everyday items. A unique interior accent with genuine Japanese history—still perfectly functional. See less