Why are Japanese dining tables low?

The chabudai, or the short Japanese dining table makes the most of limited space by serving many functions in a Japanese home. They often feature collapsible legs so they can be stored. Diners sit on pillows on the floor, rather than chairs, again freeing up more space by not having bulky chairs. Shop a collection of Japanese furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

What is a Japanese low screen used for?

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Japanese Low Bench

Wooden Coffee Table Bench

Japanese Displays Stands

Wabi Sabi Low Table

Urushi Lacquer

Japanese Mid Century Couch

Old Japanese Cedar

Japanese Wood Benches

Japan Bench

Old Japanese wooden low bench/20th century/wooden chair/stool

$800

H 9.14 in W 24.02 in D 16.03 in

Old Japanese wooden low bench/20th century/wooden chair/stool

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

spaces, including Japanese-style, natural, modern, and industrial. It is recommended as a low table for

Category

20th Century Japanese Taisho Benches

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Antique Low Table or Bench 1900s-1940s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi

$1,700

H 10.24 in W 74.02 in D 15.75 in

Japanese Antique Low Table or Bench 1900s-1940s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi

Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP

This is an old Japanese low table. Originally used as furniture suited to a floor-seated lifestyle

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Side Tables

Materials

Wood, Pine

Japanese antique Black Urushi low display stand, wabi sabi side table or bench

$1,320

H 17.33 in W 35.63 in D 11.62 in

Japanese antique Black Urushi low display stand, wabi sabi side table or bench

Located in 常陸大宮市, JP

Japanese antique low display stand manufactured circa 1880s - 1910s (Mid to late Meiji period

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Side Tables

Materials

Wood

1920s-40s Japanese wabi sabi large low center table, display table or bench

$1,900

H 16.15 in W 67.33 in D 32.29 in

1920s-40s Japanese wabi sabi large low center table, display table or bench

Located in 常陸大宮市, JP

New finds from an old elementary school in Ibaraki pref., Japan. This vintage low table - or bench

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Organic Modern Center Tables

Materials

Cypress

Recent Sales

Japanese Inspired Low Wood & Aluminum Bench

Unavailable

H 19.5 in W 71.5 in D 16 in

Japanese Inspired Low Wood & Aluminum Bench

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Category

Vintage 1960s American Modern Benches

Materials

Aluminum

Japanese-Style Low Table or Altar Bench in Fish Leather Fabric

Unavailable

H 16.5 in W 71 in D 36 in

Japanese-Style Low Table or Altar Bench in Fish Leather Fabric

Located in Blacksburg, VA

Japanese-Style Low Table or Altar Bench Upholstered in Fish Leather Fabric. This piece of Japanese

Category

Vintage 1960s Unknown Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Wood

Danish Modern Noguchi Style Low Japanese Bench or Stool

Sold

H 13 in W 21.5 in D 20 in

Danish Modern Noguchi Style Low Japanese Bench or Stool

By Isamu Noguchi

Located in San Diego, CA

Great craftsmanship on this solid teak and beechwood combination, low stool solid and sturdy no

Category

20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Benches

Japanese antique wooden low table / 3-step change table / wooden bench

Sold

H 13.59 in W 34.89 in D 16.26 in

Japanese antique wooden low table / 3-step change table / wooden bench

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a low table that combines a wooden box made in the late Edo period (1800s) in Japan and a

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Edo Sofa Tables

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique Primitive Sofa Table / Bench Low Table / Wabi-Sabi Mingei

Sold

H 15.75 in W 59.85 in D 13.78 in

Japanese Antique Primitive Sofa Table / Bench Low Table / Wabi-Sabi Mingei

Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture

This is a table that combines old Japanese trees and farm tools. The top plate is made of

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Primitive Sofa Tables

Materials

Wood, Chestnut

Japanese Old Low Table or Bench 1950s-1970s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi

Sold

H 12.8 in W 47.25 in D 20.08 in

Japanese Old Low Table or Bench 1950s-1970s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi

Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP

This piece of furniture can be used as a low table or a bench, made in Japan. It was made in the

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Side Tables

Materials

Cedar

Japanese Antique Low Table 1900s-1940s / Bench Sofa Table Wabisabi

Sold

H 10.44 in W 66.15 in D 25.2 in

Japanese Antique Low Table 1900s-1940s / Bench Sofa Table Wabisabi

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

Very old Japanese low table. The furniture dates from the early Showa period (1900s-1940s). Made

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Sofa Tables

Materials

Bamboo, Cedar

Japanese old wooden low table/1960/coffee table/wooden bench

Sold

H 15.95 in W 41.82 in D 15.6 in

Japanese old wooden low table/1960/coffee table/wooden bench

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

I would like to introduce you to a very cool low table. The top plate is an old work board used by

Category

Late 20th Century Japanese Showa Center Tables

Materials

Beech

Japanese Antique Primitive Low Table 1920s-1940s / Bench Sofa Table Wabisabi

Sold

H 8.67 in W 69.1 in D 11.03 in

Japanese Antique Primitive Low Table 1920s-1940s / Bench Sofa Table Wabisabi

By Axel Vervoordt

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

is an old Japanese primitive style low table. It is a furniture from the early Showa period (1920s

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Primitive Sofa Tables

Materials

Cedar, Pine

Japanese Old Wooden Display Stand/Low Table/Primitive Bench/20th Century

Sold

H 36.19 in W 9.34 in D 10.44 in

Japanese Old Wooden Display Stand/Low Table/Primitive Bench/20th Century

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

, you can use it as a low table or bench. The variety of ways you can use it because it is a simple

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Sofa Tables

Materials

Wood

Old Japanese wooden low table/wooden bench/Showa era/feed trough

Sold

H 10.08 in W 49.22 in D 16.15 in

Old Japanese wooden low table/wooden bench/Showa era/feed trough

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is an old Japanese wooden feeding trough (kaiba-oke) made around the 20th century. It is

Category

20th Century Japanese Showa Sofa Tables

Materials

Cedar

Vintage Japanese Window style Low Platform Slat Bench Daybed Plant Stand Nelson

Sold

H 7.25 in W 47.75 in D 24.25 in

Vintage Japanese Window style Low Platform Slat Bench Daybed Plant Stand Nelson

Located in Hyattsville, MD

Assemblage of a Japanese bonsai table. Constructed with vintage stained long grain pine in a

Category

Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Pedestals

Materials

Pine

One Wide Board Elm Wood Coffee Table With Live Edge

Sold

H 20 in W 65.5 in D 31 in

One Wide Board Elm Wood Coffee Table With Live Edge

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A 200 year old Northern Japanese elm low table/bench. Edo period. One slab of live edge wood atop

Category

Antique Early 19th Century Japanese Edo Coffee and Cocktail Tables

Materials

Elm

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Japanese Antique Large Medicine Chest 1874s / Tansu Drawer Wabi-Sabi

$8,000

H 43.71 in W 57.49 in D 11.42 in

Japanese Antique Large Medicine Chest 1874s / Tansu Drawer Wabi-Sabi

Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP

This is a large antique Japanese medicine chest (kusuri-tansu). The overwhelming sense of volume and the disciplined repetition of its many drawers elevate it beyond the realm of ord...

Category

Antique 1870s Japanese Meiji Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Iron

1870s-1920s Japanese antique Yoshino cedar garden exterior door rustic wabi sabi

$1,650

H 67.13 in W 33.27 in D 1.78 in

1870s-1920s Japanese antique Yoshino cedar garden exterior door rustic wabi sabi

Located in 常陸大宮市, JP

New finds from the lumber dearer's house, near Yoshino, Nara pref., Japan. This door - not sliding door, was made for exterior door or the garden furniture circa 1870s-1920s, Meiji t...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Rustic Doors and Gates

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Japanese Antique Two-Sided Work Table with Drawers & Sliding Doors, Taisho era

$4,000

H 34.18 in W 53.75 in D 34.97 in

Japanese Antique Two-Sided Work Table with Drawers & Sliding Doors, Taisho era

Located in Hitachiomiya-shi, 08

This substantial Japanese work table dates to the Taisho period (1912–1926) and is designed to be used from both sides, a configuration that is rarely encountered. At the center of ...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Industrial and Work Tables

Materials

Wood

Very old Japanese excavated earthenware/Wabi Sabi vase

$1,300

H 8.82 in Dm 8.15 in

Very old Japanese excavated earthenware/Wabi Sabi vase

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is earthenware excavated in Japan. It has a very beautiful shape and is well balanced. The color of the pottery is light brown because it is fired at a low temperature. Dependin...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier Japanese Other Vases

Materials

Pottery

Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal

$2,820 / item

H 30 in W 42 in D 42 in

Classic Empire Center Table, Oatmeal

Located in Westwood, NJ

A Classic Empire style grey cerused oak oatmeal stained center table with a carved ogee edge, raised on an octagonal pedestal base. Dimensions: 42" W x 42" D x 30" H. Clearance: 27"

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Empire Center Tables

Materials

Wood

Vintage Japanese Cabinet, Sugi Wood, Glass Doors, Showa Era, 1950s

$1,600

H 47.8 in W 34.34 in D 15.75 in

Vintage Japanese Cabinet, Sugi Wood, Glass Doors, Showa Era, 1950s

Located in Hitachiomiya-shi, 08

This vintage cabinet was crafted in the early Showa Era (1926–1950) from Japanese sugi (cedar) wood, with a natural finish that showcases the wood's authentic grain and warm characte...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Showa Cupboards

Materials

Cedar, Glass

1860s-90s wabi sabi Japanese thick black sliding lattice door w/ panel

$700

H 69.61 in W 33.86 in D 1.26 in

1860s-90s wabi sabi Japanese thick black sliding lattice door w/ panel

Located in 常陸大宮市, JP

New finds from the old-established family house in Ibaraki pref, Kanto area, Japan. Had been kept with care at the 2nd floor to avoid the humidity , even it was used as the exterior ...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century Japanese Edo Doors and Gates

Materials

Wood

Noble Collection Board

$6,800

H 68.9 in W 38 in D 16.93 in

Noble Collection Board

By Japanese Studio

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

We have rethought the design of the standard kevint shelf and given it a modern twist. The word "kevint" is German for "cabinet". In Japan, it refers to a medicine cabinet. It is sai...

Category

2010s Japanese French Provincial Cabinets

Materials

Iron

1950s Japanese vintage solid wood rectangular open shelf unit wabi sabi japandi

$1,810

H 28.27 in W 71.46 in D 13.27 in

1950s Japanese vintage solid wood rectangular open shelf unit wabi sabi japandi

Located in 常陸大宮市, JP

New finds from a residence in Ibaraki pref., Japan. This vintage, open back rectangular shelving unit was manufactured in circa 1950s to 70s, estimate from the style & material. Mad...

Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Organic Modern Shelves

Materials

Wood, Hardwood

Japanese Tansu Chest, Japan, Early 20th Century

$1,300

H 50.4 in W 37.01 in D 16.74 in

Japanese Tansu Chest, Japan, Early 20th Century

Located in Tokyo, Tokyo

A finely crafted Japanese tansu chest, composed of three separate stacking elements: a base plinth, a section of drawers, and a top cabinet with hinged doors concealing sliding trays...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Materials

Wood

Early 20th Century French Elm Farm Table or Dining Table with Bread Board

$3,995

H 30 in W 98.5 in D 33.25 in

Early 20th Century French Elm Farm Table or Dining Table with Bread Board

Located in Fayetteville, AR

This early twentieth century artisan-made farm table or dining table is constructed of solid elm and features a bread board on one side. Resting on sturdy square legs, this handsome ...

Category

Early 20th Century French Dining Room Tables

Materials

Elm

Pair of Art Deco Armchairs by Jindřich Halabala, 1940s

$2,825 / set

H 31.11 in W 27.17 in D 35.04 in

Pair of Art Deco Armchairs by Jindřich Halabala, 1940s

By Jindřich Halabala

Located in Praha, CZ

This elegant pair of Art Deco armchairs was designed by Jindřich Halabala and produced in Czechoslovakia during the 1940s. The design showcases Halabala’s signature bent beechwood ar...

Category

Vintage 1940s Czech Art Deco Armchairs

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Beech

Vintage Japanese Cedar Cabinet with Glass Sliding Doors, Circa 1930

$2,000

H 34.49 in W 48.9 in D 16.07 in

Vintage Japanese Cedar Cabinet with Glass Sliding Doors, Circa 1930

Located in Hitachiomiya-shi, 08

This vintage cabinet was crafted in the Early Showa Period (1926–). Made from Japanese cedar with a black finish, the surface shows a gently lived-in patina that lends quiet wabi-sa...

Category

Vintage 1930s Japanese Showa Cabinets

Materials

Cedar, Glass

Japanese Antique Wabi-Sabi Shigaraki Jar Early Edo period, 17th century

$1,500

H 22.84 in Dm 19.3 in

Japanese Antique Wabi-Sabi Shigaraki Jar Early Edo period, 17th century

Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP

This is a Ko-Shigaraki jar. Its presence feels as though the raw power of the earth itself has been captured in form, embodying the fundamental beauty inherent in ancient Japanese ce...

Category

Antique 17th Century Japanese Edo Vases

Materials

Pottery

D7 Japanese Antiques, two lattice doors, fittings

$1,600

H 69.69 in W 35.44 in D 1.19 in

D7 Japanese Antiques, two lattice doors, fittings

Located in Niiza, JP

Material: Cedar wood, etc. Size per piece: Width 890 x Height 1770 x Depth 30 mm, Weight 6 kg per piece Estimated Packaging (9 mm thick plywood sandwiched): 14 cm x 97 cm x 185 cm, W...

Category

Antique 19th Century Japanese Antiquities

Materials

Wood, Cedar

Pair of Park Night Stands in Noir Oxblood Lacquer by Yaniv Chen for Lemon

$6,004 / set

H 24.01 in W 18.12 in D 14.18 in

Pair of Park Night Stands in Noir Oxblood Lacquer by Yaniv Chen for Lemon

By Lemon

Located in Amsterdam, NL

The Park nightstand is the epitome of exquisite craftsmanship, featuring meticulously proportioned dimensions and exceptional detailing that make it an ideal bedside companion. Our f...

Category

2010s South African Minimalist Pedestals

Materials

Lacquer

Tables Under $2,000

Antique and Vintage Tables

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Japanese Low Bench For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the Japanese low bench you’re looking for. Frequently made of wood, carrara marble and marble, every Japanese low bench was constructed with great care. Find 9 options for an antique or vintage Japanese low bench now, or shop our selection of 20 modern versions for a more contemporary example of this long-cherished piece. Your living room may not be complete without a Japanese low bench — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 21st Century. A Japanese low bench is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in modern and mid-century modern styles are sought with frequency. A well-made Japanese low bench has long been a part of the offerings for many furniture designers and manufacturers, but those produced by Alabama Sawyer, Please Wait to be Seated and Rui Pereira are consistently popular.

How Much is a Japanese Low Bench?

A Japanese low bench can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $3,063, while the lowest priced sells for $525 and the highest can go for as much as $30,345.

Finding the Right Tables for You

The right vintage, new or antique tables can help make any space in your home stand out.

Over the years, the variety of tables available to us, as well as our specific needs for said tables, has broadened. Today, with all manner of these must-have furnishings differing in shape, material and style, any dining room table can shine just as brightly as the guests who gather around it.

Remember, when shopping for a dining table, it must fit your dining area, and you need to account for space around the table too — think outside the box, as an oval dining table may work for tighter spaces. Alternatively, if you’ve got the room, a Regency-style dining table can elevate any formal occasion at mealtime.

Innovative furniture makers and designers have also redefined what a table can be. Whether it’s an unconventional Ping-Pong table, a brass side table to display your treasured collectibles or a Louis Vuitton steamer trunk to add an air of nostalgia to your loft, your table can say a lot about you.

The visionary work of French designer Xavier Lavergne, for example, includes tables that draw on the forms of celestial bodies as often as they do aquatic creatures or fossils. Elsewhere, Italian architect Gae Aulenti, who looked to Roman architecture in crafting her stately Jumbo coffee table, created clever glass-topped mobile coffee tables that move on bicycle tires or sculpted wood wheels for Fontana Arte.

Coffee and cocktail tables can serve as a room’s centerpiece with attention-grabbing details and colors. Glass varieties will keep your hardwood flooring and dazzling area rugs on display, while a marble or stone coffee table in a modern interior can showcase your prized art books and decorative objects. A unique vintage desk or writing table can bring sophistication and even a bit of spice to your work life.

No matter your desired form or function, a quality table for your living space is a sound investment. On 1stDibs, browse a collection of vintage, new and antique bedside tables, mid-century end tables and more .

Questions About Japanese Low Bench

Why are Japanese dining tables low?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
The chabudai, or the short Japanese dining table makes the most of limited space by serving many functions in a Japanese home. They often feature collapsible legs so they can be stored. Diners sit on pillows on the floor, rather than chairs, again freeing up more space by not having bulky chairs. Shop a collection of Japanese furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
What is a Japanese low screen used for?
1 Answer
Lotus GalleryMarch 17, 2021
A Japanese low screen was traditionally used while seated upon the floor. The low screen would block wind and drafts, provide limited privacy, and are often decorated with seasonal themes.

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