Wooden Japanese Manaita Cutting Board, Low Display Table, 1960s

Robust traditional Japanese manaita – a large wooden cutting board like the ones once found in restaurant kitchens or at food stalls during matsuri. The wide, low top and simple block feet give it the look of a small table, making it perfect today as a display platform.

Dimensions: height 7 cm, width 62 cm, depth 50.5 cm.

The top is made from a single solid plank with a warm golden-brown tone and subtle grain. Fine knife marks and traces of use run across the surface. The underside is reinforced with two crossbars that also act as low feet, lifting the board just above the floor. The construction is honest and functional, with no superfluous decoration.

In a contemporary interior this manaita works as a beautiful stage: ideal for arranging tableware and ceramics, as a low table for the tea ceremony, or as a base for bonsai, ikebana and still lifes with flowers and fruit. Placed on a sideboard or dining table, it instantly brings a calm Japanese atmosphere into the room.

A simple yet powerful piece of kitchen history, now given a second life as a sober wooden display table – perfect for anyone who loves genuine materials and understated Japanese aesthetics.