Edo Animal Sculptures
EDO STYLE
Edo furniture was created during a flourishing time for the decorative arts owing to the stability of the Tokugawa shogunate rule in Japan. Spanning from 1603 to 1867, this era of peace and economic growth supported artistic advancements in lacquer, woodblock printing, porcelain and other artisanal trades. Because the country was largely isolated, there was little outside influence, leading to centuries of exceptional attention to the design of its furnishings and the quality of its traditional arts.
Unlike during the Meiji period that followed, with an increase in domestic and international markets, furniture during the Edo period was predominately commissioned by the ruling class, although people from across social groups benefited from the burgeoning metropolitan hubs for artisanal trades. For instance, Kyoto became a major center for lacquer art. Most furniture pieces were made from wood such as cedar or ash, including the era’s sashimono cabinets, which involved fine joinery and were rooted in the Heian period.
Sashimono cabinets, which were built by master craftsmen in a range of different wood types owing to the various trees that populate Japan, occasionally featured a stack of slender drawers as well as sliding doors. They were popular with everyone from samurai to kabuki actors. Tansu storage chests crafted from wood with metal fittings were also common in Edo-period homes. Some were designed to be easily portable while others were made to double as staircases.
Painted folding screens, called byōbu, were also fashionable, with Japanese artists inspired by nature, literature and scenes of history and daily life to create vivid works. In Buddhist temples and the palatial homes of the aristocratic class, fusuma, or large sliding panels, would sometimes be adorned with gold or silver leaf. These dividers allowed interiors to change throughout the day, closing in small spaces for personal use or reflecting candlelight to illuminate communal spaces after dark.
Find a collection of Edo tables, lighting, decorative objects, wall decorations and more furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: Edo
Japanese Antique Wooden Lion Mask Engraving Edo Period/1603-1868/Shrine Festival
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese "si-si" mask made in the middle to late Edo period.
(Japanese ``si-si'' is an imaginary animal that deifies a lion.)
It is thought that materials such as...
Category
18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Edo Period Bronze Eagle
Located in Guadalajara, Jalisco, MX
Beautiful bronze eagle from the edo period, hand carved.
Category
17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Edo Carved Wood Foo Dogs
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Edo period pair of foo dogs in delicately carved wood. The dogs have uniquely expressive faces, one with open mouth, the other with closed mouth ...
Category
1750s Japanese Antique Edo Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Japanese Momoyama Carved Wooden Shinto Temple Lion Dog Figures
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Momoyama period carved wooden Shinto temple entry figures in the form of royal lion dogs seated in traditional pose. The pieces have had some co...
Category
17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
Pair of Bronze Geese
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Important pair of Japanese bronze birds in the form of geese masterfully crafted. One with a closed beak the other open, both with quirky expressi...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Animal Sculptures
Materials
Bronze
Rare Buddhist Carved Base for a Statue, Edo Period, 17th Century
Located in Prahran, Victoria
Rare and unusual hexagonal Buddhist base for a statue with a recumbent shi-shi (guardian lion dog), gilded and carved with inset glass eyes and painted with mineral pigments.
Most likely the base to a sculpture of Monju Bosatsu...
Category
Mid-17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Animal Sculptures
Materials
Wood
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Previously Available Items
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Japanese antique Wood Carving Horse 1800s-1900s/Sculpture Figurine Wabisabi art
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
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Located in Austin, TX
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Japanese Hand-Wrought Iron Escutcheon Plate from a Tansu Chest
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Our hard to find large antique 19th century ...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Animal Sculptures
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Edo animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Edo animal sculptures for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage animal sculptures created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Edo animal sculptures made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and Japan pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for animal sculptures differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,000 and tops out at $19,950 while the average work can sell for $4,500.