Meiji Vases
MEIJI STYLE
From 1868 to 1912, Emperor Mutsuhito oversaw an era of transformation in Japan. Formerly a country of feudalism and isolation, Japan entered an age of modernization influenced by newly established trade and exchange with the West. The Meiji period, or period of “enlightened rule,” also saw the global impact of the East Asian country’s culture. Japanese Meiji furniture was exhibited at expositions from Paris to San Francisco and created for export.
Prior to the Meiji era, furniture was mostly made by commission for the ruling class; now there were new domestic and international markets. European styles like Japonisme appropriated Japanese design while craftsmen in places like Wales and England employed japanning, a varnishing technique that approximated the appearance of lacquer for the surfaces of furnishings.
Meiji furniture made for Japanese homes and buildings constructed in Western styles resulted in taller tables, chairs, cabinets with large drawers and other features. The government invested in areas such as transportation and communication, and because people could freely choose occupations after the restrictions of feudalism, industries of various types were energized by expressive new ideas during those years. Art schools were formed and, for the first time, design was an area of study in the country, leading to the evolution of professional design as a career by the 1890s.
The work of Japanese designers was transmitted widely through lavishly illustrated pattern books that included designs for screens and lacquerware for the home. While screens today may be of use as decorative accents or partitions to ensure privacy in one’s space, Japanese screens were adorned with paintings and were featured in performing arts such as concerts, tea ceremonies and more. The color illustrations that characterize Meiji woodblock prints, a genre of Japanese art that grew out of 17th-century developments in printing and book publishing, depicted the sweeping changes that the era brought to East Asia.
Although it was a time of societal and cultural shifts, a bolstered interest in art and design elevated Japanese craft traditions. From colorful porcelain table lamps with silk shades and hardwood tables decorated with dark lacquer to cabinets featuring iron hardware and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Meiji furniture showcased Japan’s artistic heritage to the world.
Find a collection of antique Japanese Meiji period case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects, wall decorations and more furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: Meiji
Japanese Contemporary Cream Gold Green Porcelain VaseCream Gold by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary golden lion ear porcelain vase, featuring two sculpted panels depicting the creatures of ancient Chinese mythology – the phoenix in full flight an...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Green Black Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, beautifully hand-painted in green, a signed masterpiece by a master porcelain artist of the historic Kutani region of Japan...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Kutani Meiji Period Vases Porcelain Urns Table Lamps Antiques LA light
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A fine quality pair of Meiji period (1868-1912) Japanese Kutani porcelain vases made into lamps, 19TH century. Each with wonderful gold white and orange ground decoration. Inset painted panels depicting courtiers and a child, motifs and borders of exotic flowers. Antiques Dealer Los Angeles CA Beverly Hills. The table lamps emit very soft light, as delicate as the work and love invested in creating them. With handmade shades this pair of lights will add the perfect touch of elegance and refined taste to any room. From a boudoir to a bedroom, a powder room or a living room to an entryway. The perfect light for a side table, on an enfilade, a console or credence
This exquisite pair of Mid Meiji period Japanese Kutani gilded hand painted porcelain vases has two panels in a heart shape depicting very finely painted clouds...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese contemporary Blue Red Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand-painted in vivid red and blue on a stunningly shaped double gourd porcelain body, a signed work by highly acclaimed ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Hand-Glazed Brown Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Jpanese contemporary highly collectible hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase, a museum quality exhibition piece hand-glazed in iron red/brown and turquoise blue on a s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary large Japanese contemporary museum quality gilded porcelain decorative vase, extremely intricately hand-painted in a breathtaking Kutani Mokubei style set against striking high purity gold background. The artist has used yellow, green, purple and blue in this stunning vase. These are the colors that have adorned Kutani porcelain for centuries. This vase is the last in a series of Mokubei-inspired pieces carrying the “Kutani Tousui” imprint, produced in the In the early 21st century.
Aoki Mokubei...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite large Japanese contemporary porcelain decorative vase, intricately hand painted in vivid blue, red and green on a beautifully shaped porcelain body, a signed piece by a mas...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Blue Red White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese Contemporary museum quality decorative porcelain vase in a striking shape, intricately hand painted in blue, white and red to create a signature geometric patt...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Large Contemporary Japanese Whit Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Unique contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase, intricately hand painted in underglazed blue on an elegantly shaped globular porcelain body, a signed piece by widely respecte...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Meiji Satsuma Vase in Lacquered Porcelain with Golden Fish Motif
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Meiji period Satsuma vase in lacquered porcelain with decorative gold fish and red coral motif. The piece was made in circa 1900 and has marks on the bottom. In great vintag...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Japanese Large Bronze Vases with Turtles and Cranes
Located in Hudson, NY
Early Meiji period (1868-1912) bronze vases, incised, detailed designs on each vase. One vase is decorated with a family of cranes at a rocky water's edge, with flowers and an old pine tree. The other vase depicts turtles at a rocky water's edge with bamboo, along with turtles swimming...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Contemporary Red Green Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, hand painted on a stunningly shaped porcelain body in green with mesmerizing grape and vine motif in vibrant red, blue and green, asi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Blue Red White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted on a beautifully shaped fine Arita porcelain body, featuring three attractive flower panels, a sig...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Blue Red Gold Platinum Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary museum-quality decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted in red on a stunningly shaped globular body in deep dark blue and gi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Gold, Platinum
Japanese Red Brown Hand-Glazed Porcelainn Vase by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing large museum-quality hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase, an award-winning exhibition masterpiece by a master artist of the Arita-Imari region of Japan. The artist is a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Platinum
Large Pair of Japanese Imari Porcelain Floriform Trumpet Floor Vases, circa 1900
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of antique Japanese floriform trumpet floor vases in Imari porcelain, Meiji Period, circa 1900.
These beautiful Japanese floriform trumpet floor vases are adorned in polychrome ...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century Cloisonné Enamel Dragon Vase, Meiji Period Japan
Located in London, GB
This intricately decorated antique Japanese vase was crafted in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The vase is of circular form and features a waisted base, large, ovoid body and a lid wi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Enamel
Japanese Contemporary Gold Red Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary massive contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted on a stunningly shaped impressively elegant and large porcelain body in red, blue and ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Gold Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary porcelain vase in gold leaf decorated withhand-paintings in deep blue and beautiful shades of green on a stunningly shaped body. This piece is by a th...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 5
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, platinum-gilded and hand-painted porcelain vase in a stunning cylinder shape and signed by highly acclaimed award-winning m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Platinum
Contemporary Japanese Blue Gilded Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 5
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese large contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately gilded and hand painted in striking shades of blue on a beautifully shaped porcelain body, a signed maste...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Platinum
Contemporary Japanese Hand-Glazed Red Purple Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase in opulent signature wine red and stunning signature shape, a masterpiece by highly acclaimed master of the "...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
"Garlic Top" Long Neck Patinated Bronze Vase
Located in Stamford, CT
"Garlic top" long neck patinated bronze vase, Japan, circa 19th century.
Category
1870s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Bronze
Massive Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Vase, Late 19th Century, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A very large Meiji period bronze vase, possibly for temple use, with high relief design and elephant head handles, late 19th century, Japan.
Of baluster form and unusual size, yet ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Contemporary Platinum Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary porcelain vase in an elegant ovoid shape, a platinum-gilded hand-painted piece signed by highly acclaimed award-winning master porcelain artist in the...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Platinum
Japanese Contemporary Blue Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional very tall Japanese contemporary museum quality porcelain vase with mysterious etchings in stunning detail featuring platinum foils, plus silver based foils for expressing...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Platinum, Silver, Foil
Japanese Contemporary Red White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary hand-painted Imari porcelain vase, the work of acclaimed award-winning master porcelain artist from Imari-Arita region in Japan. This stunning vase features a traditional Arita arabesque pattern in deep red. To this, the artist has added a blue cord borrowed from the Nabeshima porcelain...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
19th century Satsuma Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Savannah, GA
Made for the European market in the Meiji period, this lovely Japanese Satsuma porcelain vase has been converted into a table lamp and mounted on a wooden base. Decorated with delica...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Contemporary Japanese Red Blue White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary museum qulity decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand-painted in vivid red and blue on a beautifully shaped porcelain body, a signed sig...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Pink Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese decorative Porcelain vase, intricately gilded and hand painted in hues of red, blue and green on a striking ovoid body, a signed work by highly acclai...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Gold
Japanese Porcelain Studio Art Vase
Located in Hudson, NY
With lovely magnolia tree in bloom and finch on blue background. Signed: Fukugawa.
Category
20th Century Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Blue Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese Contemporary museum-quality large hand-gilded hand-painted porcelain vase/centerpiece, an exhibition piece by master porcelain artist of the Kutani region of J...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Platinum
Contemporary Japanese Blue Pink Purple Cream Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Outstanding Japanese. cotemporary museum quality decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted on a stunning baluster shape body, a signed masterpiece by highly cele...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Large Pair of 19th Century Japanese Meiji Vases
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large and extraordinary pair of Meiji period yellow porcelain vases with hand painted floral decoration. Wonderful color and presence, truly statement vases. Overall in remarkable ...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Blue Green Yellow Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary museum quality Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted in blue, red and yellow on a stunningly shaped ovoid body, a signed m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Gold
Contemporary Japanese Red Blue Green Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase extremely intricately featuring a traditional Arita "shippo" pattern in deep red, green and blue, a stunning signed mast...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Japanese Vases, 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful pair of Japanese vases. Embossed and chiseled bronze with floral motifs.
Meiji period.
This artwork is shipped from Italy. Under existing legislation, any artwork in Italy...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Meiji Bronze Ikebana Bamboo Branch Vase
Located in New York, NY
A large 1860s Japanese Meiji period bronze Ikebana branch vase in bamboo shape. Good original dark brown patina. Unsigned.
Category
1860s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Tsuiki-Jippo Cloisonné Vase Atrributed to Ogasawara Shuzo
By Ogasawara Shuzo
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
A Japanese tsuiki-jippo cloisonné vase attributed to Ogasawara Shuzo. This stunning vase dates to the Meiji period, the body finely hammered, incised with sparse weed and decorated ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Vases
Meiji Period, Japanese Bronze Jardiniere
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive 19th century Japanese Meiji period bronze jardinière, depicting herding elephants.
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique Japanese Ormolu Mounted Cloisonné Enamel Vases
Located in London, GB
Of ovoid form with a pierced ormolu rim, decorated throughout with birds, flowers and foliage, raised on pierced ormolu feet; the enamel Japanese, the ormolu French, late 19th centur...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Large Meiji Period Cloisonne Enamel Vase
Located in London, GB
Of ovoid form, with a narrow neck and outward flaring rim, on dark blue ground depicting wisteria blossoms in white and purple cascading from the shoulder with birds throughout and w...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Enamel
Japanese High-Relief Bronze Vase
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A bronze vase having a sinuous teardrop form and high-relief naturalistic decoration of swaying orchids and a meandering turtle.
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Bronze
Fine Japanese Porcelain Pumpkin 'Gourd' Shape Painted and Lacquered Large Vase
Located in Torino, IT
Fine Japanese porcelain pumpkin 'Gourd' shape painted and lacquered large vase.
The white porcelain vase is decorated with black lacca panels, fine...
Category
1870s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Antique Large Pottery Vase 1860s-1900s / Flower Vase Wabisabi
By Axel Vervoordt
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old paper-covered pottery made in Japan.
It dates from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s).
This large vase was used to transport and ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Pottery
Late Meiji era, Circa 1870s Miniature Imari Vase, Japanese
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1870s miniature Imari vase, Japanese. Late Meiji era. Elongated, slightly flared neck. Finely painted & gilded with floral reserves.
4 1/8" h., 2 3/8" dia.
Whitehall Antiques ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Antique Pottery Jar 1860-1910s / Flower Vase Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese pottery jar.
It dates from the Meiji period (1800s-1860s).
It is thought to have been used to extinguish charcoal fir...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Pottery
Japanese Meiji Period Satsuma Floor Vases
Located in Newark, England
The vases of large oval form potted from earthenware with pinched neck and base stood upon a splayed circular foot. The vases extensively decorated with a continuous scene with polychrome colours and raised enamels featuring a large central white elephant and various figures. The top and bottom bordered by arched gilt decoration and gilded rims. The bases signed by a three character mark in red 新井造 Arai Zo (made by Arai). The vases date to the Meiji period (1868-1912) and are large in size measuring 46cm High.
Meiji Period is an era of Japanese history that spanned from 1868 to 1912. It was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people began to build a paradigm of a modern, industrialised nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western countries and aesthetics. As a result of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound and it affected the social structure, politics, economy, military, and foreign relations...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Earthenware, Ceramic
Japanese Contemporary Red Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Unique Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, hand-painted in blue underglaze and red on a beautifully shaped porcelain body in pure white, a signed piece by widely celebra...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Porcelain
Old or Antique Japanese Wired Cloisonne Enamel Vase with White Flowers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Japanese cloisonne enamel vase.
Decorated with white (stylized morning glory) flowers throughout.
The morning glory - Asagao in Japanese - signifies the bonds of love.
With a trapezoidal opening and base along with conforming wooden plinth.
Simply a great Japanese enamel vase...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Meiji Period Satsuma, Japanese Art Nouveau, Kinkōzan Decorative Bowl, ca. 1900
Located in New York, NY
Dimensions Height: 2.5 inches Diameter: 12.25 inches
About the object
This unique decorative bowl, most likely, was created at the Kinkozan workshop. Kinkozan pottery...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Bizen Yaki Ware Signed Stamped Meiji Vase Pot
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful gem of a piece. Beautifully fired and colored.
Japanese Bizen-Yaki pottery which dates back hundreds of years (its heyday was in the 16th...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases
Materials
Stoneware
Japanese Contemporary Blue Brown Hand-Glazed porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary museum quality exhibition piece hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase/centerpiece in blue and brown, an award-winning masterpiece by a master arti...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases
Materials
Platinum
Meiji vases for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Meiji vases for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage vases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Meiji vases made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and Japan pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original vases, popular names associated with this style include Ando Jubei, Satsuma, Kinkozan, and Makuzu Kozan. 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 vases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $83 and tops out at $98,000 while the average work can sell for $2,994.
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