What are characteristics of Japanese art?

There are a variety of different types of Japanese art. One of the oldest and most admired forms of Japanese art is the art of calligraphy, which originated in the sixth or seventh century. Another type of art, ukiyo-e, is the art of the woodblock print, which depicts scenes of female beauties; kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers and more. You’ll find a variety of Japanese artwork from some of the world’s top art dealers on 1stDibs.

What is the focus of Japanese art?

The focus of Japanese art varies. Many traditional Japanese artists sought to capture the beauty of nature in their works. However, other Japanese artists have produced work with Buddhist themes, and contemporary artists working in the country have been inspired by a range of subjects, from socioeconomic and political issues to pop culture. On 1stDibs, explore a large selection of Japanese art.

What is the writing on Japanese art?

The writing on Japanese art is calligraphy art called shodo. It uses Japanese kanji and kana characters. There are a variety of different shodo styles of art, including Kaisho, which is the basic, foundational form of the art. On 1stDibs, find a range of Japanese calligraphy art from top sellers..

What is the Japanese sea art called?

What the Japanese sea art is called depends on its type. Many examples of sea art from Japan are called ukiyo-e. This term refers to woodblock prints made during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai is arguably the most famous ukiyo-e print depicting the sea. On 1stDibs, find a wide variety of Japanese woodblock prints.

How can you tell if art is Japanese or Chinese?

To tell if art is Japanese or Chinese, study the piece's characteristics. With paintings, Chinese artists often use more color and tend to fill their entire canvases, while Japanese artists often include more negative space and choose subtler colors. There are also differences between the brushstrokes typical of traditional Chinese and Japanese art. In Japanese paintings, brushstrokes are often short and sharp. On the other hand, Chinese paintings often display longer, more fluid brushstrokes. Learning about the defining features of various art forms and periods and looking at examples of pieces made by Japanese and Chinese artists can help you learn to spot subtle differences. Explore a diverse assortment of Japanese and Chinese art on 1stDibs.

What is the most popular Japanese art style?

Many art styles originated in Japan and grew in popularity over the years. Some of the most popular styles include shodo (calligraphy), ikebana, kanou and yamato-e. You’ll find a wide variety of authentic Japanese art from some of the world’s top dealers on 1stDibs.

What is Japanese wall art called?

What Japanese wall art is called depends on its type. There are numerous kinds of Japanese paintings and prints, including nihonga and ukiyo-e. A Japanese wall scroll is known as a kakejiku or kakemono. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Japanese wall art.

How can I tell if my Japanese pottery is antique?

To tell if your Japanese pottery is antique, look for markings, which usually appear on the bottoms of pieces. If you see the word "Nippon," your piece was likely produced between 1891 and 1921, making it an antique. Pieces marked with the words "made in occupied Japan" originated between 1945 and 1952 and are vintage, based on their age. A "made in Japan" marking may indicate a vintage or contemporary piece. If you don't see any of these markings, consult trusted online resources to get a rough idea of when your pottery was produced. Any piece that dates back 100 years or more is antique. Should you encounter difficulty with the dating process, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Japanese pottery.

Antique Japanese Art

Asian Gold Leaf Panel Art

Japanese Six Panel Screen

Cloisonne Namikawa

Edo Japan

Japanese Gold Leaf Panel Paintings

Art Glass Japan

19th Century Japanese Paintings

Japanese Framed

Japanese Art Deco Style Trinket Box or Hand-Carved Rosewood Jewelry Box

$1,050

$850

$2,200

$1,639Sale Price|30% Off

$377Sale Price|20% Off

H 12.8 in W 10.04 in D 0.56 in

Antique Japanese Painting Framed on Jute 'Lovers Dance'

Located in Milano, IT

The painting is a print painted on black cardboard, with strong, whimsical colours typical of Japanese art. This depicts a scene with a man and a woman dancing in a very sensual way...

Category

Early 1900s Japanese Anglo-Japanese Antique Japanese Art

Materials

Materials

Metal

Located in Paris, FR

This piece combines diamond patterns reminiscent of textile art and the motif of quails among millets, very common in Japanese art.

Category

Early 17th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Art

Materials

Enamel

Japanese Carved Wood Lotus Leaf Tray

Unavailable

H 35.5 in D 3 in

Japanese Carved Wood Lotus Leaf Tray

Located in Seattle, WA

As one of the most prevalent subjects in Japanese art, the lotus (hasu) is emblematic of the Buddha and is also a symbol for harmony, love, empathy and prosperity.

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Art

Materials

Wood

Byobu - Japanese Screen Gold Leaf Kano School Pine Sun

Unavailable

Unavailable

H 14.53 in W 29.3 in D 0.04 in

Kuniteru III Utagawa, Peach Garden, Three Kingdoms, Japanese Woodblock Print

By Kuniteru III Utagawa

Located in London, GB

Peach symbolism features frequently in Chinese and Japanese art, thought to confer longevity or even immortality once eaten.

Category

Late 19th Century Other Art Style Antique Japanese Art

Materials

Sumi Ink, Handmade Paper, Mulberry Paper, Washi Paper, Pigment, Woodcut

Japanese Meiji Period Mixed Metal Sculpture of a Raptor by Kazan

Unavailable

H 22.25 in W 11 in D 9 in

Japanese Meiji Period Mixed Metal Sculpture of a Raptor by Kazan

By Kazan

Located in New York, NY

Christie’s Online Innovative Japanese Design: Art of the Meiji Period 4 - 18 November 2015, lot 41 A patinated bronze model of a Crow.

Category

1890s Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Art

Materials

Metal, Gold, Silver, Bronze

Furyu Gosekku Bijin Awase, c.1820

Unavailable

H 15.25 in W 10.25 in D 0.1 in

Furyu Gosekku Bijin Awase, c.1820

By Kikukawa Eizan

Located in Houston, TX

This unique piece of Japanese art is a rare find.

Materials

Handmade Paper, Mulberry Paper, Washi Paper, Pigment, Woodcut

Japanese Box

Unavailable

H 3.15 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in

Japanese Box

Located in London, GB

Japanese box. Embossed copper with decorations of shells and a small crab on the cover. Late Meiji period, circa 1870. 14 x 14 x 8 cm.

Materials

Emile Galle Art Nouveau Cameo Vase With Silver Mounting, Nancy, France 1904

$1,708

H 3.15 in Dm 2.56 in

Emile Galle Art Nouveau Cameo Vase With Silver Mounting, Nancy, France 1904

By Émile Gallé

Located in Vienna, AT

Bulbous shoulder vase on a flush stand, short neck piece of colourless glass with white powder meltings, overlay in blue-violet and green, meadow flower decoration etched in various ...

Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Japanese Art

Materials

Glass

Japanese Two-Panel Screen with Snow Cranes on a Willow Tree, 19th C

$14,500

H 62.5 in W 62 in D 2 in

Japanese Two-Panel Screen with Snow Cranes on a Willow Tree, 19th C

Located in New York, NY

This great masterpiece is one of the most amazing screen paintings we have seen, each snow crane is painted with its own personality and attitude, using the finest pigments and Gofun...

Category

1860s Japanese Japonisme Antique Japanese Art

Materials

Brocade, Wood

Japanese Large Cloisonné Vase, Ca. 1900/1910

$39,000

H 51.5 in Dm 46 in

Japanese Large Cloisonné Vase, Ca. 1900/1910

Located in New York, NY

Japanese Large Cloisonné Vase in Midnight Blue w/ Flowers and Birds, Ca. 1900/1910 DIMENSIONS: Height: 46 inches Diameter: 51.5 inches ABOUT This exquisite vase is a remarkable te...

Category

Early 1900s Japanese Japonisme Antique Japanese Art

Materials

Metal

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Antique Japanese Art For Sale on 1stDibs

With a vast inventory of beautiful furniture at 1stDibs, we’ve got just the piece of antique Japanese art you’re looking for. Was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, wood and ceramic. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect item from our selection of antique Japanese art — we have versions that date back to the 18th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. Each choice in our collection of antique Japanese art bearing Art Nouveau, Folk Art or Art Deco hallmarks is very popular. Many designers have produced at least one well-made object in our assortment of antique Japanese art over the years, but those crafted by Awaji Pottery, Japanese School and Makuzu Kozan are often thought to be among the most beautiful.

How Much is a Antique Japanese Art?

A piece of antique Japanese art can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $1,954, while the lowest priced sells for $1 and the highest can go for as much as $397,909.

Finding the Right Asian-art-furniture for You

From Japanese handmade earthenware pottery, originating circa 14,500 B.C. and adorned with elaborate corded patterns known as jōmon, to natural elm case pieces and storage cabinets built in Qing dynasty–era China to mid-century Thai rice-paper charcoal rubbings, antique and vintage Asian art and furniture make for wonderful additions to all kinds of contemporary interiors.

Eastern elements elevate any home’s decor. Introduce zen sensibility to your living room, dining room and bedroom with the neutral color palettes and the natural materials such as rattan, bamboo and elm that we typically associate with traditional Asian furniture. Decorative handwoven embroideries and textiles originating from India and elsewhere on the continent, which can be draped over a bed or sofa or used as a wall hanging, can be as practical as they are functional, just as you wouldn’t seek out Japanese room-divider screens — often decorated with paintings but constructed to be lightweight and mobile — merely for privacy.

With everything from blanket chests to lighting fixtures to sculptures and carvings, it’s easy to tastefully bring serenity to your living space by looking to the treasures for which the East has long been known.

For British-born furniture designer Andrianna Shamaris, the Japanese concept of beauty in imperfection isn’t limited to her Wabi Sabi collection. She embraces it in her New York City apartment as well. In the living area, for instance, she retained the fireplace’s original black marble while swathing its frame and the rest of the room in bright white.

“We left the fireplace very clean and wabi-sabi, so that it blended into the wall,” says Shamaris, who further appointed the space with a hand-carved antique daybed whose plush pillows are upholstered in antique textiles from the Indonesian island of Sumba.

In the growing antique and vintage Asian art and furniture collection on 1stDibs, find ceramics from China, antiquities from Cambodia and a vast range of tables, seating, dining chairs and other items from Japan, India and other countries.

Symbols of Happiness and Rebirth Adorn This Japanese Satsuma Bowl

Decorated with white cranes and the sought-after thousand-butterflies motif, the Meiji-period vessel offers both a celebration of traditional aesthetics and a clear reflection of the era’s appetite for exquisite export pieces.

Chicago’s Pagoda Red Has a Spirited Mix of Asian Antiques and Bold New Art

For 25 years, gallerist Betsy Nathan has leveraged her keen eye and key connections to bring a unique selection of rare finds to the market.

In L.A., Gallerist JF Chen Has Long Championed Eclectic Blue-Chip Design

Now working alongside his daughter Bianca, dealer Joel Chen has presented a most covetable array of antiques, art and contemporary creations for more than 40 years.

12 Calming Spaces Inspired by Japanese Design

From cherry-blossom-adorned walls paired with glamorous lighting to wood-paneled ceilings above checkerboard-patterned chairs, these 12 spaces seamlessly blend Eastern and Western aesthetics.

Rodrigo Rivero Lake’s Mexico City Showroom Is a Museum-Worthy Trove of Spanish Colonial and Asian Antiques

The dealer and curator has spent the past 50 years amassing a collection of exceptional art, furniture and architectural elements that trace the cultural influence of the Spanish empire from Europe to the Americas and beyond.