Edo Antiquities
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.
Early 17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Iron
1860s Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
Early 17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
1780s Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Bamboo, Cedar
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Enamel
17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Pottery
Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Ceramic, Pottery
18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Silver
Late 17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Iron
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Boxwood
2010s Japanese Edo Antiquities
Brass
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
2010s Japanese Edo Antiquities
Brass
18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Porcelain
2010s Japanese Edo Antiquities
Brass
Early 20th Century Japanese Edo Antiquities
Copper
2010s Japanese Edo Antiquities
Brass
2010s Japanese Edo Antiquities
Brass
19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Earthenware
2010s Japanese Edo Antiquities
Brass
Early 20th Century Edo Antiquities
Wood
17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Metal
Early 20th Century Japanese Edo Antiquities
Cedar
19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Lacquer
Early 20th Century Japanese Edo Antiquities
Wood
17th Century Antique Edo Antiquities
Iron
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Wood
Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Fabric
Early 20th Century Japanese Edo Antiquities
Pine
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
Late 20th Century Japanese Edo Antiquities
Metal
Early 20th Century Japanese Edo Antiquities
Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Wood, Paper
19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Gold, Silver, Copper
Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Iron
Early 18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Wood, Lacquer
Late 17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Leather
Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Wood, Lacquer
17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Wood
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Cedar
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Oak
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Antiquities
Wood