Meiji Ceramics
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 Green Blue Red Purple Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, hand painted in vivid green, blue, red and purple on a stunningly shaped body and signed by a widely acclaimed master porce...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Green Orange Gold Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Japanese Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing large contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted in green, orange and gold, a breathtaking masterpiece by highly acclaimed master...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary hand-painted decorative porcelain vase, a signed work by widely acclaimed award winning master porcelain artist of the Imari- Arita region of Japan, f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Contemporary Japanese Red Blue Black Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary contemporary Japanese hand painted decorative porcelain vase, an exclusive signature masterpiece in blue and red by highly acclaimed master porcelain artist of the Imar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Blue White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese Contemporary porcelain decorative vase, extremely intricately hand painted in underglaze cobalt blue on an elegant ovoid shape porcelain body, a signed piece by widely accla...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Blue Platinum Pink Porcelain Matcha Tea Bowl by Master, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese porcelain matcha tea bowl, a unique piece platinum-gilded on the inside and hand painted in vivid pink and green on the outside set...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Contemporary Japanese Gold Red Blue Porcelain Long Stem Cup, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese Ko-Imari (old Imari) porcelain long stem cup, in bright red, blue and green colors and generous gold application that are char...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary White Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 1
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional large contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative charger, extremely intricately hand painted in auspicious underglaze blue ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Red Green Purple Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in soft red, green, gold and purple on a stunningly shaped porcelain body, a signed masterpiece by...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Blue Gray Peach Gold Porcelainn Sculptur by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary museum-quality decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand-painted in dark blue, Gray and orange on a beautifully shaped porcelain body,...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Gold Leaf Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary museum-quality decorative porcelain vase in deep blue and beautiful shades of green on a stunningly shaped body. This is a masterpiece by a third gene...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Contemporary Pink Brown Hand-Glazed Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary matte hand-glazed signed decorative porcelain vase in an elegant shape, featuring signature pink, brown and blue colors by highly respected award-winn...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Contemporary Japanese Gilded Red Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary museum-quality decorative porcelain vase in an extraordinary shape featuring two fascinating and detailed signature geometric progression patterns ext...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Contemporary Japanese Blue Black Green Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese Contemporary decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted In vivid green and blue on a stunningly shaped body, featuring a “flowers-in-the-wind” m...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Red Green Gold Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand-painted in red, blue and green with generous gold details, a signed masterpiece from his signature series ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary White Blue Porcelain Charger by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exctraordinary contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative charger, extremely intricately hand painted in an auspicious karakusa pattern...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Contemporary Japanese Blue and White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Unique Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in cobalt blue underglaze on an elegantly shaped porcelain body, a signed work by respected award-win...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Blue Pink Gold Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase hand painted in red, pink and blue on an elegantly shaped body, a signed work by highly acclaimed Japanese master porcelain ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Signed Glazed Edo/Meiji Ceramic Pottery Monkey with Custom Wood Stand
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly fantastic and rather unique piece. The collectors we have shown have gone gaga over this piece.
Beautifully crafted and glazed with amazing detail to facial features.
...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Contemporary Blue Red White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary museum-quality Japanese contemporary hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase in a strikingshape in blue and white, a mesmerizing masterpiece by highly acclaimed award-win...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Brown Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase with high purity platinum gilding, an award-winning exhibition piece, a masterpiece by highly acclaimed mast...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Platinum
Japanese Contemporary Platinum Red Blue Porcelain Charger by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain charger, hand painted in iron-red and blue, set against a striking wave patterns background in platinum, combined with a genero...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Platinum
Japanese Contemporary Green Red Gold Black Porcelain Charger by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary porcelain decorative vase, intricately gilded and hand painted in vivid green, red and deep blue on an ovoid porcelain body in a stunningly beautifu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Large Japanese Imari Charger 16", Edo / Meiji Period, mid 19th century, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A large and charming Japanese imari charger with Chinese boys, Edo to Meiji Period, mid 19th century, Japan.
The large porcelain charger measuring 16" in diameter features high, slo...
Category
1860s Japanese Antique Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Rose Green Hand-Glazed Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary museum quality Japanese contemporary hand-glazed signed decorative porcelain vase/centerpiece in a breathtaking, graceful flared shape in stunning combination of rose, ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Red Blue Hand-Glazed Porcelain Bowl by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary museum-quality hand-glazed decorative porcelain bowl in vibrant red, blue and white on a stunningly shaped body, an exhibition masterpiece by a master porcelai...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Antique ca 1900 Japanese Meiji or Taisho Satsuma Powder Box
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Description
Sharing with you is this nice satsuma powder box with landscape pagode scene
Marked at base: Unreadable
Condition
Overall Condition 1 small restoration to rim b...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Blue Green Yellow Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase hand painted in green, red and blue on a beautifully shaped body, a signed work by highly acclaimed Japanese master porcelain artist i...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Gold Leaf Purple Green Porcelain Charger by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary museum quality decorative porcelain charger breathtakingly hand painted in a stunning iris motif in vivid purple/blue, white and green on a magnif...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Contemporary Blue White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 5
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in blue underglaze in various shades of blue on a stunning ovoid shape body, a signed work by high...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Blue Pink Red Porcelain Charger by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain charger, stunningly hand painted in blue, pink and red, a signed masterpiece by widely re...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Old Wooden Netsuke 19/20th C Japanese Japan Fisherman Meiji Period
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Lovely and very detailed piece. Unsigned. Japan 19th or 20th century. Visible is a fisherman with 2 fishes in his hand.
Weight: 19 grams
Provenance: Collected in the 1980's. From t...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Metal, Bronze
Japanese Contemporary Blue White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in blue and white on an elegant bottle shape large body, a signed piece by highly acclaimed master...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Blue Green Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Superb Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately gilded in platinum and hand painted, showcasing an auspicious phoenix in deep blue underglaze, dramatically extend...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Platinum
Japanese Contemporary Red Green Blue Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary museum-quality decorative porcelain vase in a stunning wave pattern with intricate etchings features platinum foils plus silver foil tinted in sha...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Slate, Platinum, Silver Leaf
Japanese Sumida-Gawa sculpture of a man distributing peaches to its monkeys
Located in PARIS, FR
Polychrome sculpture in Sumida-gawa stoneware, also called Sumida-yaki, representing an old man surrounded by five monkeys in front of a basket containing two nuts. Glazed clothes an...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Enamel
Japanese Contemporary Blue Gold Leaf Green Porcelain Charger by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Superb museum quality Japanese large contemporary gold leaf porcelain charger, beautifully hand painted in a stunning iris motif in vivid purple/blue, white and green on an exquisite...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Contemporary Green Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary porcelain vase, intricately hand-painted in stunning deep blue, two shades of green and gold, a masterpiece by highly acclaimed award-winning mast...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
19th Century Japanese Satsuma Charger Bow Samurai Figures Antique
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Large and very detailed piece. Figural scene of a man handing over a bow to a female. To the right a figure sitting with what seems to be a samurai sword. Amazing scene. Measure: 36 cm.
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware
Japanese Antique Pottery Bottle 1860s-1900s/Flower Vase Wabisabi Jar Mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese sake bottle. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). It is made of ceramic and covered with paper. It is slightly cracked and reinforced with paper. The pa...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Pottery, Paper
Japanese Contemporary Purple Yellow Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, a rare piece, stunningly hand painted in yellow, purple and blue, a signed masterpiece by highly acclaimed master porcela...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Platinum
Japanese Contemporary Blue Green Red Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, hand-painted in cobalt blue, yellow and green on a stunning ovoid shaped body, a signed piece by highly acclaimed master porcelain a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Green Yellow Blue Porcelain Vase, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand-painted in blue, green, yellow and black, from the artist's stunning geometric collection, a masterpiece...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Blue White Red Porcelain Charger by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain charger, hand painted in red and blue underglaze with generous gold details, a signed work by widely admired award-winning master porcelain...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Purple Green Pink Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary gilded porcelain vase in an elegant shape, intricately hand-painted in various hues of purple and pink, a masterpiece by highly acclaimed master porce...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Antique 19th C Japanese Satsuma Box Matsumoto Hozan Marked Base Japan
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A small Satsuma vase, Yasuda, unidentified artist, of cuboid form with slightly domed cover, decorated with bijin alternating with landscape scenes,...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Purple Red Porcelain Charger by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase, intricately hand painted in vivid blue, red and green, a signed piece by a master porcelain artist in the Imari-Arita tradition. In 2...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Gold Black Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, hand painted in platinum and gold, set against a dimpled black background, a signed piece belonging to the signature fish co...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold, Platinum
Japanese Platinum Brown Contemporary Hand-Glazed Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary hand-glazed signed decorative porcelain vase in a stunning black/brown color and zirconium that creates the mesmerizing luster, an award-winning e...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Platinum
Japanese Contemporary Purple Green Yellow Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary porcelain vase, an exceptional piece, intricately hand painted in yellow, purple and green, and signed by widely acclaimed master porcelain artist of ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Blue Purple Orange Porcelain Charger by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exuisite Japanese contemporary decorative square porcelain charger, hand painted in purple, pink and blue, and signed by a widely acclaimed master porcelain artist of Japan’s Imari-A...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Red Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in red and blue on a stunningly shaped porcelain body, by widely acclaimed master porcelain artist in tradit...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Porcelain
Contemporary Gold Blue Red Porcelain Dessert Plate
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japnese gilded hand painted Porcelain dessert plate in vivid red, blue and green generously decorated with gold, with an intricate flower and gold pattern. The...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Huge Meiji Antique Japanese Porcelain Charger Landscape Scene Marked on
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Large and amazing charger with a scene landscape scene. Marked at base.
Condition:
Overall condition perfect. Size: Approximate 410 x 73mm
Period:
20th century
19th century.
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Earthenware
Japanese Contemporary Blue Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, hand painted on a elegantly shaped porcelain body in blue, with extremely intricate patterns and extensive use of high ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Blue White Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, painstakingly intricately gilded and hand painted in stunning deep blue in various shades on a stunning globular body, a ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Blue White Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite large contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase, intricately hand-painted in underglaze blue, gold and white, a master...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Green White Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist Duo
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary highly museum quality decorative porcelain vase. This masterpiece is the collaborative work of two brothers and signed by both, highly acclaimed second-generation master porcelain artists of the Imari-Arita region of Japan. The older brother excels in the depiction of breathtaking natural scenes while the younger brother specializes in creating intricate geometric patterns, which in this piece are found in the neck and base of the vase.
It depicts stunning scenes from the famous Japanese Classic literature...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Ceramics
Materials
Gold
Meiji ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Meiji ceramics 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 ceramics created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Meiji ceramics 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 ceramics, popular names associated with this style include Satsuma, Kinkozan, Makuzu Kozan, and Fukagawa. 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 ceramics differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $65 and tops out at $40,660 while the average work can sell for $1,905.