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Edo Furniture

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
Extraordinary Japanese Hand Thrown Blue And White Wabi-Sabi Vase, Early 19thc.
Located in South Burlington, VT
A recent find: an old Japanese SHOKI-IMARI blue-and-white porcelain ware bottle with unique hand painted designs called Kusabana-Chou-Monyou (Grass, flower, and butterfly patterns)...
Category

Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Japanese Kuruma-dansu
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Japanese Kuruma-dansu, a wheeled storage chest traditionally kept in the Kura (storeroom) for the specific purpose of containing valuables, thus the wheeled carriage for a quick exit...
Category

Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood

Two Compatible Japanese Lacquered Calligraphy Stands
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A decorative and colorful compatible pair of Japanese Calligraphy Stands in gilt and lacquer decoration. The red lift tops with elaborate lacquered and gilt decoration of birds and s...
Category

20th Century Japanese Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood

Fine and Elaborate Antique Korean Chest
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An intricately decorated Korean Chest with fine wood graining and fine presentation. Each door with an inscribed panel in calligraphy. With two-part recessed side panels and raised o...
Category

Early 20th Century Korean Edo Furniture

Materials

Brass

Antique Japanese Karuma Tansu
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th c. Kuruma tansu - cabinet on wheels. These were used to store belongings and the wheels made them easy to move outside during house fires, which were...
Category

18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood

Japanese Tansu Storage Chest (19th Century - Edo Period) Wabi Sabi
Located in London, GB
Japanese Tansu Storage Chest (Edo Period - 19th Century). Tansu are traditional portable wooden storage chests from Japan. In Japanese traditional houses...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique Drawer Chest of drawers 1850s-1860s Edo era Wabi-Sabi
Located in Chiba, Chiba
This is an old chest of drawers. It was made during the Edo period. The color has changed to a darker color due to aging. The body has many scratches and other imperfections, but it ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique Drawer box 1840s-1860s Edo Period Folk art Wabi-Sabi
Located in Chiba, Chiba
This is an old Japanese drawer. It was made during the Edo period. The outside of the wooden crate is lined with bamboo weave. Bamboo is attached to the corners for reinforcement. Th...
Category

Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Japanese lacquered wooden antique display stand/temple small stand/Edo/1800s
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an exhibition stand used in temples around Oita Prefecture, Japan. Basically, it is a stand for placing incense burners and offerings in front of the Buddha statue. The name ...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood, Cypress

Late Edo period chest of drawers for sewing
Located in CARLTON, AU
This is a beautifully worn late Edo period small chest of drawers for sewing. Made of Cedar with iron handle and hinge. The whole look is rustic, blackened and simple, with refined d...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Cedar

Antique Japanese Lacquer Presentation Table
Located in Hudson, NY
Late Edo period (1614-1868) antique Japanese presentation table in dark brown lacquer with dark red details.
Category

Early 1800s Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Japanese Antique "Staircase Chest" 'Late Edo Period-Meiji Period' /Cabinet
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
We have an aesthetic sense peculiar to Japanese people. And we introduce the unique items that only we can do, the route of purchasing in Japan, the experience value so far, and the way that no one can imitate. Japanese antique black chest "staircase chest...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Cedar

17th Century Japanese Export Lacquer Cabinet with Depiction the Dutch Tradepost
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A highly important Japanese export lacquer cabinet with depiction of the Dutch East India Company tradepost Deshima and the annual Dutch delegation on its way to the Shogun in Edo Edo period, circa 1660-1680 H. 88 x W. 100.5 x D. 54 cm This cabinet includes a later European japanned stand, but also a modern powder-coated steel frame. The latter can be designed and added to your specific needs. The sides and front of the rectangular two-door cabinet are embellished in gold and silver hiramaki-e and takamaki-e on a black roiro lacquer ground with a continuous design. The two doors depict a long procession of numerous figures travelling on foot and horseback along buildings and a pagoda into a mountainous landscape. This is the annual court journey, Hofreis, of the Dutch from Nagasaki to the Shogun’s court in Edo. Three horseback riders are dressed as Dutch merchants and a fourth figure, probably het Opperhoofd, is seen inside a palanquin, norimon. Just about to cross the bridge, two men are carrying a cabinet like the present one. Many Japanese figures on either side of the procession are engaged in various activities; some play musical instruments on board of small boats, others are fishing; figures inside buildings are depicted playing go, and farmers are tending to their rice paddocks. The upper part of the right door shows a large mansion, probably the local daimyo’s castle, with men kneeling before a man in the central courtyard. The court journey fits in with the foreign policy of the shogunate which accorded a role to the VOC alongside China, Korea, and the Ryukyu Islands who also had to pay tribute. However, the VOC employees were traders, having low status in Japan’s social hierarchy, and they were received with less deference than were the state embassies from Korea and the Ryukyu Islands. Nevertheless, the contacts with the Dutch were a welcome source of information to the Shogun about Europe and European science and technology. The left side of the cabinet depicts, in mirror image, a rare view of the artificial fan-shaped Deshima Island, the trading post for the Dutch in Japan. The island, where the Dutch flag flies, is surrounded by small Japanese boats and an anchored three-masted fluyt (cargo ship), flying Dutch flags, with on the stern the VOC monogram. On the bottom right a busy street of Nagasaki is shown, bordered by shops and leading up to the stone bridge. On the island the trees are beautifully painted, two cows can be seen, and the flagpole, all in very fine detail. Dutchmen and enslaved Malay are visible outside the buildings and two Japanese figures, probably guards, sit in a small hut in the centre. A maximum of fifteen to twenty Dutchmen lived on the island at any time and soldiers or women were not allowed. Restrictions on Deshima were tight, and the merchants were only allowed to leave the island by special permission. The Opperhoofd had to be replaced every year, and each new Opperhoofd had to make a court journey to pay tribute, present gifts, and to obtain permission to Margaret Barclay eep on trading. In the distance, many birds fly above the hills and a four-story pagoda can be seen. The right side of the cabinet is painted with other horse riders and their retinue journeying through mountains. The pair of doors to the front open to reveal ten rectangular drawers. The drawers are decorated with scenes of birds in flight and landscapes with trees and plants. The reverse of the left door with two thatched buildings, one with a ladder, underneath a camelia tree with large blooms; the right door with a three-story pagoda nestled among trees and both doors with a flying phoenix, ho-oo bird. The cabinet, with elaborately engraved gilt copper mounts, hinges, lock plates and brass handles, is raised on an 18th-century English japanned wood stand. A pair of large cabinets...
Category

17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Copper, Gold

Vintage Life-Edge Etched and Painted Japanese Tea Table
Located in Phoenix, AZ
This is a one of a kind vintage life-edge tea table made in Japan. The table is 43" long, 30" wide and 12.5" high. It was made most likely out of teak simetime between 1940-1950. The...
Category

Mid-20th Century Japanese Edo Furniture

Materials

Softwood, Teak

Antique Japanese Fireman's Water Bucket and Tools, Edo Period, 19th Century
Located in Point Richmond, CA
In ancient Japan fires are a constant occurrence and the Japanese built their furniture and houses with this in mind. Firemen were essential and revered, and their equipment was care...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th Century Shop Chest/Cabinet with Sliding Doors and Drawers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is an upper part of a an unusual 19th century Japanese cabinet using bamboo and burled wood as design accents on the two sliding do...
Category

20th Century Japanese Edo Furniture

Materials

Iron

Japanese Export Lacquer Mother-of-Pearl Secretaire for the American Market
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A rare Japanese export lacquered secretaire for the American market Circa 1800-1830, Colonial Overall densely decorated with flower sprays and landscapes, minutely inlaid with ...
Category

1810s Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Wood

19th Century Japanese Cinnabar / Lacquer Cabinet
Located in Fulton, CA
Incredible example of Asian lacquer carving. Standing over seven feet tall, this monumental display shelf was produced in Japan at the end of the Ed...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Silk Thread Wood Winder Complete with Spool and Functioning Gears
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Japanese silk thread wood winder complete with spool and functioning gears. The spool still has the silk thread and an extra spool with different color thread comes with it. The thre...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wood, Hardwood

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Huge Calligraphy Brush Black Lacquered Mother of Pearl Cherry Blossoms
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A very large, 20" calligraphy brush made with black lacquered handle encrusted with mother of pearl cherry blossoms. The black lacquer is a painstaking process that takes days of app...
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Crystal Calligraphy Brush
Located in Somis, CA
A large, 14.5" Chinese calligraphy brush with crystal handle. The clear crystal glass symbolizes the character of purity and integrity, which are the...
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Crystal Calligraphy Brush
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H 14.5 in W 2 in D 2 in
Japanese Tansu Storage Cabinet with Sliding Doors, Meiji Periode
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Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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19th Century Japanese Staircase Tansu Cabinet with Two Drawers and Single Door
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Japanese staircase tansu cabinet from the 19th century, with two drawers and single door. Born in Japan during the 19th century, this stairc...
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FINE ORIENTAL ANTIQUE CHINESE HAND PAINTED LACQUERED LARGE SiDE TABLE CUPBOARD
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage circa 1920's hand painted and lacquered Chinese Wedding cupboard for folded linens etc ...
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1920s Chinese Vintage Edo Furniture

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Pair of Fine Red Lacquer Chests with Gilt Motif
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pair of fine red lacquer chests with hand-painted gold gilt motif, beautiful color, form and lines.
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Mid-20th Century Chinese Edo Furniture

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Lacquer

Antique Japanese Edo Era Early 1800's Gyoshobako Peddler's Tansu Chest 28"
Located in Portland, OR
Available from Shogun's Gallery in Portland, Oregon for Over 40 Years Specializing in Asian Arts & Antiques. This tansu is around 200 year old. It is an antique Japanese gyoshobako-...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Wrought Iron

Chinese Money Chest in Black Lacquer and Gilt Decoration
Located in Dallas, TX
A Chinese black lacqured chest with gilt decoration was originally used to hold gold coins. This highly decorative cabinet is beautiflly decorated with multible children in various s...
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Previously Available Items
Edo period Japanese medicine chest
Located in CARLTON, AU
This is a very old and rare Japanese tooling storage tansu. It was made early Edo period of Japanese cedar and its handle was made of iron. Its ultimate...
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17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Cedar

Edo period Japanese medicine chest
Edo period Japanese medicine chest
H 35.44 in W 35.04 in D 11.82 in
Small Japanese Wood Safe Zenibako Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A small Japanese Zenibako (banker's money box) from early to mid-19th century circa late Edo Period. The chest was made from thick planks of a heavy hardwood with attractive grains a...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Iron

Edo Period Imari Porcelain Plate with Dragon Motive
Located in Fukuoka, JP
A Very Fine and Rare Hand Painted Imari Porcelain Plate This very fine and rare hand-painted Imari porcelain plate is a stunning example of Japanese craftsmanship. It is dated to th...
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Ceramic, Porcelain

Edo Period Imari Porcelain Plate with Dragon Motive
Edo Period Imari Porcelain Plate with Dragon Motive
Free Shipping
H 1.2 in W 8.8 in D 10.8 in
Japanese Antique Wooden Drawer/Late Edo-Meiji Period/1800-1900/TV Stand
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese wooden drawer made in the late Edo period to around the Meiji period (1800-1900). The material is made of cedar, and the unique wood grain is very beautiful....
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Cedar

Japanese Antique Small Wooden Black Drawer / 1800-1900 / Tansu Cabinet Storage
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A very old Japanese small drawer. It is from the late Edo period to the Meiji period (1800s to 1900s). The material is made of cedar wood. The round handle is made of copper. The...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Cedar

Japanese Iron Bound Sea Chest, c. 1800
Located in Chicago, IL
This fantastic iron-bound lock box is a 19th-century Japanese sea chest known as kakesuzuri. Used on merchant vessels traveling the Japanese trade route known as Kitamae, sea chests ...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Iron

Japanese Iron Bound Sea Chest, c. 1800
Japanese Iron Bound Sea Chest, c. 1800
H 14.25 in W 12.5 in D 17.5 in
Japanese antique wooden black drawer/1800-1912/edo-meiji/wabisabi drawer
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
We sell carefully selected old Japanese items. I've seen tens of thousands of items so far. Based on that experience, only selected items are posted here. We are able to do this b...
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Japanese Antique Special Black Wooden Box / 1800-1900 / Exhibition Table
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
We have a unique Japanese aesthetic sense. And only we can introduce unique items through our purchasing channels in Japan and the experience we have gained so far, in such a way th...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Wood

Early 19th Century Japanese Tansu with Calligraphy Original Iron
Located in Somis, CA
A very special Japanese tansu from the early 19th century Edo period. Of typical form with a hinged door opening to reveal four various sized drawers. The lower right drawer with an ...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Japanese Antique Wooden Drawer Chest / 1800s / Wabi-Sabi Tansu
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
We have a unique Japanese aesthetic sense. And only we can introduce unique items through our purchasing channels in Japan and the experience we have gained so far, in such a way th...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Cedar

Edo Period Japanese Sliding Door Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century sliding door cabinet used to store futons during the day. It is a sweet piece with a stylized flower motive on a panel across each of the doors. There is one shelf insi...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Wood

19th Century Sliding Door Japanese Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This original shop cabinet is a light honey colored piece with nail accents on the sliding doors and burled wood accents on the drawers. There is a shelf inside the sliding door comp...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Furniture

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Iron

Edo furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Edo furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, cedar and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Edo furniture 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $650 and tops out at $1,386,932 while the average work can sell for $3,200.

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