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Edo Paintings and Screens

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
17th century Japanese Falcon Painting, Mitani Toshuku, Unkoku School
Located in Kyoto, JP
Mitani Toshuku (1577-1654) “Falcon” Wall panel, ink and light color on paper. Upper Seal: Mitani Lower Seal: Toshuku Dimensions: Each 118.5 cm x 51 cm x 2 cm (46.5” x 20” x .75”) Individual falcon paintings by Mitani Toshuku (1577-1654), an early artist of the Unkoku School. Founded by Unkoku Togan (1547–1618), a master of the Momoyama period, the Unkoku school enjoyed long lasting patronage in southern Japan. Togan was a retainer of the Mori family in present day Yamaguchi prefecture. Members of the school considered themselves to be in the artistic lineage of Sesshu Toyo...
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Early 17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Paper

Japanese Six Panel Screens: Pair of Festival Carts
Located in Hudson, NY
Antique Japanese screen with Festival Cart design. Edo period painting (First half of the 19th century) of one brown lacquer cart and one bla...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

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Gold Leaf

1844 - Chichi, Japanese Scroll Painting. Colour on Silk
Located in Kyoto, JP
Mother’s Breast (Chichi) 1844 Hanging scroll. Ink, pigments and gofun on silk. Inscription: Kouka era, dragon year, late winter, painted by Shozan Yashou Artist’ seals: ...
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1840s Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

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Silk

Japanese "Magpie and Peony" Two Panel Screen, Edo Period, 18th/19th century
Located in Austin, TX
A sublime Japanese two panel "Magpie and Peony" screen, ink and color on paper, Edo Period, late 18th or early 19th century, circa 1800, Japan. The two panel screen features a wond...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Copper

Japanese Two Panel Screen, Cherry Blossoms Viewing Party
Located in Hudson, NY
A private viewing in picnic surrounding of nobles (probably samurai), including one woman. Mineral pigments on mulberry paper with silk brocade border.
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk, Paper

Japanese Painting, 17th Century, Tale of Genji, Fujibakama, Tosa School
Located in Kyoto, JP
Purple Trousers (Fujibakama), Illustration to Chapter 30 of the Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) Tosa School (second half of the 17th century) Ink, ...
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Late 17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Gold Leaf

Edo Period Kyoto Screen (2/2)
Located in Fukuoka, JP
Edo Period Kyoto Screen Period: Edo period Size: 343 x 176 cm (134.6 x 69 inches) SKU: RJ69/2 This stunning Edo period screen depicts typical scenes of...
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk, Wood, Paper

Pair of Six Panel Japanese Edo Screens Chrysanthemums Along Fence
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Remarkable pair of early 19th century Japanese late Edo period screens depicting summer chrysanthemums growing along a brushwood fence. Ink and...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silver Leaf

Japanese Painting, 17th Century, Tale of Genji, Makibashira, Tosa School
Located in Kyoto, JP
The Handsome Pillar (Makibashira), Illustration to Chapter 31 of the Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) Tosa School (second half of the 17th Century) I...
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Late 17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Gold Leaf

Japanese Rare Antique Scroll of Waka Heart Poem Famous Rengetsu Otagaki, signed
Located in South Burlington, VT
Japan, a rare paper scroll hand painted by renown Rengetsu Otagaki (1791-1875). She was a very famous nun in old Japan and being familiar with poetry, her Waka poems on paper, and e...
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Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

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Paper

ntique Woodblock Print Ukiyo-e Kunisada UTAGAWA (1786-1865) - "Utagawa Kunisada
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A lovely figural print Kunisada UTAGAWA (Toyokuni III) (1786-1865) - "The Tale of Genji" Utagawa Kunisada The Tale of Genji - Chapter 12 Condition Woodblock in good condition, ...
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19th Century Chinese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Complete ‘Noh Play’ Production, Houshou School 22 Books and Box, 1853
Located in South Burlington, VT
From our recent Japanese Acquisitions Travels. A remarkable artistic Noh Play survivor. One of a kind Japanese Complete "Noh Play" Production as written in 22 Woodblock books from the Utai Bon Houshou school, complete with original signed wooden storage box tomobako and dated Kaei 6 (1853). This antique Japanese book...
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Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Wood, Paper

Lovely Nihonga Scene Edo Period Scroll Japan Artist Yusen Okajima Japan
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
It is a work drawn by Yusen Okajima known as a Japanese painter of the Shijo school as you can see. It is a waterfall map that makes you feel momentum from the top to the bottom, a...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Late 18th Century Japanese Framed Painting, God of Thunder by Yamaguchi Soken
Located in Kyoto, JP
Raijin - God of Thunder Yamaguchi Soken (1759-1818) Mid to Late Edo period, circa 1800. Framed painting. Ink and light color on paper. This humorous painting depicts the Thunder God, Raijin, tumbling from the sky, presumably being struck down by one of his own lighting bolts. He clings to one drumstick as the other is in free-fall along with his Taiko drums...
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Late 18th Century Asian Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Paper

Japanese Two Panel Screen Amorous Cranes and Turtles
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese two panel screen: Amorous Cranes and Turtles. In Japan, cranes symbolize fidelity as they mate for life and turtles symbolize longevity. Additionally, this screen also has the Japanese motif of sho-chiku-bai, or the three friends of winter (pine, plum, and bamboo). So called the three friends of winter because all three flourish during the cold months. This screen was originally fusuma doors...
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1850s Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Wood, Paper

Japanese antique sketch scroll / 1800-1900 / Flower, bird and animal paintings
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a rough sketch of a Japanese painting drawn around the late Edo period to the early Meiji period (1800-1900) in Japan. A picture is drawn by sticking and connecting short pi...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Paper

Peony Blossoms Screen
Located in Fukuoka, JP
Peony Blossoms Screen Period: Edo period 18-19th century Size: 212 x 138 cm (83.5 x 54.3 inches) SKU: PJ105 Experience a rare gem from Japan's heritage – an Edo period peony blosso...
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk, Paper

Japanese Silk Suijaku Scroll Nyorai-Kojin with Mixed Buddhism and Shinto Deities
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese silk Suijaku hanging scroll beautifully presented in a custom wood shadow box frame from Edo period (circa 18-19th century). The scroll, surmounted on golden brocade was painted in fine details with gouache, ink and gold powder highlight, served as a Suijaku mandala for the worshippers. Honji Suijaku is a complicated religious concept uniquely developed in Japan. It mixed and hybrid the Buddism deities with native shinto spirits (known as Kami), which were seen as local manifestations (the suijaku, literally means a "trace") of Buddhist deities (the honji literally the original ground). The original idea may lie with the synergetic strategy to spread Buddism by making it more relatable to the local population who had already worshiped Shinto gods. The paradigm, adopted in the 10th century from an orignal Chinese concept, remained a defining feature of Japanese religious life up to the end of the Edo period (1868). Instead of being confined to deities, its application was often extended to historical figures as shown on this scroll. This long hanging scroll depicts an arrangement of 21 figures including Buddhism and Shinto deities as well as two historical figures on the bottom. Each figure was name-tagged in Kanji for easy identification by the worshippers. It was used in the temple or shrine so that when the worshipper prayed in front the mandala, they prayed simultaneously to all the deities. On the very top, sits Nyorai-Kojin, a hybrid deity of Nyorai Buddha and Kojin, the kaki for fire, stove and kitchen. From the top to bottom and left to right, here is the list of the deities: Kanon with Thousand Hands, Kanon with Willow Branch, Monju Bosatsu...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk, Wood

Late Edo period Tsutsugaki 筒描 Auspicious Shishi Batik Screen
Located in Fukuoka, JP
Auspicious Shishi Batik Screen Period: Late Edo Size: 145x173 cm (57x68 inches) SKU: PTA62 Step into the mythical world of late Edo Japan with our radiant batik screen depicting the...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Lovely Edo Period Scroll Paintings Japan Artist Saeki Kishi Ganku Dragon Clouds
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Saeki Kishi Ganku "NoboriRyuzu" silk painting hanging scroll with box Size Axis ... vertical 163.5cm horizontal 43cm picture ... vertical 96cm horizont...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Japanese Six Panel Screen Battle of Uji Bridge
Located in Hudson, NY
The first battle at Uji was in 1180 and was the beginning of the Heike Wars. This screen depicts a famous scene from the Heike Wars. Two Heike generals, Sasaki Takatsuna and Kajiwa...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Gold Leaf

Lovely Late Edo Period Scroll Paintings Japan Artist Landscape Painted
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Artist: "Hineno Taiyama" End of the Edo period painter. Osaka production. Hine Taizan (Hine Taizan, 10 years of culture (1813)-March 13, 1868 (April 24, 1869) is a literary painter...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Jurojin Flying Crane Scene Edo Period Scroll Japan 19c Artist Saeki Kishi Ganku
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
As you can see, Saeki Kishi Ganku brush Jurojin Hizuru figure / with box. It is a work that goes well with the flying crane and the Jurojin looking up, g...
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Pair of Antique Japanese Flower Paintings by Yanagisawa Kien, circa 18th Century
By Yanagisawa Kien
Located in Prahran, Victoria
Pair of antique Japanese Nagasaki School paintings by Yanagisawa Kien (1704-1758), depicting classical ikebana flower arrangements. Each painted on silk in mineral pigments and beari...
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Mid-18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Early 19th Century Japanese Scroll Bijin after the Bath in Summer
Located in Hudson, NY
Early 19th century Japanese Scroll: Bijin after the bath in summer. Painted in pigments on silk. Signature reads: Yamauchi Sentsu. Japan,...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk, Wood

Lovely 20th Yūki Somei Scroll Paintings Japan Artist Bird and tree Painted
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
"Somei Yuki" 1875 (1875) - 1957 (1957) Tokyo living, Japan painter. Real name Sadamatsu, maiden name Morita. Tamazusa Kawabata disciple, Tokyo art school graduation. Empire Art ...
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Early 20th Century Japanese Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Majestic Hawks Edo Screen by Tosa School
Located in Fukuoka, JP
Majestic Hawks Edo Screen Period: Edo Size: 150x168 cm (59x66 inches) SKU: PTA93 Step back in time to the Edo period with our superb Tosa school screen d...
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19th Century Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Gold Leaf

Tosa School ca 1700 Scene Edo Period Scroll Japan 17/18c Artist Tosa Mitsunari
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Around the middle of the Edo period, say to have been drawn in Tosa Mitsunari of the hands of the Tosa School, the Heian period of person (noble?) Is watching the birds fly the gard...
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Flower Scene Edo Period Scroll Japan 19c Artist Kiyoshi Watanabe
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
As you can see, this is an old painting by Kiyoshi Watanabe, a colored iris and a red dragonfly. It has a simple yet calm texture, and the appearance of a red dragonfly standing li...
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Japanese Two Panel Screen: Mountain Landscape with Calligraphy
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Two Panel Screen: Mountain Landscape with Calligraphy. Late Edo (c. 1850) painting of a dramatic mountainside carved by a waterfall with a crane flying in the foreground an...
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Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk, Wood, Paper

Late Edo period Tsutsugaki 筒描 Auspicious Shishi Batik Screen
Located in Fukuoka, JP
Auspicious Shishi Batik Screen Period: Late Edo Size: 145x173 cm (57x68 inches) SKU: PTA62 Step into the mythical world of late Edo Japan with our radiant batik screen depicting the...
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19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Cotton, Wood

Japanese Two Panel Screen, Hollyhocks
Located in Hudson, NY
Edo period (18th century) furosaki screen (tea screen), with seal of the artist: Jakyu. Korin School painting, employing Kenzan style of split image. (see "Morning Glories" Metropoli...
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk, Paper, Wood

Japanese Silk Scroll of Daruma Hanabusa Itcho Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese hanging scroll attributed to Edo period painter Hanabusa Itcho (1652-1724). The artwork features a silk roundel nicely mounted in golden brocade background. The painting depicts a robed Daruma seated in meditation with his eyes widely open. The rendition of the famous monk, one of the most beloved subjects in Japanese art, was extremely minimalistic. With just a few effective ink strokes and patches of watercolor, it managed to successfully highlight the essence and spirit of Daruma. The roundel was possibly a center fragment of a larger painting by the artist and was remounted historically. Signed with one of his artist's names. It comes with a wood scroll box with ink inscription of title and artist formal name. For a painting with the same signature, see number 1881,1210,0.1719 in the collection of the British Musuem. Also a horizontal scroll...
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18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk, Paper

Japanese Two Panel Screen Ink Painting of Banana Leaves on Mulberry Paper
Located in Hudson, NY
Edo period (dated 1787) beautiful painting of unfurling palm leaves with romping puppies in the background. Ink painting (sumi-e) on mulberry paper. Signature reads: Okyo. Calligraph...
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Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Paper

Large Japanese Scroll of a Tiger
Located in Hudson, NY
Wonderfully large and bold tiger painted in ink and mineral pigments on silk mounted with silk brocade border. Seal reads: Miyaguchi (alternative reading: ...
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Early 1800s Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Silk

Japanese Two Panel Screen: Genpei Warriors
Located in Hudson, NY
The Genpei War took place from 1180–1185, during which the Minamoto clan rebelled against the Taira clan for control of Japan. The two clans had a bitter rivalry for years, and the M...
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Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Gold Leaf

Unpei Kameyama, 'a View of Black 'American' Ships in the Bay of Uraga Senminato'
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Unpei Kameyama (1821-1899) A view of black (American) ships in the bay of Uraga Senminato, Miura district, June 1853 The Japanese text reads: ‘The seventy-six old men for the Kitamura-clan, drawn in 1897 on request of Yoshisada Kitamura, Himeji, the black ships which so much changed the fate of Japan, enjoy please this masterpiece by Harima Shonin Bisei who brings back memories of his young days.’ Watercolour on paper, laid down on cardboard, H. 44.5 x W. 115.5 cm Provenance: Collection of Yoshisada Kitamura, Himeji Yoshisada Kitamura (1838-1899), the son of a farmer in the village of Ogawa, in the district of Harimakashikihigashi, studied under Matajiro Otaka and got heavily involved in the anti-Shogunate movement. He was active in several military incidents against the Shogunate. After the Meiji restoration, he served the Meiji government as a local official in the Himeji domain. Kameyama Unpei was a Confucian scholar, a Shinto priest...
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Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Paintings and Screens

Materials

Paper

Edo paintings and screens for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Edo paintings and screens 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 paintings and screens differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $375 and tops out at $475,500 while the average work can sell for $12,800.

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