Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
JAPONISME STYLE
In the late 19th and early 20th century, France developed an enduring passion for Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship. Not only did this interpretation of Japanese culture — which became known as Japonisme — infuse fresh energy into French art and design, but it also radically transformed how Europeans, and subsequently the world, would come to understand visual culture.
Until 1853, Japan had been closely guarded against foreign visitors for over two centuries. However, American Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed into Japan that year and initiated the first of its treaties with the United States and Europe, thereby opening its borders and giving the West its first-ever look at Japanese design.
For the next few decades, taken with Japonisme, sophisticated collectors in Paris, New York and elsewhere gorged themselves on lacquered screens, celadon ceramics and netsuke ornaments, along with artworks depicting various aspects of Japanese life. The East Asian country’s influence on Europe, particularly France, contributed to one of the most creatively prosperous periods in history, leaving an imprint on the Impressionist, Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, and inspiring artists like Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Vincent van Gogh as well as luxury houses such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès. Japonisme emerged at the time when the ornate Renaissance Revival style was the most prominent mode of decorating in Europe, and Japanese aesthetics seemed strikingly modern and elegant in comparison.
In addition to everyday practical objects from Japan, such as vases, tableware and decorative boxes, Japanese art, especially Japanese woodblock prints by masters of the ukiyo-e school, caught the eye of many artists — particularly those in the Art Nouveau poster community in 1880s Paris. The luscious organic colors associated with traditional Japanese design, motifs like cherry blossoms and carp and the vivid patterns found in woodblock prints, silks and more were adopted and appropriated by painters as well as ceramicists and those working in other fields of the decorative arts. Today, demand for Japanese lacquerware — furniture, trays, writing boxes, screens, incense burners — from the Edo period (1615–1868) and the late 19th century continues to be very strong among collectors.
Find a collection of antique Japonisme furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
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Style: Japonisme
Japanese Samurai Doll, End of 18th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful antique Samurai Doll, Japanese manufacture, end of 18th century.
Given as a present to young boys becoming adults, it is finely decorated with original 18th century dresse...
Category
Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Glass, Wood
Vintage Traditional Japanese Kokeshi Wood Doll
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Kokeshi or Kokashi doll handmade by Japanese artisans from wood.
The dolls have a simple trunk as a body and an enlarged head.
One characteristic of Kokeshi dolls is their lack of arms and legs.
signed underneath as follow.
Kokashi Doll Kegon Waterfall Japan 1987.
Kokeshi (???, ???), are simple wooden Japanese dolls with no arms or legs that have been crafted for more than 150 years as a toy for...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Wrought iron with braas winged Okimono Jizai dragonfly sculpture
Located in Ferndale, MI
Nicely crafted early Okimono sculpture of dragonfly . Wrought and forged body with brass wings . Original finish and patina .
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
Large Vintage Japanese Bronzed Sculpture of Toba on His Mule
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a beautiful large vintage Japanese bronzed sculpture of Toba on his Mule.
Some might say ‘Monumental’ .. being 34 inches tall ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bronze, Iron
Edo Period Japanese Bodhisattva Shrine
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible Edo Period Japanese gilt and lacquered carved wood shrine depicting a Bodhisattva with piercing glass eyes, a contemplative expression, and h...
Category
Early 1800s Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Giltwood, Lacquer, Wood
Japanese Stone Object medium / wabi-sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese stone object.
This stone object has a beautiful black and beige gradation.
An art object that gives you a sense of wabi-s...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Stone
Modern Japanese Gheisha Doll
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful vintage statue representing Gheisha in traditional costumes
Ebonized wood base
Every item of our Gallery, upon request, is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Sabrina Egidi official Expert in Italian furniture for the Chamber of Commerce of Rome and for the Rome...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Acrylic
Large Kokeshi by Kyutaro Ogura
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Vintage Large "Kokeshi" by Kyutaro Ogura. This large size is very rare. With signature.
Kyutaro Ogura (Ogura Kyutaro: 1906-1998)
Master: Hisashiro Ogur...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Maple
Japanese Edo Period Yoshitsune and Bannerman Warrior Musha Ningyô, Ca. 1800
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Edo Period Grand-Scale Yoshitsune and Bannerman Warrior Musha Ningyô, Ca. 1800
DIMENSIONS
Warrior - Height: 31 inches with platform.
Bannerman - Height: 28 inches with b...
Category
Early 1800s Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Japanese Edo Period Kyogen Mask o a Guardian, ca. 1750
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Edo Period Kyogen Mask o a Guardian, ca. 1750
DIMENSIONS:
Height: 8.5 inches
Width: 7 inches
Depth: 4.5 inches
ABOUT
A powerful and extremely rare Japanese Edo Period (1603-1868) Kyogen mask of a Nio Guardian...
Category
1750s Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Japanese Wood Bugaku Mask of Korobase Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A striking Japanese carved wood mask with polychrome paint and lacquer surface. This rare mask is dated to the Edo period (first half of 19th century and possibly earlier). The mask ...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Lacquer, Paint
Japanese Double-Cut 'Nijū-giri' Flower Container 'Hanaire' Ikebana Tea Ceremony
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Japanese Double-cut (Niju-giri)
Flower Container (Hanaire)
for ikebana tea ceremony.
1st half of 20th century.
Cut from a single piece of bamboo with root section
and openings for two tier flower arrangement, Niju-ike,
copper cups...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bamboo
Bamboo Flower Vase by Suigetsu Buseki
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Bamboo Flower vase by Suigetsu Buseki .
Suigetsu Buseki (1930–2013)
He is the second generation of "Bamboo Craft Midoriya". He studied under Koka...
Category
1950s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bamboo
Large Maple Leaves Kokeshi by Inosuke Kobayashi, 1970s, Japan
Located in Lyon, FR
Kokeshi à feuilles d'érables, des années 1970, fabriquée par Inosuke Kobayashi, prix du Premier Ministre en 1979.
Réputé pour son talent à reproduire avec précision l'art des tissus...
Category
1970s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of Antique Japanese Iron Pagodas
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Enchanting pair of Japanese pagodas crafted in iron with classic finials or sorin at the tops on five floors with hanging bells and an entrance at the bottom.
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron
Japanese Wagumi Handled Bamboo Basket Ikebana
Located in Atlanta, GA
Bold, rustic and with an earthy free spirit, this wagumi style flower basket with twisted handle (ikebana) was designed and woven to evoke a sense of serenity and humbleness during t...
Category
1920s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bamboo
Bamboo Flower Vase with carved picture
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Bamboo flower vase with signature of Suzuki Gengensai. However, its authenticity is unknown.
However, the quality is high and the engraving of Japan...
Category
1940s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bamboo
Set of Three Japanese Wood Netsukes
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of three Japanese netsukes carved out of wood with a reddish stained finish, appear to be circa mid-20th century. One depicts a frog holding a trumpet; one a rooster eating grain...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Monumental Japanese Bas Relief Carving on Natural Wood Slab
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Monumental Japanese bas relief carving on natural wood slab
Palatial sized Japanese wood carving from the Meiji Period (1868-1912). This stunning sc...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
20th Century Abstract Iron Sculpture, Japan
Located in Point Richmond, CA
20th Century Hollow Abstract Iron Sculpture, Japan
This heavy hollow iron sculpture by an unknown Japanese metalsmith is a knockout from every angle. It measure 9 inches high by 9 i...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Iron
1970s-80s Japanese Vintage Modern Sosaku Kokeshi Wooden Doll
Located in Chiba, JP
Rare find of refined vintage modern kokeshi simplified wooden doll titled as ‘Hajirai’ (lit. ‘Shyness’) made by a kokeshi artist, Kenichi Murakami (1929-1991), c.1970-80s, categorize...
Category
20th Century Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Japanese Meiji Period Shibayama Charger Featuring Cockerel
Located in Norwood, NJ
19th century Meiji period charger/plate with cockerel beautifully realistic in layers of carved shell, mother of pearl and bone to stand in high r...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Shell, Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer
Japanese Lacquered Samurai Jingasa Hat Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A bespoken Japanese historical hat known as Jinggasa (militant hat) that was worn by samurai in Edo period (1603-1868) circa 18-19th century. There were several subtypes of Jingasa a...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Shishi face Mask Japan 1940s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice highly decorative Shishi face Mask Japan 1940s ,some paint losses .
hand carved.
Category
1940s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Japanese Showa Vintage Wooden Geta-Foot Sculpture
Located in Chiba, JP
Anonymous vintage wooden sculpture of a right foot wearing geta (Japanese wooden sandal), Showa period, 20th century, Japan, approx. H 25cm (9.84in), thinly with varnish-like coating...
Category
20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Japanese Woven Bamboo Ikebana Basket
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese woven bamboo basket with handle from early 20th century, circa end of Meiji to Taisho period. The basket was constructed in the form o...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bamboo
Bamboo Flower Vase by Chikuyu Uematsu
By Uematsu Chikuyu
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Bamboo vase by Chikuyu Uematsu.
With original box.
Chikuyu Uematsu (1947-)
He was born in Tokyo. He graduated from Beppu Higher Vocational Training School in 1975. From the same yea...
Category
1990s Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bamboo
Finely Carved Japanese Okimono on Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique Okimono (Japanese means artsy display ornament object) displayed on a small custom wood stand from Meiji Period circa early 2oth century. T...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood
Boxwood netsuke representing a ducthman with child and a trumpet
Located in PARIS, FR
Wooden netsuke of a standing Dutchman figure with his mouth open, leaning forward. He is wearing a long curly wig, a ruff and a long coat tied at the waist. In his right hand, the ma...
Category
Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Boxwood
Japanese Hanging Bamboo Ikebana Basket Signed
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese bamboo Ikebana hanging basket circa 1920s-1940s, made with "sooted" bamboo (susutake in Japanese). This bamboo material was collected from traditional thatched-roof houses...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bamboo
Vintage Traditional Japanese Young Woman Ceramic Sculpture
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Japanese lady sculpture wood fired handmade ceramic pottery.
Traditional Japanese young woman small sculpture.
Unusual shape beautiful collectib...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Ceramic
Japan bronze cicada sculpture okimono Meiji
Located in PARIS, FR
Bronze sculpture with dark brown patina of a cicada.
The cicada (in Japanese, semi) is considered as a symbol of humanity. Together with a praying mantis and a spider, they represen...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Bamboo Basket Ikebana
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese woven bamboo basket in the shape of crescent with open top and a wrapped handle circa 1920s-1940s. The basket was woven with "sooted" bamboo (susutake in Japanese). This b...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bamboo
Japanese Lacquered and Gilt Wood Buddhism Statue from Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
An exceptional and wood statue of Buddhism Guardian Seitaka Doji from Japan circa Edo period (1603-1868), likely the earlier part of 17th century. One of two chief attendants of Fudou Myouou (the other being Kongara Doji), the name of Seitaka Doji is a transliteration of Sanskrit "Cetaka", meaning servant, slave, and he is said to personify expedient action. He is most commonly found on the right side of Fudou, together with Kongara Doji on the left, forming the Immovable triad, Fudou Sanzon, the terror of evil doers. Seitaka largely adheres to the iconography of a wrathful youth with fleshy body and face, skin in the color of a red lotus, has his hair tied in five knots, and holds a vajra in his left hand and a vajra-club in his right hand, but the actual artistic representations of him in Japan do...
Category
17th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Metal
Japanese small round bronze hare Meiji era
Located in PARIS, FR
Small round hare in bronze with dark brown patina, standing on its four legs.
In Japanese, the hare and the rabbit are referred to by a single word: usagi. The animal is one of the t...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Sculptured Wood Brazier with Copper Liner
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Japanese sculptured wood brazier with copper liner
A great piece, an original brazier to keep you warm in the late evening breeze or it would make a very attractive planter
Thi...
Category
19th Century Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Copper
Japanese round shaped rabbits bronze pair Hiroharu Hiramatsu Showa era
By Hiroharu Hiramatsu
Located in PARIS, FR
Pair of bronze rabbits running, their legs forming a round shape.
Made by Hiroharu Hiramatsu (1896 Hyôgo prefecture – 1971, Fukushima,平松宏春). Specialized in metal art, he is a counci...
Category
1930s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Bronze
Japanese antic deer sculpture
Located in PAU, FR
Big japanese deer sculpture in lacquered wood.
Black, red and gold patina.
The ears and wood are removable.
Probably Edo period
Category
1850s Japanese Antique Japonisme Sculptures and Carvings
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Japonisme sculptures and carvings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Japonisme sculptures and carvings for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sculptures and carvings created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects, folk art and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, bamboo and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Japonisme sculptures and carvings 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 sculptures and carvings, popular names associated with this style include and Uematsu Chikuyu. 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 sculptures and carvings differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $132 and tops out at $18,500 while the average work can sell for $1,942.