Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
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
Vintage kimono textile art "Fern ~Connection to Nature~" by ikasu Black , Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
This work uses an antique tomesode (festive kind of kimono) with fern design to evoke feelings of tranquility, harmony, and appreciation for the beauty of the environment. Can be used both vertically and horizontally.
It is elegantly framed with paulownia wood originally used for kimono chest-of-drawers, and is filled with storytelling and sense of luxury.
I used pieces of kimono that could no longer be used as clothing and kiritansu chest-of-drawers that would normally be discarded to create the ultimate upcycled piece.
<< Explanation of colors and patterns >>
In Japanese traditional culture, ferns, particularly the Japanese painted fern (Athyrium niponicum), hold several meanings and symbolisms:
・Elegance and Beauty: Ferns are admired for their graceful, delicate appearance and intricate leaf patterns. In Japanese aesthetics, they are appreciated for their natural beauty and are often used in gardens, landscapes, and floral arrangements to add a sense of refinement and elegance.
・Resilience and Perseverance: Ferns are known for their ability to thrive in diverse environments, including shady forests, rocky cliffs, and damp soil. Their resilience in the face of challenging conditions is seen as a symbol of endurance and perseverance. In Japanese culture, ferns may represent the ability to overcome adversity and flourish despite obstacles.
・Connection to Nature and Tranquility: Ferns are native to forested areas and are often associated with the natural world. In Japanese traditional culture, they symbolize a deep connection to nature and the importance of maintaining harmony with the environment. The lush green foliage of ferns evokes feelings of tranquility and peacefulness, making them popular motifs in Zen gardens and traditional landscape paintings.
・Purity and Simplicity: Ferns are emblematic of simplicity and purity in Japanese aesthetics. Their unassuming beauty and understated elegance reflect the principles of wabi-sabi, an aesthetic worldview that values imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity. Ferns may be used in tea ceremonies, Ikebana (flower arranging), and other traditional arts to evoke a sense of tranquility and appreciation for life's fleeting moments.
Overall, ferns in Japanese traditional culture symbolize elegance, resilience, connection to nature, purity, and simplicity. Their presence in art, literature, and landscape design underscores their enduring significance as symbols of natural beauty and spiritual resonance.
<< Characteristics of the fabric >>
This vintage textile is hand-painted with a traditional Japanese technique called "yuzen".
<< About the frame >>
Kiritansu - chest-of-drawers for kimono, is traditionally made from paulownia wood, a uniquely Japanese material closely tied to the world of kimonos.
Paulownia wood is known as the lightest wood in Japan, prased for its natural luster, resistance to moisture, and resilience against cracking. Since ancient times, it has been used in crafting furniture, chests, and musical instruments.
During the Edo period, it became customary to store cherished kimonos in paulownia chests...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silk, Wood
A Japanese netsuke depicting a monkey with a turtle
Located in Milano, IT
Boxwood netsuke depicting a seated monkey stopping a turtle with its right paw.
Period: Edo 19th century
Dimensions: 4 x 3.2 x 3.8 cm.
Condition: Excellent condition.
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Boxwood
19th Century Blue and White Japanese Porcelain Dish Meiji Period
Located in Brea, CA
19th century blue and white Japanese porcelain dish Meiji period decorated with prunus on the cobalt blue ground, inscription to base, Ex Bonhams lot 268 diameter 12 inch.
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Rare Inscribed Japanese Wood Chest Zenibako on Custom Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare original and impressively intact Japanese Zenibako (banker's money box) from late 19th century circa Meiji Period (1868-1912). The chest was made from cypress wood and fitted ...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Iron
A Japanese Samurai ressei menpo mask
Located in Milano, IT
Samurai menpo mask with the ressei (fierce) expression, belonging to the me-no-shita "half-face" type, which stands out for its leather surface to simulate ...
Category
18th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Leather
Rare Triptych Scroll Paintings by Watanabe Seitei Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of three paintings of ink and watercolor on silk mounted within brocade borders as scrolls by Watanabe Seitei (1851-1918). This is a very rare an...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Brocade, Silk, Wood
Japanese Maki-e Lacquer Stack Box Jubako
Located in Atlanta, GA
An antique jubako (stack boxes) with five tiers in an elongated octagon shape circa 19th century (end of Edo or beginning of Meiji period). jubako was traditionally used to store and...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Reconstructed Ceramics #6 Contemporary Zen Japonism Style
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
This series of ceramics are unique work by Norihiko Terayama. He broke ceramic at first, and make it into a lot of fragment. He rasp some of fragmen...
Category
2010s Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Kiriko Candleholder Ryosuke Harashima Contemporary Zen Japanese Craft Mingei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Candleholder designed by Ryosuke Harashima.
This work is made of antique Kiriko glass plate and brass.
Artist create new style candleholder by combining old kiriko glass and Indust...
Category
2010s Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Brass
Tsumikasanattamono by Wataru Hatano BK
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Japan / 2021s
Size : W1200 D25 H1550 mm
Kuroya Washi artist Hatano Wataru's masterpiece "Stacked Things" series. Japanese paper, soil, pigments, etc. are layered on top of each other to express the beauty of what has been accumulated over the years.
[Wataru Hatano...
Category
2010s Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Sandstone
Japanese Ceramic Centerpiece Bowl Makuzu Kozan Meiji Period
By Makuzu Kozan
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautiful ceramic vessel in the form of Bo, the so-called monk's alms bowl from the studio of Japanese Potter Makuzu Kozan, also known as Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), one of the most established and collected ceramist from Meiji Period. Born as Miyagawa Toranosuke, Kozan established his pottery studio in Yokohama circa 1870s and later became one of the appointed artists to the Japanese Imperial household. His work was exhibited in many international fairs that the Meiji government participated at the turn of the century and won many grand prizes.
Of a relatively large size, this piece was made as a decorative center piece for display. It was brilliantly decorated with underglaze paint of a green-on-green bamboo motif, using the novel technique developed by Kozan called Fuki-e (the blow painting). As a result, the bamboos appear took on a three-dimensional quality as if appearing in a mist. Known as one of the most creative ceramists, circa 1887, Kozan started experimenting with new chemical colors from the West in the format of his porcelain glaze. New colors allowed him to create underglaze design that appeared bright, smooth and glossy. To create design that is realistic and dimensional, more common in the western paintings, he was inspired by the native Japanese ink painting technique developed around 1900 by Yokoyama Taikan...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Vintage kimono textile art "Snowflake ~New Beginnings~" by ikasu Purple, Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
Six canvases (Diameter approx. 30cm, 25cm, 20cm) use the fabric taken from antique kimono, its' various parts, to create one harmonious fluid image of a snowflake - a symbol of new b...
Category
1970s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Silk
Antique Asian Lacquered and Inlayed Cabinet
Located in Buxton, GB
This antique Japanese lacquered cabinet is a beautiful piece of furniture that is perfect for any collector of antique furniture. The ...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Shell, Wood
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 Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Framed Japanese Embroidery Textile Panel Rootsters
Located in Atlanta, GA
A matted and framed Japanese silk panel with elaborate embroidery circa late Meiji to Taisho period (1910-30s). On a bright background, two rooster...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silk, Wood
Vintage Japanese Imari Porcelain Bowl Hand-Painted for Geary's Beverly Hill
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Vintage Japanese Imari Porcelain 7.5" Bowl - Hand Decorated for Geary's Beverly Hills.
Set of two Japanese Imari porcelain Bowls from the prestigious brand GEARYS BEVERLY HILLS,
Vintage collectible large blue and white porcelain bowl. These beautiful Japanese bowls are hand painted.
Perfect for display or using as catchall or vide poche.
Vintage Japanese Porcelain...
Category
20th Century Hong Kong Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
Japanese Inro by Koma Koryu Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A four-case lacquered inro by Koma Koryu circa 19th century late Edo period. The inro features a pair of Chinese mandarin duck resting under a bundle of blooming irises on the pond. ...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Fine Japanese Lacquered Inro by Yutokusai
Located in Atlanta, GA
A four-case lacquered Japanese inro by Yutokusai (Gyokkei), a lacquer artist active from 1845-1900 (end of Edo to Meiji period). The slightly round inro features a very intricate design with three unfolded fans on the front and two on the back: each reveals a vignette landscape scenery, likely real places in Japan. Using a combination of hiramaki-e and slight takamaki-e, the artist deftly created the pictures with fine details, rendering the inro as a miniature artwork...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Yasse Tabuch Signed Dedicated and Dated Watercolor
Located in Roma, IT
Yasse Tabuch Signed Dedicated and Dated Watercolor
Asian Fine Art Painting
Yasse Tabuchi’s paintings belongs to the same line as that of the group of pai...
Category
1980s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Paper
Japanese Black Lacquer Box Together with a Blue and White Arita Plate
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
2 drawers. Drop down top. A Japanese black lacquer box
Together with a blue and white Arita plate,
20th century
Lacquer box of rectangular form with b...
Category
20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Lacquer
19th century Japanese Wood Carving Temple Shrine Sea Breams and Wave Decoration
Located in Chiba, JP
SEA BREAMS AND WAVES – Wood carving decoration with the remains of original bule paint as the actual fragment of a certain Japanese temple/shrine construction, Edo-Meiji period, 19th...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood
Period Japanese Ink Drawing Gheisha
Located in Roma, IT
Fascinating and important oriental coloured drawing
Japanese Gheisha.
Every item of our Gallery, upon request, is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Sabrina Egidi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Paper
Pair of Large Antique Japanese Hokai Lacquer Boxes
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Japanese lacquer lidded Hokai boxes with chased brass hardware and original ropes. Hokai boxes are traditionally used in Japan to store and carry s...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Japanese Antique Fusuka Textile Art Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese silk Fukusa panel circa late 19th-early 20th century of Meiji Period. The front was beautifully decorated with Yuzen-zome, a labor intensive resist-dye technique invested by an artist monk Miyazaki Yuzensai (1654 -1736) of Edo period. The auspicious composition features a group of red-crown cranes, the symbol of longevity. Three of them perch on the rock by the ocean (East Sea) an two of them are in flight. Additionally, two egrets frolic in the wave. Yuzen dying was used extensively to showcase the amazing details such as the waves and the gradual coloring effect. Embroidery was used sparsely to highlight areas such as the legs of the crane to render it more dimensional details.
The piece has a red silk backing and still retains four blue tassels on corners as well as decorative stitches along the edges.
Fukusa is a traditional Japanese textile...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Brocade, Silk
Antique kimono textile art " Waves and clouds ~Eternity~ " by ikasu Beige, Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
This work is inspired by traditional hand-dying technique edo-komon, and is framed in paulownia wood originally used for a kimono chest-of-drawers.
It is elegantly framed with paulo...
Category
1920s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silk, Wood
Vintage kimono textile art "Marble Story ~ Healing ~" by ikasu Grey, Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
This work uses a vintage kimono fabric with marble pattern, that makes it look like a real piece of marble.
The line in the middle symbolizes “kintsugi” - concept of wabi-sabi, which values imperfection, impermanence, and the beauty of aging.
It is elegantly framed with paulownia wood originally used for kimono chest-of-drawers, and is filled with storytelling and sense of luxury.
I used pieces of kimono that could no longer be used as clothing and kiritansu chest-of-drawers that would normally be discarded to create the ultimate upcycled piece.
<< Explanation and meaning of pattern and colors >>
Kintsugi (金継ぎ), which translates to "golden joinery" or "golden repair," is a traditional Japanese art form of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. I used this tecnique here to "repair" antique kimono by transforming it into art work. Beyond its literal meaning of mending broken ceramics, kintsugi carries profound philosophical and cultural significance in Japanese tradition:
・Embracing Imperfection: Kintsugi celebrates imperfection and impermanence. Rather than disguising or concealing flaws, it highlights them, treating the breakage as part of the object's history. This philosophy encourages acceptance of imperfection as an essential aspect of life, beauty, and human experience.
・Wabi-Sabi Aesthetic: Kintsugi embodies the principles of wabi-sabi, an aesthetic worldview centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Wabi-sabi values simplicity, authenticity, and the beauty of things that are imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete. Kintsugi exemplifies these principles by turning what might be considered flaws into features that enhance the object's beauty and character.
・Resilience and Transformation: The act of repairing broken things with precious metals symbolizes resilience and transformation. Instead of discarding or replacing the broken object, kintsugi honors its history and transforms it into something new and valuable. This reflects broader philosophical themes of overcoming adversity, finding beauty in imperfection, and embracing change.
・Honoring the Past: Kintsugi preserves and honors the history of the object. Rather than erasing or ignoring its past, it acknowledges and celebrates it. This aspect of kintsugi can be seen as a metaphor for honoring our own personal histories, including the challenges and setbacks we have faced, and recognizing how they have shaped us into who we are today.
・Spiritual and Philosophical Symbolism: Kintsugi has spiritual and philosophical implications, reflecting concepts such as the interconnectedness of all things, the cycle of life and death, and the pursuit of harmony and balance. The process of repairing broken objects with precious metals is seen as a metaphor for spiritual growth, enlightenment, and the journey towards wholeness.
Overall, kintsugi represents not only a practical technique for repairing ceramics but also a profound philosophical and cultural perspective on life, beauty, and the human experience. It embodies values such as resilience, acceptance, and the transformative power of embracing imperfection.
<< Characteristics of the fabric >>
This vintage textile is hand-painted with a traditional painting technique where the colors are added on wet surface, which creates an effect of marble.
<< About the frame >>
Kiritansu - chest-of-drawers for kimono, is traditionally made from paulownia wood, a uniquely Japanese material closely tied to the world of kimonos.
Paulownia wood is known as the lightest wood in Japan, prased for its natural luster, resistance to moisture, and resilience against cracking. Since ancient times, it has been used in crafting furniture, chests, and musical instruments.
During the Edo period, it became customary to store cherished kimonos in paulownia chests...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Bronze Pair of Geese Koros
Located in Downingtown, PA
Japanese bronze geese koros,
Late 19th century.
The pair of goose koros or censors are in the form of geese with their long necks extended and their ...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Metal
Framed Japanese Antique Phoenix Dragon Embroidery Tapestry Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A visually stunning Japanese embroidery tapestry circa 1890s-1900s late Meiji period, presented with a linen matt with gold trim in a gilt wood frame. The design showcases a flying p...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silk, Giltwood
Large C19th Japanese Silk & Bamboo Screen or Room Divider
Located in London, GB
Large C19th Japanese silk and bamboo screen.
A truly superb four-fold room divider with silk panels depicting a forest scene with birds and flowers. Each panel features a bamboo cro...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silk, 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 Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood
Japanese Woven Linen Kimono with Katazome Stencil Dyes
Located in Atlanta, GA
On offer is a Japanese summer kimono woven from indigo blue linen with ivory color fine stripes patterns with apparently darker weft additions. The elega...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Linen
Calico Clothing tray Ryosuke Harashima Urushi Contemporary Zen Japanese Mingei
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tray made by Ryosuke Harashima.
This work is made of antique tray painted by urushi and fabric.
Artist create renewed tray which is upholstered with fabric. This pattern was reache...
Category
2010s Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Antique kimono textile art " Kobachi ~ Coral Collection ~ " by ikasu Pink, Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
This work is inspired by the coral color palette, and is framed in paulownia wood originally used for a kimono chest-of-drawers.
In this artwork, the aim was to capture the wide pal...
Category
1920s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silk, Wood
Large Vintage Japanese Maki-e Lacquer Kimono Tray
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large square lacquer presentation tray (likely for kimono) predated 1950 of the Showa period. Elaborately decorated with Maki-e that depicts the prunus blossom, bamboo and needle p...
Category
1940s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Antique Japanese Ink Hanging Scroll Hidaka Tetsuo with Wood Storage Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
A hanging ink (Sumi-e) silk scroll by Japanese Zen artist Hidaka Tetsuo (1791-1871). Well presented in brocade boarders and mounted on paperback, this scroll depicts "Three Noble Friends in Winter" in a poetic and novel way. One of the favorite subjects by Chinese painters, the three noble friends in winter consists of pine, bamboo and plum flowers. They were admired for their characters of strength in cold resistance to remain evergreen and even blossom in unfavorable condition. The artist, however, composited the subjects in a none-conventional way as Ikebana. Bamboo and flowering plum branches were presented in an oversized pot...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Brocade, Wood, Paper
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 Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Boxwood
Vintage obi textile art " Moon phase II " by ikasu Silver, Black, Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
<< About this artwork >>
This artwork has been upcycled from a stunning obi, which is adorned with calligraphy weaving saying "moon" and "moonlight".
<< Period / Story >>
The obi...
Category
1970s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silver Leaf
Vintage Kimono Red Silk Brocade Japanese Ceremonial Wedding Dress
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A vintage midcentury red color silk brocade collectable Japanese ceremonial wedding kimono.
One of a kind handcrafted .
Fabulous museum quality ceremonial piece in pure silk with ...
Category
20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silk
Reconstructed Ceramics #4 Contemporary Zen Japonism Style
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
This series of ceramics are unique work by Norihiko Terayama. He broke ceramic at first, and make it into a lot of fragment. He rasp some of fragmen...
Category
2010s Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Framed Japanese Embroidery Art Portraits
Located in Atlanta, GA
Artistically framed for display in a slight shadow frame with non-reflective pixie glass, these pair of embroidery art panels from Japan are dated circa 1910-1930s, end of Meiji to early Taisho period. This period was the peak of the Japanese oversea expositions, when all things Japonisme took Europe and America by storm and left long-lasting impact on western art and design. The influence, however, was clearly not one-directional; As when Japanese artists, artisans and dealers experienced western art, it in turn inspired and impacted on the aesthetics of the Japanese art made for the western tastes. An interesting crop of art forms quickly emerged with a particular outlook that bridged the east and west, with the fundamental techniques still rooted in Japanese traditions. These rare hyper-realistic embroidered portraits were such an example. They took the essential format of the western portrait that permeated the Victoria and Edwardian Society, but substituted with exotic Japanese subjects and executed in traditional embroidery techniques which had been perfected for centuries by the natives.
The two portraits on offer, one an elder man with long white beards and a pair of round spectacles lighting a pipe, and the other a grinning man with a peasant attire, were both set in black background, stimulating an appearance of Classic western oil painting or perhaps even the photograph. The fine stiches were maneuvered into an impressively hyper-realistic imagery that was far removed from the traditional Japanese embroidery...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Silk, Wood
Japanese Rinpa Style Lacquer Ink Stone Box Suzuribako
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese writing box with ink stone (known as Suzuribako) with exquisite maki-e decoration circa late Meiji to early Taisho period (1890s-1930s)...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
Set of Five Ceramic Tea Cups by Otagaki Rengetsu
Located in Atlanta, GA
A set of five stoneware sencha tea cups by Otagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875). These miniature cups were simply molded in the classic form, glazed in off white and incised with cursive waka poems, a signature decorative style by the artist. Accompanies the cups is a wood storage box and paper slip label inscribed "Rengetsu sencha, tea cups"
Purportedly purchased from Tessai-do Co. Ltd., Japan in 1991.
Otagaki Rengetsu was a famous Buddhist nun in Edo period who is widely regarded to have been one of the greatest Japanese poets...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Wood
Japanese Calligraphy Box
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a very elegant and simplistic Japanese lacquered calligraphy box that dates to the mid-20th century. The minimal refined designed box includes the brush and other required wr...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood, Lacquer
A 19th C.French Japanism Style Dragon Design Hardwood Sofa, by Gabriel Viardot
Located in New York, NY
An Incredible 19th Century French Hardwood Japanism Sofa, by Gabriel Viardot. The backrest of this exceptional sofa is adorned with a stunning display of carved open fret-work design...
Category
1890s French Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Japanese Antique Textile Panel of American Historical Great White Fleet
Located in Atlanta, GA
Nicknamed Great White Fleet, the sailing of the United States Navy battleships around the globe from December 16, 1907 to February 22, 1909 by order of Uni...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Brocade, Silk, Wood
Bailly Théroux Late 19th Century Japanese Inspired Lacquered Side Table
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Nice late 19th century Japanese inspired lacquered side table. The top is finely lacquered and in relief, it is made of Japanese inspired landscape, with birds, flowers and foliage, ...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage kimono textile art " Seaside ~ Kintsugi ~ " by ikasu White/Blue Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
This work is inspired by the sea and the sky, uses golden leafing as a creative point, framed in paulownia wood originally used for a kimono chest-of-drawers.
In this artwork, the aim was to capture the splendor of Japanese nature, showing the sea, sky, and forests. Traditional Japanese culture, represented by the kimono, and wood, an integral element of Japanese craftsmanship, were used to bring this vision to life.
I used two pieces of kimono that could no longer be used as clothing and bark that would normally be discarded to create the ultimate upcycled piece.
The marriage of Japanese natural materials - silk, paulownia (frame), and pine (branch slices for the center decoration) - and Japanese natural patterns - blue ocean waves and clouds - expresses the magnificent beauty of Japanese nature from various angles.
The central golden leaf decoration stands out as a distinctive feature of this work. The piece uses the concept of "kintsugi" - it "unites" the pieces of antique kimono back together with golden leaf to give it a second wind as art work.
<< Period / Story >>
The kimono used in this piece was originally crafted during the late Showa period (1960-80ies).
<< Explanation and meaning of pattern and colors >>
The kimonos on this canvas have been creatively repurposed into interior artwork. The one on the left represents ocean wave pattern.
Seigaiha waves is regarded as a pattern of good fortune, embodying wishes for eternal happiness and a tranquil life for future generations.
The fabric on the right is embellished with cloud patterns woven in various techniques. Clouds, with their ever-shifting shapes and colors, have long intrigued people as signs of big events or omens.
<< Characteristics of the fabric >>
The kimono used for a part on the left has a lustrous, ivory-colored ground that serves as a backdrop for the vibrant ocean wave pattern expressed through the ground pattern.
On the right fabric, the cloud pattern is beautifully rendered by dyeing both the plain fabric and delicate patterns. This is achieved through the so-called "Yose-komon" technique, where each cloud is adorned with small patterns such as hail, sharks skin pattern, and other intricate details.
Edo komon, created using a refined and advanced dyeing technique that appears as a solid color from a distance, originated during the Edo period (1603-1868) and remains highly popular as formal kimono attire to this day.
<< About the frame >>
Kiritansu - chest-of-drawers for kimono, is traditionally made from paulownia wood, a uniquely Japanese material closely tied to the world of kimonos.
Paulownia wood is known as the lightest wood in Japan, prased for its natural luster, resistance to moisture, and resilience against cracking. Since ancient times, it has been used in crafting furniture, chests, and musical instruments.
During the Edo period, it became customary to store cherished kimonos in paulownia chests...
Category
Late 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Cloisonné Covered Jar by Ando Jubei
By Ando Jubei
Located in Atlanta, GA
Japanese cloisonné enamels are known as shippo-yaki and the mid-19th century saw the production of very high quality wares in the early centers Nagoya. One of the most renowned works...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Metal, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Japanese Ceramic Bowl Makuzu Kozan Utusushi Kenzan
By Makuzu Kozan
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare ceramic bowl with overglaze paint decoration by Japanese imperial potter Makuzu Kozan ((1842–1916). Unlike the better-known works Kozan made for the expositions in the west and export to the foreign market, this piece exemplifies his work for the domestic market and the tea ceremony. The bowl was made in the so called "Utusushi" Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743), a celebrated Edo painter and ceramicist. Utusushi is loosely translated as "in the spirit of". It is not at all a simple imitation of a master, but a Japanese concept of embracing the spiritual essence of a master while the creator is free to mix in his or her own unique artistic interpretation and flavor.
The bowl was made to hold fruits during the tea ceremony. It has a very distinguished form with a circular lower body morphing into a square upper portion that further opening with flared rim. The surface has a grey glaze onto which Asagao flowers (Japanese morning glory) on the vines were painted in a free and poetic style. White was used for the petals, green for the leaves with touches of gold highlight. Asagao, the symbol of the summer was rendered in the spirit of Ogata Kenzan, and interestingly the shape of the blossom echoes the unique form the bowl. It was likely reserved for the tea ceremony during the summer months.
Under the base, Kozan was signed in black on a white porcelain plaque inlay.
For two similar examples of Kozan's work Utusushi Kenzan, see Page 168-169 of the book: Sekai ni Aisa Reta ya Kimono Miyagawa Kozan Makuzu...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Ceramic Sake Bottle Chosen Karatsu Ware
Located in Atlanta, GA
The long neck bottle of classic form was heavily potted with coarse clay with high iron content. The flask, circa 18th century Edo period, was purposed for sake storage but also substituted as a flower vase during tea ceremony. The surface is covered in glossy black glaze and contrasts strikingly with white ash glaze around the shoulder. The white, fired with straw, displays a splashing feather effect and fine crackles, blending in with the black artistically. This type of Karatsu ware...
Category
18th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Monastery Robe Patchwork Kesa with inscription Edo Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese Kesa (Monk's Vestment) made from fourteen columns of patchworks of blue brocades with sumptuous woven pattern. The elaborate motifs feature re...
Category
Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Brocade, Silk
Large Scale Japanese Cloisonne Tree Bark Vase Lamp
Located in Atlanta, GA
Large scale Japanese "Tree Bark" style Cloisonne vase lamp. The vase itself is believed to be 19th century and was later mounted as a lamp in the 1...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Metal
Vintage kimono textile art "Autumn branches ~ Kintsugi ~" by ikasu Brown, Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
The frame for this work is made of paulownia wood taken from antique Kiritansu - chest-of-drawers for kimono.
I use antique kiritansu that can’t be used as furniture anymore to crea...
Category
1960s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Antique Kakiemon Plate from Arita
Located in Atlanta, GA
A milky white dish with slight scalloped rim and decorated with cobalt blue iron red and green enamel over glaze, this delicate piece in Kakiemon Style was dated at least to the earl...
Category
Early 18th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Japanese Lacquered Incense Box Kobako Ex-Christie's
Located in Atlanta, GA
An old Japanese lacquered small box likely used to contain incense powder called Kobako, circa Momoyama to early Edo period (16-17th century). The rectangular form box with a fitted ...
Category
17th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Lead
A Satsuma Vase Depicting A Group Of Carp Swimming In A Stream
Located in Milano, IT
A Satsuma vase depicting a group of carp swimming in a stream. The scene is depicted from a shore perspective, where partially submerged tree trunks emerge and delicate flowers bloom...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Japanese Ceramic Ikebana Vase Bizen Ware Nanba Koyo
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall vintage ceramic vase with handle from Japan (20th century) by Nanba Koyo. Made in the tradition of Bizen ware, the vase has a modern aesthetic with a...
Category
20th Century Japanese Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Pair Japanese Woodblock, Matted, Custom Ebony Frames
Located in Manhasset, NY
A pair of Japanese Woodblocks each in a fine custom matted frame with fine ebony and gilt decorations. Each signed and dated on the reverse. Listed below.
-A courtyard lady in a comm...
Category
1880s Japanese Antique Japonisme Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Papercord, Wood
Japonisme asian art and furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Japonisme asian art and furniture 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 asian art and furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Japonisme asian art and furniture 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 asian art and furniture, popular names associated with this style include Makuzu Kozan, Ando Jubei, Cordélia Faure, and Dorian Étienne. 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 asian art and furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $54,000 while the average work can sell for $3,271.