From 1868 to 1912, Emperor Mutsuhito oversaw an era of transformation in Japan. Formerly a country of feudalism and isolation, Japan entered an age of modernization influenced by newly established trade and exchange with the West. The Meiji period, or period of “enlightened rule,” also saw the global impact of the East Asian country’s culture. Japanese Meiji furniture was exhibited at expositions from Paris to San Francisco and created for export.
Prior to the Meiji era, furniture was mostly made by commission for the ruling class; now there were new domestic and international markets. European styles like Japonisme appropriated Japanese design while craftsmen in places like Wales and England employed japanning, a varnishing technique that approximated the appearance of lacquer for the surfaces of furnishings.
Meiji furniture made for Japanese homes and buildings constructed in Western styles resulted in taller tables, chairs, cabinets with large drawers and other features. The government invested in areas such as transportation and communication, and because people could freely choose occupations after the restrictions of feudalism, industries of various types were energized by expressive new ideas during those years. Art schools were formed and, for the first time, design was an area of study in the country, leading to the evolution of professional design as a career by the 1890s.
The work of Japanese designers was transmitted widely through lavishly illustrated pattern books that included designs for screens and lacquerware for the home. While screens today may be of use as decorative accents or partitions to ensure privacy in one’s space, Japanese screens were adorned with paintings and were featured in performing arts such as concerts, tea ceremonies and more. The color illustrations that characterize Meiji woodblock prints, a genre of Japanese art that grew out of 17th-century developments in printing and book publishing, depicted the sweeping changes that the era brought to East Asia.
Although it was a time of societal and cultural shifts, a bolstered interest in art and design elevated Japanese craft traditions. From colorful porcelain table lamps with silk shades and hardwood tables decorated with dark lacquer to cabinets featuring iron hardware and inlaid with mother-of-pearl, Meiji furniture showcased Japan’s artistic heritage to the world.
Find a collection of antique Japanese Meiji period case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects, wall decorations and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Inaba Japanese Cloisonne And Jade Box Yamanaka And Co
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Japanese cloisonne enamel box. The ware features a vibrant turquoise ground decorated with intricate scrolling wirework. The hinged lid is centered with an inset circular carved ja...
Enamel
Japanese Meiji Period Bamboo and Silver Cigar / Cigarette Box with Match Holder
Located in Newark, England
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING BOX AND MATCH HOLDER From our Japanese collection, we’re pleased to offer this Meiji period woven bamboo and mixed metal box with matching match holder. Th...
Silver, Copper
$400
H 1.19 in W 8.67 in D 3.94 in
Japanese Lacquered Box Meiji Decorative Box and Ink box, circa 1880
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Nice Japanese glove box in red, yellow and black lacquered wood dating from the end of the 19th century. It is decorated with delicate gold, black and red characters. Inside you have...
Wood, Lacquer
$2,900
H 1.5 in W 2.88 in D 1 in
Small Japanese Lacquer Duck Incense Box, Kogo, Meiji Period, Late 19th Century
Located in Austin, TX
An exquisite Japanese Meiji Period small lacquer incense box, kogo, in the form of a duck or goose, late 19th century, Japan. The delicate lacquer box, known as a kogo in Japanese, ...
Lacquer
Japanese Maki-e Lacquer Stacking Box, Jubako, Meiji Period, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A fine and impressive Japanese gold maki-e decorated black lacquer five-tier jubako with presentation tray, two lids, and the original tomobako storage box, Meiji period, late 19th c...
Lacquer
Japanese Rinpa Style Lacquer Box Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A black lacquer tebako (hand box) with maki-e decoration and silver trim, circa late 19th century, Meiji period. The surface of the lid features a Rinpa style maki-e paint depicting ...
Wood, Lacquer
Antique French Napoleon III Ormolu and Cloisonné Jewel Box
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Napoleon III ormolu and cloisonné jewel box. Just a little charmer.
Ormolu
$1,025
H 10 in W 11.75 in D 6 in
Japanese Lacquer Box with Mother-of-Pearl Inlay and Parquetry Drawers
Located in Yonkers, NY
A finely crafted Japanese tabletop cabinet from the early 20th century, this compact storage piece is richly detailed with traditional decorative techniques and export-era flourishes...
Wood
$3,400
H 15.75 in W 14.25 in D 7 in
Japanese Marquetry and Lacquer Jewelry Chest, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A very attractive Japanese wood table top jewelry or collector's chest with marquetry and lacquer decoration, Meiji period, circa 1900, Japan. Previously in the collection of Asbjorn Lunde (1927 - 2017). The chest is crafted in the form of a Chinese seal...
Wood, Softwood, Lacquer
Chinese Export Cloisonné Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Lovely Chinese export cloisonné box made of brass and enameled with a beautiful floral pattern in beautiful colors of red, green, blue and red. The box rests on ball feet. This chino...
Brass, Enamel
Small Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonne Round Box, circa 1910, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A small and delightful Japanese yellow ground cloisonne round trinket or incense box, Meiji Period, circa 1910, Japan. The small box of squat, round shape, and may originally have b...
Copper, Enamel
Red Japanese Lacquered Box Meiji Decorative Box, circa 1880
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Nice Japanese glove box in red and black lacquered wood dating from the end of the 19th century. It is decorated with delicate gold, black and white flowers and foliage on all its vi...
Lacquer, Wood
$504
H 3.08 in Dm 6.3 in
Antique Meiji Japanese Silver-Plated Trinket Box with Mount Fuji by Asahi Shoten
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A large and highly decorative Japanese box dating to the Meiji period, attributed to Asahi Shoten. The circular body is crafted from silver-plated pewter and richly decorated with tr...
Silver Plate, Pewter
Japanese Lacquer Box with Fine Maki-e Decoration Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lacquered wood box with lid from Japan circa 19th century Meiji Period. The finely decorated box was used to store paper slips and small documents on the desk. It is overall finished with black lacquer (kuro) with sparse Mura-Nashiji effect outside and on the top surface of the lid, there are three Komainu, (sometimes known as Shishi or Japanese lions) frolicking and forming a circle in lively motion. Komainu are auspicious animals in Japanese cultures in both Shinto and Buddhism tradition. Originally from China, these animals symbolizes guardians to ward off evil spirits. Hiramaki-e was used in combination with carving and combing to render the lions with various surface textures. A gilt border with an slight angle was given to the lid and even the thin band is decorated with miniature floral scrolls. The interior of the box was finished in a dense nashiji. Underneath the lid, a cluster of peonies open lavishly by two gentle mounts. Takamaki-e (high relief) in both gold and silver were...
Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 2.56 in W 8.47 in D 5.71 in
Japanese Meiji Period Silver and Mixed Metals Cigar Decorative Box by Hidekuni
Located in Newark, England
From our Japanese collection, we are delighted to introduce this Japanese Silver and Mixed Metals Box by Hidekuni. The Japanese Box of large rectangular form lined in a dark asian ro...
Gold, Silver