Edo Jewelry Boxes

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.

Style: Edo

Unique 17th Century Miniature Japanese Namban Lacquer Miniature Dollhouse Chest

$44,542

Unique 17th Century Miniature Japanese Namban Lacquer Miniature Dollhouse Chest

Located in Amsterdam, NL

A unique and exceptional Japanese miniature or dollhouse export lacquered chest Kyoto, circa 1620-1640 The chest of rectangular shape with a domed lid, decorated in Transition-style, in gold hiramaki-e on a black background within reserved lobed cartouches decorated with landscapes animated with birds and rabbits, on a shagreen or samegawa background. The borders are decorated with geometric friezes, the box with gilt-copper mounts, the interior decorated in red lacquer. Measures: H 9.2 x W 14.5 x D 7.2 cm This miniature is of exceptional quality and a perfect copy of the famous large size Transition-style coffers. It was most likely ordered by a Dutch lady for her dollhouse (poppenhuis), like the famous Petronella Oortman (1656-1716) doll-house, which is now one of the highlights in the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, or Petronella Oortmans-de la Court’s (1624-1707) dollhouse in the collection of the Centraal Museum Utrecht. Sara Rothé of Amsterdam in 1743 ordered a miniature black lacquered ivory tripod table with gold chinoiserie decoration by Jurriaan Buttner (Monika Kopplin, European Lacquer, 2010, p. 56). Other Japanned dollhouse...

Category

17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Shagreen, Cypress

Fine Japanese Export Red Lacquer Box with Masonic Symbols, circa 1800

$14,599

Fine Japanese Export Red Lacquer Box with Masonic Symbols, circa 1800

Located in Amsterdam, NL

A fine Japanese export red lacquer box with Masonic symbols Kyoto/Nagasaki, 1800-1820 Red lacquer decorated with scattered flowers and flying birds with long tails in gold, wit...

Category

Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Gold

Fine Japanese Namban Lacquer Jewelry Casket, 17th Century

$18,687

Fine Japanese Namban Lacquer Jewelry Casket, 17th Century

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Japanese Namban lacquer transition-style coffer with two drawers Kyoto/Nagasaki, circa 1650 The cartouches with gilt and red decorations of leaves...

Category

17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Cypress

Small Japanese Lacquer Duck Incense Box, Kogo, Meiji Period, Late 19th Century

$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, ...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

Japanese Maki-e Lacquer Stacking Box, Jubako, Meiji Period, Japan

$4,800

H 24 in W 14 in D 14 in

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...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

Japanese Lacquer Hokai Box, 19th Century

$1,550

H 16 in Dm 15 in

Japanese Lacquer Hokai Box, 19th Century

Located in Pasadena, CA

This is a good example of a traditional Japanese Hokai shell storage box for the Kai-awase game. This box is well-detailed in chased brass appliques and makie. The box is in overall ...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Black Lacquer Jubako Box with Stork Motif

$2,900

H 12.5 in W 9.25 in D 8.5 in

Japanese Black Lacquer Jubako Box with Stork Motif

Located in Stamford, CT

A four-tier Japanese Meiji period black lacquer Jubako box with stork and fir tree decoration. Box in four sections with lid.

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

Japanese Lacquer Maki-E Scroll Box Fubako by Kansonsai Edo Period

$7,600

H 3.5 in W 12.75 in D 4.5 in

Japanese Lacquer Maki-E Scroll Box Fubako by Kansonsai Edo Period

Located in Atlanta, GA

A Japanese lacquered wood fubako (a box to store document or small scroll painting) circa late 18th century of Edo period. The rectangular box features a deep lid with rounded corners and recessed mid-edge and a lower box with two bronze medallion rings and tasseled silk ties. The surface of the fubako was elaborately decorated with hiramaki-e and a low takamaki-e on a mottled Mura-nashiji background. The motifs on the lid depict branches of Japanese pine with finely rendered needles on the lower part; on the upper part, it showcases fruited persimmon branches. Two different shades of gold fundame were used to contrast the design and augmented by scattered gold kirigane to highlight some of the leaves. The design continues and cascades down to all sides of the lid as well as the walls of the box. The two bronze medallions appear original to the box and the silk ties show significant fading from the age. This Fine fubako is signed on the lower wall "Kanshosai" in Kanji with a kao mark. All the trims were finished in gold fundame and the interiors a dense nashiji in gold. Kanshosai is the mark of the distinguished lacquer artist Lizuka Toyo I who also signed his work "Toyosai". He was active in the second half of the 18th century during Edo period, employed by Hachisuka Shigeyoshi (1738-1801), daimyo of Awa on Shikoku Island. Although most survived work bearing his marks are inros, he was also known to decorated trays and other larger objects...

Category

Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Momoyama Period Black Lacquer and Mother of Pearl Box, 16th Century

$9,800

H 4 in W 11 in D 15 in

Japanese Momoyama Period Black Lacquer and Mother of Pearl Box, 16th Century

Located in Austin, TX

A fine and unusual Japanese black lacquer and mother of pearl inlaid box, Momoyama Period, 16th century, Japan. The large box and cover featu...

Category

16th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Lacquer, Abalone

Japanese Negoro Style Lacquered Worship Stand, 17th-18th Century

$1,780

H 6.11 in W 10.63 in D 20.08 in

Japanese Negoro Style Lacquered Worship Stand, 17th-18th Century

Located in Fukuoka, JP

"Discover a piece of Japanese religious heritage with this exceptional Negoro lacquered stand. Crafted in the 17th to 18th century, this worship article stand is a prime example of e...

Category

Late 17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Japanese Rinpa Style Lacquer Box Meiji Period

$2,200

H 2 in W 4.5 in D 5.5 in

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 ...

Category

1890s Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Antique Japanese Lacquer and Inlay Kang Table from Ryukyu Island

$3,600

H 5 in W 21 in D 12.5 in

Antique Japanese Lacquer and Inlay Kang Table from Ryukyu Island

Located in Atlanta, GA

A small low table with lacquer and intricate mother-of-pearl inlay design from Ryukyu Islands kingdom circa 17-18th century. Ryukyuan kingdom was used to be an independent island cou...

Category

18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer

Black and Gold Lacquer Japanese Suzuribako Box

$1,490

H 1.5 in W 6.75 in D 9 in

Black and Gold Lacquer Japanese Suzuribako Box

Located in Stamford, CT

19th century Japanese black and gold lacquer Suzuribako box with firefly and plum blossom design.

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

Japanese Marquetry and Lacquer Jewelry Chest, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan

$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...

Category

Early 1900s Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood, Softwood, Lacquer

Japanese Maki-e Lacquer Stack Box Jubako

$6,000

H 11 in W 7 in D 5.8 in

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 Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Previously Available Items

Miniature Hasamibako Travelling Chest Edo Period Late 18th Early 19th Century

Sold

H 4.73 in W 5.91 in D 4.73 in

Miniature Hasamibako Travelling Chest Edo Period Late 18th Early 19th Century

Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

A late 18th or early 19th-century Edo period hasamibako [travelling chest] of diminutive small proportions. The rectangular box and flush fitting cover, decorated in gold hiramak...

Category

Late 18th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Lacquer

Miniature 17th Century Japanese Lacquer Jewelry Cabinet with Gilt-Bronze Mounts

Sold

H 7.29 in W 6.66 in D 6.66 in

Miniature 17th Century Japanese Lacquer Jewelry Cabinet with Gilt-Bronze Mounts

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Possibly unique small cabinet Japan, Edo period, 17th century Black lacquered wood (Urushi), decorated with gold lacquer (Maki-e) and gilt copper mounts. Measures: Height 18.5 ...

Category

17th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Edo Period Black and Gold Lacquer Vanity Box, circa 1800

Sold

H 25.5 in W 10.75 in D 10.75 in

Japanese Edo Period Black and Gold Lacquer Vanity Box, circa 1800

Located in Austin, TX

A stunning Japanese black lacquer and maki-e decorated vanity box with mirror Stand, kyodai, Edo Period, 18th/19th century. The vanity comprised...

Category

Early 19th Century Japanese Antique Edo Jewelry Boxes

Materials

Silver, Bronze

Edo jewelry boxes for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Edo jewelry boxes for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage jewelry boxes created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with cypress, softwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Edo jewelry boxes 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 jewelry boxes differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $13,477 and tops out at $42,057 while the average work can sell for $17,342.