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.
French Chinoiserie/Japanism Dore Bronze and Hand Painted Porcelain Clock
By Ferdinand Barbedienne, Edouard Lievre
Located in New York, NY
A very unusual and quite rare 19th century French chinoiserie/Japanism dore bronze mounted and hand painted porcelain aesthetic movement clock, attributed to E. Lièvre, most probably...
Ormolu
$10,345 / set
Japanese Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Clock Set
By Japy Frères
Located in London, GB
This beautiful clock set is designed in a fanciful Japanese style, known in France in the 19th Century as ‘Japonisme’. The style became highly fashionable in Europe after 1853, when ...
Bronze, Enamel
Antique Edwardian Quality Hand Painted Porcelain Mantle Clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Antique Edwardian quality hand painted porcelain mantle clock having a quality hand painted decorated porcelain clock case with flowers, leaves an...
Porcelain, Glass
Japy Freres Louis XVI Antique French Gilt Bronze Clock Set
By Japy Frères
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A beautiful, classically designed antique French gilt bronze clock set by Japy Frères. It features oval panels to the sides showing Fortun...
Bronze
Sèvres Porcelain with Doré Bronze Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sèvres Porcelain with doré bronze clock. Clock is not running.
Bronze
French Bronze Chinoiserie Clock, circa 1880
Located in New York, NY
French bronze chinoiserie clock, circa 1880.
Bronze
Japy Freres Rococo Gilt Bronze Antique French Cartel Wall Clock
By Japy Frères
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A superb Rococo gilt-bronze cartel clock, the asymmetrical rocaille cartouche conceived as a cloud-borne trophy after the celebrated painted ceiling of the Salon d’Hercule, Palace of...
Bronze
$2,270
H 8 in W 14 in D 4.25 in
French Cold-Painted Bronze and Marble Art Deco Chinoiserie Mantel Clock
Located in Montreal, QC
This rare timepiece, made in France but retailed by the British silversmith Mappin and Webb is the only one of its type we have found. It may be unique. The rectangular dial has Roma...
Marble, Bronze
Rare Louis XVI Period Enamel and Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare Louis XVI period enamel and gilt bronze clock on a black marble base.
Bronze
$2,750
H 13 in W 11 in D 4.25 in
Wonderful French Empire Dore and Patinated Bronze Cherub Putti Wreath Clock
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful French Empire doré and patinated bronze Cherub Putti wreath clock, not currently in working order, back cover is missing as is bel...
Bronze
Antique Samson Porcelain and Ormolu Chinoiserie Elephant Clock
Located in London, GB
Antique Samson porcelain and ormolu Chinoiserie elephant clock French, Late 19th Century Height 24cm, width 17cm, depth 13cm This exquisite and...
Ormolu
$24,830
H 20.08 in W 10.63 in D 8.67 in
Louis XVI Style Champlevé Enamel and Gilt-Bronze Mantel Clock, circa 1880
By LeRoy
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
An exceptional Louis XVI style champlevé enamel and gilt-bronze mantel clock with finely painted neoclassical scenes by Leroy & Fils. French, circa 1880. Stamped to the movement ‘LEROY & FILS A PARIS, 823’. This fine gilt-bronze and champlevé enamel clock has an arched case with outset bulbous columns to the angles, it is surmounted by a drum top with a pierced scroll and ball finial and applied with expressive cherub mounts. The front and sides of the clock are all exceptionally finely painted with neoclassical scenes of figures in an architectural setting and the top and base enriched with fine polychrome champlevé enamel. The clock has an enamelled chapter ring with Roman numerals interspersed with anthemion devices and a twin barrelled, eight-day movement striking on a bell. The firm of Leroy et Fils was founded by Bazile Charles Leroy in 1789. He was a clockmaker to the Emperor Napoléon, The Duke of Orleans, The Duke of Bourbon and Princess Pauline. In 1823, he filed a patent for self-winding atmospheric clock operated by weathervane and in 1840 a patent for wind clocks. When Charles Louis died in 1865 his son Louis Leroy...
Bronze, Enamel
$5,724
H 16.15 in W 5.91 in D 5.52 in
Outstanding Quality Large French Antique Hand Painted Porcelain Mantel Clock
Located in Suffolk, GB
Outstanding quality large French antique Victorian hand painted porcelain urn shaped mantle clock having a magnificent quality hand painted porcelain case in the shape of an urn with...
Ceramic
$39,500 / set
H 25 in W 12 in D 9 in
Large French Japonisme Ormolu Garniture Clock Set Attributed to Edouard Lievre
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent and finely cast palatial and very large French 19th century Japonisme three-piece ormolu garniture clock set attributed to Edouard Lievre. This striking and extremely u...
Bronze
Sold
H 77.5 in W 22.5 in D 13 in
Vtg Japanese Dragon Carved Oak Tempus Fugit Pagoda Grandfather Clock Oriental
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive oriental chinoiserie Tempus Fugit Grandfather Clock made in Okinawa Japan, circa 1970s. Hand Crafted from oak with pagoda ...
Oak