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.
Antique 19th c. Japanese Shaku Dokei Hanging Stick Pillar Wall Clock
Located in Danville, CA
Antique 19th c. Japanese Shaku Dokei Hanging Stick Pillar Wall Clock Here I'm offering a very old Japanese stick clock or Shaku-Dokei. The wood case has a...
Brass
19th-Century Pendulum Wall Clock
Located in Opole, PL
We present you this chain pendulum clock with a gravity winding mechanism with a single weight. The case bears normal traces of long years of use. It is intended to be renovated. ...
Brass
Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Wall Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A traditional Austrian Biedermeier wall clock featuring a rectangular carved and gilded wood frame clock face; surmounted by a gilt bronze winged eagle. The decorations on the frame ...
Bronze
19th Century Antique Wall Clock, Wood German
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A rare find Antique French or maybe German wall clock. All wood frame with hand made brass gears. The dial is painted and shows the old paint cracks. I beli...
Wood
French 19th Century Ormolu Cartel Wall Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality 19th century French gilded ormolu wall clock, having Rococo influences to the scroll foliate decoration and cherubs above the eight day striking movement, circa 1880.
Ormolu
$760Sale Price|20% Off
H 58.25 in W 14.25 in D 5.75 in
Antique French Louis Jaquine Brass Wag-on-the Wall Clock 19th C
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French wag-on-the-wall clock offers brass construction with floral and foliate embossed frame, face with Roman numerals and floral decoration, signed on face as photograph...
Brass
$1,885
H 31.5 in W 17.5 in D 4.5 in
Early 19th C. American Pillar & Scroll Clock in Mahogany with Eglomise Landscape
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century American Pillar & Scroll Clock in Mahogany with Eglomise Painted Landscape Scene, Eli Terry
Mahogany
Early 19th Century American Pillar & Scroll Clock in Mahogany
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th Century American Pillar & Scroll Clock in Mahogany with Eglomise Painted Landscape Scene
Mahogany
Waterbury Wall Clock, USA, Mid 19th Century
Located in Chorzów, PL
Antique clock from the mid-nineteenth century. Dimensions: height 65 cm / width 39 cm / depth. 10.5 cm.
Walnut
Fantastic quality antique 19th century walnut wall clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Fantastic quality antique 19th century walnut wall clock, having a quality antique Victorian walnut and ebonised case, having the original carved walnut finales to the shaped top, wi...
Brass
Antique Wall Clock, Late 19th Century
Located in Chorzów, PL
The clock is functional, after the clockmaster review Year: The end of the 19th century Origin: Western Europe Dimensions: Height 133 cm / width 42 cm / depth 17 cm.
Oak
19th Century Napoleon III French Wall Clock
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French Napoleon III wall clock with "oeil de boeuf" shaped glass paned door, ebonized wood frame and clock surround with mother-of-pearl inlay decoration. Paper face w...
Brass
$9,018
H 16.54 in W 2.37 in D 2.37 in
Late Edo Period 19th Century Japanese Pillar Clock, Shaku-Dokei, C. 1820
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Elegant Japanese pillar clock, 'SHAKU-DOKEI', c. 1820 The very fine 30-hour, weight-driven movement is constructed between bars and consists ...
Hardwood
Japanese Patinated Bronze Figural Clock Vase, Meiji Period
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Japanese patinated bronze figural clock vase, Meiji period, in the Japonisme taste. Depicting two young Japanese boys holding an urn, surroun...
Bronze
Japanese Patinated Bronze Figural Clock Vase, Meiji Period
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A Japanese patinated bronze figural clock vase, Meiji period, in the Japonisme taste. Depicting two young Japanese boys holding an urn, surroun...
Bronze
Sold
H 15.5 in W 8.5 in D 5.7 in
Japanese Lantern Style Clock with Glass Door and Hand Painted Porcelain Face
Located in Houston, TX
Inlay Japanese style clock. The clock has a Porcelain face that is hand painted with flowers. Flowers and birds are inlaid in the wood. There are glass ...
Hardwood