Japonisme Decorative Objects

Japanese Meiji Period Porcelain Vase by Shimazu Gyokuzan, Ca. 1890 DIMENSIONS Height: 18.5 INCHES Diameter: 9 inches DETAILS Meiji Period (1868 -1912) – Ca.18...

Perhaps originally designed as a Bento Box, this is a one-of-a-kind piece for your home-office or study desk. It has iconic 1970s modern lines and beautifully exemplifies the elevat...

This antique engraved sterling silver cigarette or decorative box was made in Japan in approximately 1900 in the period Japonisme style. The box is composed of an ebonized hardwood c...

Large and unusual Japanese Satsuma vase with Samurai figures to front and back Purple ground with gilt and traditional colors throughout. Carved and molded ring & bow shoulders with ...

Raku fired Large Vessel by Fernande Beland of Canada Mutiple colors of gold, green, amber, charcoal. The iridescence of the glaze is breath taking as the colors change with differen...

This large antique damascene styled tobacco case is unsigned, but presumed to have originated from Japan and dating to approximately 1920 and done in a Anglo-Japanese style. The case...

Japanese Meiji Period Elaborate Bunraku Puppeta. 19th Century Meiji Period (1868-1912) Minor wear to textiles, fine antique condition, Original Bamboo display stand. DIMENSION Height: 33 inches Width: 18 inches Depth: 9 inches ABOUT Bunraku (puppet) depicting the warrior Minamoto Yoshistune his head carved of wood and covered in a fine white gofun with painted details, face of a handsome youth with trigger mechanism allowing for the eyebrows to raise and lower and the eyes to shift from side, is wearing military armor with signature dragon on his breastplate ,brocade patterning of his thick obi tie, sumptuous silk brocade kimono and brocade hakama trousers with the Minamoto Clan pattern, silk tabi socks...

This is a vase made by the Japanese ceramic artist unit "Scarlet Pottery." It is a piece of pottery made using Amakusa pottery stone. Amakusa pottery stone is famous as the raw mater...

A striking blue and white vase 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 around 1870s and later became one of the appointed artist 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. With an impressively large size, this vase was likely made and reserved as a presentation piece for one of the many expositions the studio participated in the early 20th century. It was decorated with underglaze cobalt blue using the novel technique developed by Kozan called Fuki-e (the blow painting), in order to achieve the striking dimensional literary landscape known as "Mountain and Water". Being one of the most creative ceramists, Kozan started experimenting with new chemical colors from the West in the format of his porcelain glaze around 1880s. New colors allowed him to create underglaze designs that appeared bright, smooth and glossy. He even invented his own receipt of cobalt blue to achieve a much brighter yet softer shade, as evident on this vase. To create landscape 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...

Japanese Large Hand-Carved Boxwood Okimono – “Mino-Kame” Turtle, Ca. 1900 DIMENSIONS: Height: 4 inches Length: 19 inches Wide : 5 inches ABOUT An exceptional example of Meiji-era c...

Art Deco pottery vase signed Auguste Delaherche Circa 1930. Number 028.

Pair of 19th century Patinated and Gilt Bronze Standing Crane-Form Candlesticks. This pair of 19th century candlesticks are a stunning example of gilt bronze design, featuring two deeply patinated regal cranes standing erect, both with an oversized gilt-covered bronze flower surrounded by foliate and amusingly held in the beak. The candlesticks are both highly detailed, well-balanced and designed to hold a candle. Beautifully crafted, with the cranes standing elegantly on top of gilt bronze rocks...

Sagejubako is a portable picnic set that became popular in the early Edo period when an additional meal was added between breakfast and dinner. It normally consists of a carry case w...

This is a cloisonné foil metal vase depicting a continuous scenes around it of three large white cranes, a volcano and some green leaves in a turquoise background. Under the base the...

Chinese Peking Cut Blue & White Cameo Glass Vase, Ca. ca.1900-1920 DIMENSIONS: Height: 12.5 inches Diameter: 5.5 inches ABOUT CHINESE PEKING GLASS Peking cut blue ...

A Pair of Japanese Meiji Period (1868-1912) Carved Wood Fishes, Ca. 1920 DIMENSIONS Width: 8.5 inches Depth: 4 inches Height: 3 inches

A Very Large 19th Century Japanese Imari Porcelain Vase with Scalloped Top. The body of the vase is complete with two main cartouches and two smaller cartouches which flank the vase...

Beautiful pair of blue-tinted crystal “rouleau” vases decorated with Japanese-style enameled decoration representing a gilded full moon reflecting a tree with flowering branches, sur...

This exquisite four-case lacquered inro was dated to the latter part of 18th century to early 19th century (Edo period) and made by Shigehide. The opposite sides of the inro together features a lavish flower arrangement in a bamboo basket (ikebana). The detailed craftmanship was a true pleasure to behold. Mostly Takamaki-e (high relief) were used to texturize the delicate petals of the chrysanthemums, on which different shades of gold were used to create contrast. Raden (mother of pearl) shells were also used to highlight some leaves, rendering the piece an interesting balance of color and material. The interior was completed in a mottled gold finish. It was signed Shigehide on the bottom with a Kao. There is a small carved rabbit ojime bead...

Japanese Late Meiji Period Satsuma Three-Footed Vase, Ca. 1900 Late Meiji Period (1868-1912) DIMENSIONS: Height: 10.25 inches Di...

A Pair of French Japanism Signed CP & Co Pate Sur Pate and Gilt Porcelain Vases. This elegant pair of vases, crafted by CP & Co, exemplifies the aesthetic influences of Japanism in ...

A large and very fine 19th century enameled glass casket or glove box. Typical of the enamel treatments by Ludwig Moser and reminiscent of Baccarat's Japonisme works. Likely Bohemian, the blue glass...

Jardinière Médicis vase shape in copper with gold lacquered decoration on a burgundy background of a Japanese landscape with a volcano and an eagle ...

Striking pair of 19th century shachikoko rood ornaments circa 1880. These appear to be 'shachikoko' sea monsters still retaining their bold colours, showing the head of a dragon wit...

Our lovely portico style mantel clock, retailed by Yamanaka & Company Ltd. in New York in the early 20th century, features a silverplate frame flanked by two finely carved foo lions ...

Japanese Emperor Shōwa Period, Fine Ceramic Red Vase, Signed, Ca. 1980 Emperor Shōwa Period - from 1926 to 1990 ABOUT In the classic Japanese shape, this exquisite vase has a dram...

Rare market-fresh pair of Chrysanthemum sterling silver 9-light candelabra. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1892. Massive baluster shaft on 4 round knobbed supports, each moun...

A very good and large-scale, early 20th century Royal Copenhagen porcelain vase. With decoration that includes two very large Chrysanthemum flowers painted in muted blues and a ex...

Large Royal Crown Derby style 'Imari' pattern centerpiece, profusely hand-painted decorated with rich, vibrant colors and gilt, unusual seaweed and floral ...

This pair of antique cloisonne covered jars or urns are unsigned, but originate from Japan from approximately 1900 in a Japanese export style. The pair is done in muted tones and are...

A fine 2-section Japonisme dresser box. In gilt porcelain. With cobalt blue and white geometric circle devices throughout. Simply a wonderful porcelain dresser box! Date: 20th Ce...

A Japanese four-case lacquer inro by a member of Kajikawa family circa 19th century (late Edo to early Meiji period). It depicts a nocturnal scenery of a meandering stream surrounded by bush clovers, where a full moon is reflected on the water. It was masterfully decorated in gold and silver maki-e using a combination of techniques including takamakie, togidashi and kirigane as well as aogai (abalone shell) inlays. The stream was set between the slightly elevated banks, adding to this piece a already strong three-dimensional composition. The interior was decorated in gold nashiji. It was signed on the bottom "Kajikawa Zou" (made by Kajikawa and a pot seal centered with "Ei" in Kanji. In one of the compartment, there is a katakana mark, appears to be a name, possibly the owner. Kajikawa clan was one of the most famous lacquer artisanal family established in the 17th century. Many well known members over the generations produced lacquer art in a wide range of formats, but two third were signed only with the family name such as this one. It is therefore not possible to pinpoint the exact author of this piece. Provenance: This inro was purchased as lot 349 in Christie's New York sale Japanese...

An important Japanese bamboo Ikebana basket by Yamamoto Chikuryosai I (also known as Chikuryusai I, Shoen after 1929) (1868-1945). Active in Osaka, Kansai region, he was advised by Wada Waichisai I. After 1929, he signed his work as Shoen (Shoen made this), such as this one. This basket was made using "sooted" bamboo (susutake in Japanese). This bamboo materials was collected from traditional thatched-roof houses that had been exposed to decades of smoke from a hearth or cooking fire, therefore the basket displays a deep rich patina that is hard to attain by color-lacquering. The basket featured a large rounded barrel form with handle. The body was constructed with a twill plaiting variation of a more relaxed and loose weave. It allows the light coming through to render the piece a lighter sense. Parallel plaiting was used to reinforce the body with stripes of bamboo, while adding more visual constrict to a free spirited background. Twisted bamboo strips form rope-like handle and the top rim. It is signed "Shoen Made This" on the base. Two-piece water container made from bamboo trunk is retained with the piece as shown. For the artists other and similar work, see baskets masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art...

Mid century Signed Japanese Kakiemon Arita Imari Vase with Flowers.Signed Japanese Kakiemon vase by Sakaida Kakiemon XIII (1906-1982). A beautif...

Korean Meiping Green Porcelain Flower Vase, Early 20th C DETAILS Signed on the bottom. DIMENSIONS: Height: 14 inches Diameter: 7.5 inches ABOUT VASE This very elegant Meiping vase...

Antique champlevé cloisonné enamel on copper square jardinière. With bat designs on each side, they fly through the clouds and sky above the...

Ikebana basket (hanakago) in wickerwork of polished bamboo with twisted handle. Features a sheet metal and varnished bamboo vase for the floral arrangement. Mark under the vase Nana...

Bernard Moore, signed to the base. A small red Flambe vase decorated with a dragon in the Japanese style.

A small copper crab with articulated legs made by Myochin Hiroyoshi in the late Meiji Period circa 1890-1900s. One of the pair (the other one is listed separately LU945037876072, but...

Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonné Vase w/ Samurai, Attendant, and Floral Motif, Ca. 1890 DIMENSIONS: Height: 12 inches Diameter: 5.5 inches ABOUT An elegant cloisonné enamel vase fr...

Ikebana basket (hanakago) made of dark brown varnished bamboo wickerwork rounded shape with a twisted handle. Ikebana or Ka-do (the way of flowers) is a traditional Japanese art of...

Japanese, Meiji Period. An antique bronze vase constructed in bronze. The vase features several traditional designs including lotus blossoms, birds in flight and other floral detail...

Handcrafted set of three white ceramic decorative objects with a tray. These very nice quality pieces were created following the ancie...

Japanese Sanyo Orange Silk Embroidery Vintage Wedding Photo Album in Original box unused. Vintage Japanese Silk Embroidered Cranes Fabric Covered ...

#350 Japanese Edo Period Bronze Jardinière w/ Birds & Cherry Blossom Tree, 19th C. DIMENSIONS: Height: 9 inches Diameter: 12 inches DETAILS Edo Period (1603-1868) Meiji Period (...

Signed F. Barbedienne on the mount. Charming pair of small curved-shaped vases in patinated and gilded bronze and polychrome cloisonné enamel decorated with flowers and birds. With ...

Vintage fine porcelain vase features traditional Sakura decor in yellow, gold, and platinum on red and white background; the rim and the base a...

Coalport Porcelain (English, 1795-1926 then part of the Wedgwood company), circa 1885. An Exhibition quality porcelain moon flask style vase featuring a cobalt ground and grouping of highly detailed enamel cranes to one side grazing around a pond with 24kt gold calla lilies in the background. The verso with a similar scene of two cranes likely a mating pair. Each side is surrounded by masterfully detailed sunflowers and furthermore by Rococo motifs and enameled scrollwork of polychrome enamel embellishments. Please note, unfortunately at one point this vase was made into a lamp and the base has been replaced with a gilt metal foot. Measuring: 19" h, 13.5" w, 7.5" d. Provenance: An important Cape Cod...

An elegant woven bamboo basket from the late Meiji period, dating to the early 20th century. This tall, finely crafted piece exemplifies the artistry and technical mastery of Japanes...

Large antique Emile Gallé Japanism vase in clear frosted art glass. Carved with motifs in the form of flowers and leaves in yellow and red. Museum quality, 1890s. Measures: 34 x 12...

A stunning pair of ceramic vases with gilt, paint and high-relief decoration by imperial artist Makuzu Kozan (1842-1916, also known as Miyagawa Kozan) circa 1876-81 (late Meiji period). These vases belong to early period (1876-1881) of Kozan's repertoire, during which time the high relief sculpturing (known as Takauki ware) was used as a distinguished technique on top of the traditional gilt and paint ornaments of satsuma ware. Due to the relatively limited production and the fragile nature of these wares, not a large quantity of the examples remained in the first place, not mentioning a fine matching signed pair in such impressive sizes. Not only a rarity, this pair of vases is also superb in workmanship, thus the fine example of the work from that short and unique period of the artist's career before he switched to the underglaze period. In a conceptually mirrored fashion, the surface is richly decorated with flying cranes among large lotus leaves and flower, like an idyllic aqua scenery of pure poetry on a circular scroll. The high-relief appliques were rendered and composed in realistic fashion but with a dramatic touch. They are literally about to break the surface free, alive and in motion. The dark colors of the glaze were used to set a moody tone. The approach to create this type of ornamentations is more akin to sculpturing an ink painting in three-dimension than ceramic making. It is not hard to imagine the demand of both the artistry and the technique. Both vases were signed as "Makuzu Kozan Kiln" and each further with another name and seal, which are most likely the individual artist involved in the making process. Similar signatures can be seen in the reference book below. For similarly Takauki vases, see Miyagawa Kozan Makuzu...

A 19th-Century French Japonisme Three-Piece Figural Garniture Clock Set Attributed to Eugène Cornu, in the Style of Édouard Lièvre. Consisting of a mantel clock and a pair of matchin...

Exquisite Japanese Meiji period Cloisonne candlestick holder decorated with a dragon. Finely detailed metal and enamel work. In excellent age a...

A Japonisme Dragon Motif Copper Clad Vase by Bretby Pottery England, Circa 1890s A large and unusual work by the famed British pottery works, Bretby. The tapering gourd shape vas...

A fine Pair of 19th century Japanese Imari Porcelain and French Gilt-Bronze Mounted Thirteen-Light Celadon Torchere Candelabra. The bottle-shaped Japonisme vases with a Royal red background, decorated with parcel-gilt and black soaring eagles in the hunt within a forestall scene. Each Vase fitted and surmounted with a French 19th century Louis XV Style 13-Light scrolled candelabrum and all raised on a circular pierced gilt-bronze plinth. circa: 1880. Imari Porcelain (????) is the name for Japanese porcelain wares made in the town of Arita, in the former Hizen Province, northwestern Kyushu. They were exported to Europe extensively from the port of Imari, Saga, between the second half of the 17th century and the first half of the 18th century. The Japanese as well as Europeans called them Imari. In Japanese, these porcelains are also known as Arita-yaki (???). Imari or Arita porcelain has been continously produced up through the present day. Characteristics Though there are many types of Imari, Westerners' conception of Imari in the popular sense is associated only with a type of Imari produced and exported in large quantity in mid-17th century. This type is called Kinrande. Kinrande Imari is colored porcelain with cobalt blue underglaze and red and gold overglaze. The color combination was not seen in China at that time. Traditional Ming dynasty color porcelain used dominantly red and green, probably due to scarcity of gold in China, whereas gold was abundant in Japan in those days. The subject matter of Imari is diverse, ranging from foliage and flowers to people, scenery and abstractions. Some Imari design structures such as kraak style were adopted from China, but most designs were uniquely Japanese owing to the rich Japanese tradition of paintings and costume design. The porcelain has a gritty texture on the bases, where it is not covered by glaze. There is also blue and white Imari. Kakiemon style Imari is another type of Imari, but it tends to be categorized separately in Europe. History "Imari" was simply the trans-shipment port for Arita wares. It was the kilns at Arita which formed the heart of the Japanese porcelain industry. Arita's kilns were set up in the 17th century, when kaolin was discovered in 1616 by the immigrant Korean potter, Yi Sam-pyeong (1579–1655). (He may also be known by the name, "Kanage Sambei".) Yi Sam-Pyeong, along with his extended family of 180 persons, left Korea on the offer of a privileged position in Japan. This decision was made after the occurrence of certain Japanese invasions of Korea. After Yi Sam-Pyeong's discovery, his kilns began to produce revised Korean-style blue and white porcelains, known as "Shoki-Imari". In the mid-17th century there were also a lot of Chinese refugees in Northern Kyushu due to the turmoil on Chinese continent, and it is said one of them brought coloring technique to Arita. Thus Shoki-Imari developed into Ko-KutaniImari. Ko-Kutani was produced around 1650 for both export and domestic market. Blue and white porcelain continued to be produced and they are called Ai-Kutani. Ko-Kutani Imari for the export market usually adopted Chinese design structure such as kraak style, whereas Ai-Kutani for the domestic market were highly unique in design and are accordingly valued very much among collectors. Ko-Kutani style evolved into Kakiemon style Imari, which was produced for about 50 years around 1700. Imari achieved its technical and aesthetic peak in Kakiemon style, and it dominated European market. Blue and white Kakiemon is called Ai-Kakiemon. Kakiemon style transformed into Kinrande in the 18th century. Kinrande used blue underglaze and red and gold overglaze, and later some other colors. Imari began to be exported to Europe because the Chinese kilns at Ching-te-Chen were damaged in the political chaos and the new Qing dynasty government stopped trade in 1656–1684. Exports to Europe were made through the Dutch East India Company, but the designation "Imari Porcelain" in Europe connotes Arita wares of mostly Kinrande Imari. Export of Imari to Europe stopped in mid-18th century when China began export to Europe again, since Imari was not able to compete against China due to high labor cost. By that time, however, both Imari and Kakiemon style were already so popular among Europeans, Chinese export porcelain copied both Imari and Kakiemon style, which is called Chinese Imari. At the same time, European kilns, such as Meisen also tried to copy Imari and Kakiemon. Export of Imari surged again in late 19th century (Meiji era) when Japonism flourished in Europe. Thus in western world today, two kinds of Imari can...

Presenting a beautiful large vintage Japanese bronzed sculpture of Toba on his Mule. Some might say ‘Monumental’ .. being 34 inches tall ...

An important woven bamboo ikebana basket circa first half of the 20th century (Taisho or Showa era) by Japanese bamboo master Maeda Chikubosai I (1872-1950). Chikubosai I was from th...

This elegant ceramic bowl was created by Edmond Lachenal for L’Escalier de Cristal around 1890. It bears his signature. A ceramist and painter, Edmond Lachenal is known for his past...

This is a small antique seamstress' button box. A Japanese, brass decorative tin, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Delicately crafted bo...

An elegantly woven bamboo basket with handle as an ikenana container by Suzuki Gengensai (1891-1950) circa 1923-50. Suzuki Gengensai was from Kansai region and active in Osaka. He studied bamboo art under Yamashita Kochikusai (1876-1947) and became an independent artist in 1913. He received his artist name Gengensai in 1914 and in 1923 he changed the characters to Gen, a slight written variation of the character. This basket was signed in this later variation, which helps to date the piece to post 1923. The basket is woven entirely in a free style irregular plating on the body and with a twisted bundled handle. The surface is lacquered in a deep reddish color. The seemingly less rigid technique renders the piece a more rustic and natural aesthetic that is more suitable for certain occasions. It is singed on the base with artist's signature in the variation post 1923. A very similar basket of the irregular weaving but without the handle is illustrated in plate 72 in "Baskets Masterpieces of Japanese Bamboo Art...