Meiji Decorative Objects
MEIJI STYLE
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.
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Style: Meiji
19th Century Meiji Period Bronze of a Boy Collecting Sweet Chestnuts by Seiya
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A charming Meiji period bronze of a boy collecting sweet chestnuts by Seiya, he carries a basket and is looking down at an insect crawling over his hand, he is also evidently wearing...
Category
1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Red Brown Hand-Glazed Porcelainn Vase by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing large museum-quality hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase, an award-winning exhibition masterpiece by a master artist of the Arita-Imari region of Japan. The artist is a...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Platinum
Japanese Blue Red Gold Platinum Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary museum-quality decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted in red on a stunningly shaped globular body in deep dark blue and gi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Gold, Platinum
Myochin Style Hiroyoshi Japanese Edo Articulated Metal Rock Lobster
By Myochin Hiroyoshi
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Edo period articulated rock lobster made of copper, bronze and iron and signed 'Hiroyoshi' on the bottom. Made in the early 20th century (late Meiji/early Taisho period), the piece has articulated limbs, antennae, body and tail. A superb example of the Myochin style. The Myochins were a distinguished family of samurai armorers. As military conflict in Japan abated in the early 17th century and samurai warriors became courtiers, bureaucrats and administrators, the armorers were compelled to adapt their skills by making articulated sculptures...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Copper, Iron
Japanese Meiji Genryusai Seiya Bronze Elephant and Tigers
Located in Dallas, TX
Japanese Meiji Genryusai Seiya bronze elephant and tigers, circa 1890.
This moving and detailed bronze grouping depicts a savage attack by two viscous...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Japanese Gilt Bronze Komainu by Ishikawa Komei, Meiji Period
Located in Austin, TX
A striking pair of Japanese gilt bronze komainu by the renowned Japanese sculptor, Ishikawa Komei (1852-1913), Meiji period, Japan.
The pair well cast, and robustly modeled. They ar...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Sterling & Mixed Metal Box
Located in Stamford, CT
A Japanese sterling silver and mixed metal box with tray over wood.
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Japanese Meiji Bronze Ikebana Bamboo Branch Vase
Located in New York, NY
A large 1860s Japanese Meiji period bronze Ikebana branch vase in bamboo shape. Good original dark brown patina. Unsigned.
Category
1860s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Contemporary Japanese Blue Pink Purple Cream Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Outstanding Japanese. cotemporary museum quality decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted on a stunning baluster shape body, a signed masterpiece by highly cele...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Contemporary Japanese Red Blue Green Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase extremely intricately featuring a traditional Arita "shippo" pattern in deep red, green and blue, a stunning signed mast...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Blue Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese Contemporary museum-quality large hand-gilded hand-painted porcelain vase/centerpiece, an exhibition piece by master porcelain artist of the Kutani region of J...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Platinum
Pair of Japanese Bronze Finish Covered Censors
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of Japanese bronze finish Aesthetic Movement covered censors. The highly detailed bodes with birds and branches resting on a beautifully detailed base. The lids have an elabor...
Category
20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Antique Japanese patinated bronze eagle
Located in London, GB
Antique Japanese patinated bronze eagle
Japanese, c. 1900
Height 54cm, width 67cm, depth 32cm
This fine and naturalistic Meiji period bronze...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Antique Japanese Ormolu Mounted Cloisonné Enamel Vases
Located in London, GB
Of ovoid form with a pierced ormolu rim, decorated throughout with birds, flowers and foliage, raised on pierced ormolu feet; the enamel Japanese, the ormolu French, late 19th centur...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Large Japanese Meiji Cloisonné Charger
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive large Meiji period (1868-1912) Japanese cloisonné enamel charger. Having a scalloped edge, the margin depicting mythical dragons and birds amongst various classical...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
Pair of Japanese Vases, 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Beautiful pair of Japanese vases. Embossed and chiseled bronze with floral motifs.
Meiji period.
This artwork is shipped from Italy. Under existing legislation, any artwork in Italy...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Elephant Sculpture on Burlwood Base
Located in New York, NY
A Japanese Meiji period bronze elephant sculpture on its original burl-wood base. Old repair to the tail; some paint chips to bronze trunk; unsigned.
Category
1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Meiji Bronze Sea-Hawk Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A finely-cast large Japanese Meiji-period bronze sculpture of a sea-hawk with stretched-out wings, made in the 1880s. The eyes are gilded; both wings and the body of the hawk are det...
Category
1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Large Antique Japanese Carving of an Eagle
Located in Hudson, NY
Large Antique Japanese Carving of an Eagle. Meiji period (1868 - 1912) carving of an eagle about to take flight. The sculpture is expertly c...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Hardwood
Japanese Tsuiki-Jippo Cloisonné Vase Atrributed to Ogasawara Shuzo
By Ogasawara Shuzo
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
A Japanese tsuiki-jippo cloisonné vase attributed to Ogasawara Shuzo. This stunning vase dates to the Meiji period, the body finely hammered, incised with sparse weed and decorated ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Meiji period bronze
Located in Atlanta, GA
Very fine Japanese bronze of two territorial beasts, on a decoratively carved teak base. The base is 34 inches long, the bronze is 29 inches long.
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Fine Japanese Porcelain Pumpkin 'Gourd' Shape Painted and Lacquered Large Vase
Located in Torino, IT
Fine Japanese porcelain pumpkin 'Gourd' shape painted and lacquered large vase.
The white porcelain vase is decorated with black lacca panels, fine...
Category
1870s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Meiji Era Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase
Located in New York, NY
A miniature Japanese brass vase, early Meiji period, 1868 to 1912. of a globular form with a short and wide neck. The exterior is decorated with multiple polychrome enamel flowers an...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
Set of 3 Japanese Cloisonné Enamel Brass Vases Dish Cherry Blossom Green 1920s
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
A very attractive matching set of early 20th century cloisonne vases and tray dish. Individual cloisons create decorative swirls of gold o...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Vase with Paulownia
Located in New York, NY
An antique Japanese early Meiji period cloisonne vase, attributed to the master artisan Namikawa Yasuyuki. The intricately detailed floral and foliate patterns, meticulously rendered...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
Japanese Meiji Period (1868-1912) Bronze Monkey Group Okimono by Shosai
Located in Newark, England
Featuring Seven Japanese Macaques Cast by Shosai 正齊鋳
Form our Japanese collection, we are delighted to offer this Japanese Bronze Monkey Group Okimono. The Japanese Monkey...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Antique Hemp Bowl 1860s-1920s / Basket Object Wabisabi Mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a very old Japanese hemp bowl.
It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1920s).
It is one of the daily utensils used in certain areas of Japan.
It is used to hold grains and o...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Hemp
Japanese Inaba Black Ground Cloisonne Enamel Square Dish, Meiji Period, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A lovely Japanese black ground cloisonne enamel square dish by the Inaba Cloisonne company, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan.
The square dish features rounded corners and a gently ...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Japanese Blue Cloisonne Box, Meiji Period, circa 1910, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A beautifully decorated deep blue cloisonne hinged top box, Meiji period, circa 1910, Japan.
The trinket or jewelry box featuring a slightly domed lid decorated with a bold design of blossoming peony and lily in muted shades of pink, blue and yellow against a deep blue enamel ground. A small area of goldstone at the bottom left in the rocky base the peonies emerge from.
The sides of the box decorated with scrolling wire work and scattered white plum...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel, Copper, Metal
Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Miniature Bird in Cherry Blossom Vase
Located in New York, NY
Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Miniature Bird in Cherry Blossom Vase
Late Meiji period, 1868 Miniature black vase with a round body and long neck. The piece is decorated wit...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Antique Meiji Japanese Cloisonne Silver Wire Enamel Vase Sparrows Flying Over Ba
Located in New York, NY
An antique Japanese, late Meiji period, silver wire enamel vase. The vase has an amphora shaped body and a fluted neck. The ware is enameled with a polychrome image of a pair of spar...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Miniature Cabinet Vase
By Satsuma
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Japanese Satsuma porcelain miniature vase.
With enameled scenes to all sides and rich raised gilt highlights throughout.
...
Category
20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Pottery
Japan 1890 Meiji Period Seated Figure of Quan Yin in Enamelled White Porcelain
Located in Miami, FL
A Seated Quan Yin from the Japan Meiji period (1886-1912).
Rare and highly detailed sculpture, created in the Imperial Japan, during the Meiji period (1868-1912), circa 1890. This...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Japan Meiji Period 1890 Fubako Box Letters Lacquered Polychromate Wood Polychrom
Located in Miami, FL
A letter Fubako box from the Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912).
Beautiful and very decorative Fubako letter box from the Japanese Imperial Meiji period, circa 1880. This box has been meticulously crafted in lacquered wood with polychromate and gilding decorations. At both sides is attached with a pair of silvered kanamono hardwares with the imperial symbol of the chrysanthemum flowers.
Created in an elongated rectangular shape with rounded corners, the outside of the lid with a decoration in maki-e depicting a river landscape with trees and a house, strips of land and huts, at the top the unmistakable shape of the moon. The interior is finished with plain black lacquer.
Meiji period, is an era of Japanese history that extended from October 23, 1868 to July 30, 1912.The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state and emergent great power, influenced by Western scientific, technological, philosophical, political, legal, and aesthetic ideas. As a result of such wholesale adoption of radically different ideas, the changes to Japan were profound, and affected its social structure, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations. The period corresponded to the reign of Emperor Meiji. It was preceded by the Keio era and was succeeded by the Taisho era, upon the accession of Emperor Taisho.
Fubako, is a kind of box. It has been used to store letters, papers, or books, and it is also used to deliver documents to the other party. It is useful not only to store documents or books, but you can also put your favorite small articles or valuables. Or, you can also display it to enjoy as a part of the interior decoration in your room.
Makie, is a typical technique of Japanese lacquer art...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver
Japanese Bronze Torii Gate Sculpture Meiji Period
Located in Newark, England
Beautifully sculpted Japanese Meiji period Torii gate sculpture. The sculpture made from solid bronze with a beautiful patination throughout dating to the Meiji period 1868-1912 circa 1890. The gate of traditional form representing the Matsuo Shrine in Kyoto. The characters read ???? translated directly to Matsuo Shrine.
Notes The Torii gate sculpture was crafted after the famous Torii gate which is found in the Arashiyama district in Kyoto. It houses Matsuno’o Taisha (Matsunoo Taisha ????) one of the oldest shinto shrines in Kyoto dating to 701, approximately 100 years before the city of Kyoto. It boarders the mountains and has a distinct main hall dating to 1397 which is also one of the oldest buildings in the city of Tokyo. The shrine’s spring is famous for its restorative properties and sake and miso producer’s patron the shrine with their particular industries relying on the pure water to survive. The distinct giant Torri gate stands at 14 meters tall alluding to its significance in the city. Three beautiful gardens can...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Meiji Period Komai Damascene Box Fujii Yoshitoyo
Located in Newark, England
Fine Japanese Damascene Meiji period box in the komai style. The box of flower head shape with inlaid gold, the hinged cover with a scene comprising...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Pair of Meiji Period Japanese Hand Painted Moon Vases
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of hand painted Japanese Moon vases with foo dog handles. The porcelain vases with hand painted
Geisha figures on both sides, the fronts wi...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Old or Antique Japanese Wired Cloisonne Enamel Vase with White Flowers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Japanese cloisonne enamel vase.
Decorated with white (stylized morning glory) flowers throughout.
The morning glory - Asagao in Japanese - signifies the bonds of love.
With a trapezoidal opening and base along with conforming wooden plinth.
Simply a great Japanese enamel vase...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Antique Japanese Inlaid Bronze & Mixed Metals Handled Butterbur Flower Vase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Japanese double-handled bronze vase.
With mixed metals (gold, silver, and copper) inlay to the neck, neck handles and raised deco...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large Antique Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonne Vases
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A good pair of antique Japanese large-scale Meiji period cloisonné vases.
Of very rare mallet or suppressed bottle form with rich goldstone ground and phoenix decoration.
Meas...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
19th Century Pair Japanese Meiji Cloisonne Dragon Phoenix Vases
Located in New York, NY
19th Century Pair Japanese Meiji Cloisonne Dragon Phoenix Vases
These are in great condition with one small chip to the enamel you can see in the pho...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Cloisonne Dragon Vase
Located in New York, NY
19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Cloisonne Dragon vase 12 inches
in good condition considering its age 2 small hits to the vase at first...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
Very Fine Pair of Japanese Miniature Cloisonne Vases, Meiji Period (1868-1912)
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Both hexagonal panelled bodies exquisitely decorated by hand with multi-coloured enamels, illustrating directionally opposing vignettes of songbirds perched among flowering prunus ag...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel, Copper
Japanese Antique Box Paper-Covered 1860s-1920s/Mingei Box Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is an old wood box in Japan.
The wood is covered with paper.
It is an item from the Meiji era (1860s-1920s).
Ideal as an object that creates the...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Rattan, Paper
Pair of Antique Gonda Hirosuke Wired Cloisonne Enamel Vases with Birds & Leaves
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of antique Japanese cloisonne vases.
By Gonda Hirosuke (1865 - 1937). Little is known about Hirosuke's life, but his work is highly prize...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper, Enamel
Large Late 19th Century Meiji Period Terracotta Vase
Located in London, GB
A tall 19th century terracotta vase of gourd shape with elongated, flared neck and modelled with dragons among billowing clouds in unglazed terracotta.
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Terracotta
Antique Signed Meiji Period Japanese Mixed Metal Vase with Crane by Yamamoto
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique, mixed metals Japanese vase.
By Yamamoto Koken.
In primarily bronze with inlaid copper, gold and silver highlights.
The front of th...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver, Bronze
Japanese Bizen Yaki Ware Signed Stamped Meiji Vase Pot
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful gem of a piece. Beautifully fired and colored.
Japanese Bizen-Yaki pottery which dates back hundreds of years (its heyday was in the 16th...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Stoneware
Japanese Contemporary Blue Brown Hand-Glazed porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary museum quality exhibition piece hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase/centerpiece in blue and brown, an award-winning masterpiece by a master arti...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Platinum
Huge Japanese Red Lacquerware Gourd Motif Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Huge Japanese red lacquerware gourd motif box, decorated in relief with Japanese gourds suspended from leafy branches and scrolling vines.
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Objects
Materials
Lacquer
Meiji decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Meiji decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Meiji decorative objects made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and Japan pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Satsuma, Ando Jubei, Kinkozan, and Inaba Cloisonne Co.. 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 decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $83 and tops out at $98,000 while the average work can sell for $2,518.
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