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.
Shigaraki Jar Tsubo Vase Pottery Mingei Japanese Wabi Sabi Metallic Black Zen
By Shigaraki Valley Potters
Located in Wilton, CT
Vintage Japanese Shigaraki jar in shimmering metallic black glaze, circa early/mid 20th century. Measures: 16" high. 13" diameter. Small chip at inner ri...
Stoneware
$2,870Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair Of Antique Decorative Urns, Japanese, Bronze, Vase, Edo Period, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a pair of antique decorative urns. A Japanese, bronze baluster vase, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1850. Delightful pair of va...
Bronze
Antique Japanese Porcelain Blue White Edo Period Arita Jug Ewer Figural, 17th C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Rare & Beautiful Arita Japanese Porcelain Jug . Scene with figures and birds in a landscape. This 17th Century Japanese Export Porcelain Jug or Ewer, Arita Kilns c.1670-1690 is pain...
Porcelain
Sold|$800
H 11.82 in Dm 9.85 in
Japanese Primitive Stoneware Jar / Edo period, circa 17th–18th century
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Japanese Primitive Stoneware Jar Japan, Edo period, circa 17th–18th century A beautifully weathered Japanese stoneware storage jar, likely originating from one of Japan's historic ...
Pottery
Metallic Bronze Handbuilt Wabi-Sabi Ceramic Vase Large
By MONDAYS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand-built shallow vase. Wabi Sabi and minimalist yet striking, perfect for a single dramatic stem or a small bouquet. Available in Golden bronze or matte white on dark clay. Approxi...
Ceramic
$900
H 14.38 in Dm 14.97 in
Japanese Antique Pottery with Beautiful Ripped in the Edo Period/Tsubo Wabisabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is an old jar baked in Japan. It seems to be in the Edo period (1700s-1800s). The unique distorted shape is beautiful. The color and balance of the gla...
Pottery
Antique Japanese Bronze Cloisonné/Champleve Vase Urn
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Japanese Bronze Cloisonné/Champleve Vase Urn This Antique Japanese Bronze Cloisonné/Champleve Vase Urn showcases the timeless artistry of traditional Japanese craftsmanship...
Enamel
Metallic Bronze Handbuilt Wabi-Sabi Ceramic Vase
By MONDAYS
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Hand-built shallow vase. Wabi Sabi and minimalist yet striking, perfect for a single dramatic stem or a small bouquet. Available in Golden bronze or matte white on dark clay. Due to the nature of handmade ceramics...
Ceramic
$640Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.67 in W 8.86 in D 8.27 in
Japanese Antique Copper Tub 1800s-1860s / Flower Vase Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old copper tub made in Japan. It was made during the Edo period (1800s-1860s) and used as a tool to draw water from a well. This tool is one of the tools of daily life tha...
Copper, Iron
Large Ceremic Shigaraki Tsubo by Nagaoka Masami
Located in Atlanta, GA
An impressive Shigaraki Tsubo (jar normally for storage) in an archaic form with a bulbous and robust body that opens with a small lipped mouth. Heavil...
Ceramic
$7,000
H 27.56 in W 33.47 in D 30.71 in
Japanese Antique Huge “Yabure Tsubo” Ceramic Vessel 13th Century / Wabi-Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old, monumental Tokoname ware “Yabure Tsubo” (broken-form jar) made in Japan. A yabure tsubo refers to a large jar that has sustained natural breakage and weathering over ...
Ceramic
$1,300
H 15.95 in Dm 13.47 in
Japanese antique Bizen ware vase / 15th-16th century / Wabi-sabi vase/Tsubo
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This Bizen ware jar was fired in the Bizen region of Okayama Prefecture. Bizen ware is one of Japan's Six Ancient Kilns and is known as one of the oldest pottery styles in Japan. Its...
Pottery
Edo Japanese Antique Paper-covered Bizen Ware Wide-Mouth Vessel, 17th C
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
This wide-mouthed storage jar is attributed to Bizen ware, estimated to date from early Edo period, 17th century. The jar is originally made as a utilitarian vessel for storage, wh...
Pottery, Wood, Bamboo, Paper
Shigaraki Tsubo Ceramic Vessel, Edo Style, Glazed, Japan, 18th Century
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Japanese ceramic vessel from Shiga, Japan. This piece gains its unique glaze and irregularities from the firing process in which wood is added...
Ceramic
$1,786
H 20.87 in W 15.75 in D 17.33 in
Japanese Antique Pottery Jar 17th-18th Century/ Wabi-Sabi /Tokoname
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
Tokoname is a region in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, renowned as one of the country's oldest pottery centers, with a history dating back to the 12th century. This jar, despite cracking ...
Pottery
Sold
H 15 in W 13 in D 13 in
Echizen Ware Edo Period Jar Tsubo Vase Pottery Japanese Wabi Sabi Ash Glaze
Located in Wilton, CT
Antique Edo period Echizen kilns tsubo jar, circa 17th/18th century. Coil built with reddish iron oxide clay and buff colored ash glaze. Large Echizen jars were famous in their time ...
Stoneware
Large Antique Quality Japanese Imari Floor Standing Vase
Located in Suffolk, GB
Large antique quality Japanese Imari floor standing vase having a splendid trumpet shaped scalloped edge top, fantastic hand painted panels with Ja...
Ceramic
Sold
H 12.72 in Dm 10.04 in L 12.72 in
Japanese Old Edo Period Jar / "Seto ware" Black Glaze Vase / Antique Jar
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
It is "Seto ware". Seto is a historic kiln located in Aichi prefecture, Japan. It is said to have originated around the 13th century. This is a jar around 1700-1800 in the Edo p...
Pottery