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Meiji Vases

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
Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary large Japanese contemporary museum quality gilded porcelain decorative vase, extremely intricately hand-painted in a breathtaking Kutani Mokubei style set against striking high purity gold background. The artist has used yellow, green, purple and blue in this stunning vase. These are the colors that have adorned Kutani porcelain for centuries. This vase is the last in a series of Mokubei-inspired pieces carrying the “Kutani Tousui” imprint, produced in the In the early 21st century. Aoki Mokubei...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Contemporary Gold Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary porcelain vase in gold leaf decorated withhand-paintings in deep blue and beautiful shades of green on a stunningly shaped body. This piece is by a th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold Leaf

Japanese Porcelain Vase Blue by Contemporary Master Artist, 5
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary large porcelain decorative vase, hand painted in various shades of underglaze blue on an elegantly shaped porcelain body, a signed work by widely resp...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Blue Green Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary collectible decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in blue, red nd green on a stunning bottle shaped body, a signature masterpiece by a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Platinum Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary porcelain vase in an elegant ovoid shape, a platinum-gilded hand-painted piece signed by highly acclaimed award-winning master porcelain artist in the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Red Silver Etched Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing tall museum-quality porcelain vase in a stunning shape, a signed masterpiece by highly acclaimed award-winning master porcelain artist, with dramatic etchings featuring a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Foil, Silver

Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Red Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional contemporary Japanese large decorative porcelain vase, hand painted in red and blue depicting a beautiful scene from old rural Japan, a signed masterpiece by highly accla...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Contemporary Cream Gold Green Porcelain VaseCream Gold by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary golden lion ear porcelain vase, featuring two sculpted panels depicting the creatures of ancient Chinese mythology – the phoenix in full flight an...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Blue Black Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary meuseum quality signed Japanese contemporary porcelain vase, referred to by the artist as the “lady with a golden shawl,” a masterpiece by a celebrated award-winning th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Meiji Satsuma Vase in Lacquered Porcelain with Golden Fish Motif
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Meiji period Satsuma vase in lacquered porcelain with decorative gold fish and red coral motif. The piece was made in circa 1900 and has marks on the bottom. In great vintag...
Category

Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Bronze Lamp, 19th c.
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an outstanding example of a large Japanese Meiji period bronze vase now mounted as a lamp. The vase is cast with high relief and finely detailed cockerels and flaming pearls....
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Japanese Contemporary Green Red Blue Hand Glazed Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing museum quality contemporary hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase, a masterpiece by master porcelain artist of the Arita-Imari region of Japan. The artist is a master of ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

"Garlic Top" Long Neck Patinated Bronze Vase
Located in Stamford, CT
"Garlic top" long neck patinated bronze vase, Japan, circa 19th century.
Category

1870s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Contemporary Blue Red White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese Contemporary museum quality decorative porcelain vase in a striking shape, intricately hand painted in blue, white and red to create a signature geometric patt...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Blue Purple Red Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Unique contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase, intricately hand painted in blue, purple, green and red on an elegantly shaped ovoid porcelain body, a signed work by widely r...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 5
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, platinum-gilded and hand-painted porcelain vase in a stunning cylinder shape and signed by highly acclaimed award-winning m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite large Japanese contemporary porcelain decorative vase, intricately hand painted in vivid blue, red and green on a beautifully shaped porcelain body, a signed piece by a mas...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

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 Vases

Materials

Gold, Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Blue Green Yellow Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary museum quality Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted in blue, red and yellow on a stunningly shaped ovoid body, a signed m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Contemporary Green Black Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, beautifully hand-painted in green, a signed masterpiece by a master porcelain artist of the historic Kutani region of Japan...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

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 Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Gold Red Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary massive contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted on a stunningly shaped impressively elegant and large porcelain body in red, blue and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Contemporary Japanese Hand-Glazed Red Purple Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase in opulent signature wine red and stunning signature shape, a masterpiece by highly acclaimed master of the "...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Large Contemporary Japanese Whit Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Unique contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase, intricately hand painted in underglazed blue on an elegantly shaped globular porcelain body, a signed piece by widely respecte...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Art Deco Japanese Kutani Porcelain Vases Meiji Period, Pair
Located in New York, NY
A very beautiful pair of polychromed Kutani porcelain Japanese vases, circa early 20th century, Meiji period, Japan. Vases are hand painted and designed with two different sides; one...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Contemporary Japanese Blue Gilded Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 5
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese large contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately gilded and hand painted in striking shades of blue on a beautifully shaped porcelain body, a signed maste...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Hand-Glazed Brown Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Jpanese contemporary highly collectible hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase, a museum quality exhibition piece hand-glazed in iron red/brown and turquoise blue on a s...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Japanese Contemporary Blue Platinum Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional very tall Japanese contemporary museum quality porcelain vase with mysterious etchings in stunning detail featuring platinum foils, plus silver based foils for expressing...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum, Silver, Foil

Japanese Contemporary Red Green Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, hand painted on a stunningly shaped porcelain body in green with mesmerizing grape and vine motif in vibrant red, blue and green, asi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Massive Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Vase, Late 19th Century, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A very large Meiji period bronze vase, possibly for temple use, with high relief design and elephant head handles, late 19th century, Japan. Of baluster form and unusual size, yet ...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Pink Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese decorative Porcelain vase, intricately gilded and hand painted in hues of red, blue and green on a striking ovoid body, a signed work by highly acclai...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Porcelain Studio Art Vase
Located in Hudson, NY
With lovely magnolia tree in bloom and finch on blue background. Signed: Fukugawa.   
Category

20th Century Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

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 Vases

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Cloisonné Enamel Dragon Vase, Meiji Period Japan
Located in London, GB
This intricately decorated antique Japanese vase was crafted in the Meiji period (1868-1912). The vase is of circular form and features a waisted base, large, ovoid body and a lid wi...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Enamel

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 Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Contemporary Japanese Red Blue White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary museum qulity decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand-painted in vivid red and blue on a beautifully shaped porcelain body, a signed sig...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

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 Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Red White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary hand-painted Imari porcelain vase, the work of acclaimed award-winning master porcelain artist from Imari-Arita region in Japan. This stunning vase features a traditional Arita arabesque pattern in deep red. To this, the artist has added a blue cord borrowed from the Nabeshima porcelain...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

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 Vases

Materials

Bronze

Meiji Period, Japanese Bronze Jardiniere
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An impressive 19th century Japanese Meiji period bronze jardinière, depicting herding elephants.
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

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 Vases

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

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 Vases

Materials

Bronze

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 Vases

Japanese High-Relief Bronze Vase
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A bronze vase having a sinuous teardrop form and high-relief naturalistic decoration of swaying orchids and a meandering turtle.
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

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 Vases

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 Vases

Materials

Enamel

Large Antique Japanese Meiji Cloisonne Enamel Vases
Located in New York, NY
A pair of large antique Japanese copper vase with polychrome cloisonne enamel decor. Late Meiji period, before 1912. Baluster shape, with pronounced base and neck. Multi-figure genre...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Copper, Enamel

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 Vases

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 Vases

Materials

Brass, Enamel

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 Vases

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 Vases

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 Vases

Materials

Bronze

Antique Japanese Satsuma Pottery Miniature Cabinet Vase
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 Vases

Materials

Pottery

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 Vases

Materials

Copper, 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 Vases

Materials

Enamel, Copper

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 Vases

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 Vases

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 Vases

Materials

Stoneware

Meiji vases for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Meiji vases 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 vases 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 vases 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 vases, popular names associated with this style include Ando Jubei, Satsuma, Kinkozan, and Makuzu Kozan. 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 vases 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 $2,994.

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