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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 Purple Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in green on an stunning cylinder shape large body, a signed piece by highly acclaimed master porce...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Meiji Period Japanese Bronze Vase with Grasses and Quail Design
Located in Hudson, NY
Meiji Japanese bronze vase with grasses and Quail design, Meiji period (1868-1912) bronze vase with elaborate raised design of wild grasses,...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Contemporary Japanese Blue White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary muesum quality Japanese Contemporary porcelain decorative vase, hand painted in blue underglaze by highly respected award-winning master porcelain artist from Imari-Ari...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Blue Green Yellow Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase hand painted in green, red and blue on a beautifully shaped body, a signed work by highly acclaimed Japanese master porcelain artist i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary White Blue Red Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Unique Japanese contemporry decorative porcelain vase, hand painted in red and beautiful shades of blue on an elegantly shaped ovoid porcelain body, a signed piece by widely acclaime...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Antique Japanese Bronze Vase Early Meiji Period
Located in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire
Early Japanese Meiji period bronze vase. Raised dragon with birds and cloud handles. Would look amazing in the right location. The very best color an...
Category

19th Century Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Blue Pink Gold Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite gilded contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase hand painted in red, pink and blue on an elegant bottle shape body, a signed work by highly acclaimed Japanese master...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Contemporary Platinum Pink Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary large dimpled decorative porcelain vase, hand painted in vivid blue, green and pink on an elegant cylinder shape porcelain body with a stunning scalloped rim, set against an attractive platinum background, a signed masterpiece by highly acclaimed master porcelain artist in the Imari-Arita tradition. In 2016, the British Museum added a work by this artist to its collection of contemporary Japanese porcelain, a large lidded jar in the Imari-Arita polychrome enamel tradition. The artist is the recipient of numerous awards for his unique signature gold and platinum work on porcelain. This graceful large vase depicts elegant Japanese toad...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Blue Pink Porcelain Vase by Master Artist Duo
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese Contemporary museum=quality extremely intricately hand painted decorative porcelain vase in blue elegantly featuring the four auspicious creatures of Chinese myt...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Monumental Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Censer Urn with Dragons
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A monumental Japanese Meiji period bronze censer urn, the elaborate multi-section exhibition piece with large high-relief dragon 'handles' to either side of the ovoid body with two s...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Contemporary Red Gold Blue Hand-Glazed Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Outstanding highly collectable museum quality Japanese contemporary hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase, an award-winning exhibition masterpiece in iron red, black and purple by wi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Blue Yellow Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary porcelain vase, intricately hand painted on an elegant gourd shape, a signed masterpiece by a Kutani master porcelain artist. The spirit of Kutani war...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Satsuma Kyotoware Monkey Vase
Located in New York, NY
Japanese satsuma Kyotoware monkey vase. Antique Japanese satsuma monkey vase beautifully modeled with raised monkey porcelain figures. Signed. Satsuma-Kyot...
Category

1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Blue White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 5
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in blue underglaze in various shades of blue on a stunning ovoid shape body, a signed work by high...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Large Pair of 19th Century Japanese Meiji Vases
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large and extraordinary pair of Meiji period yellow porcelain vases with hand painted floral decoration. Wonderful color and presence, truly statement vases. Overall in remarkable ...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Blue, Green, Red and Brown Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese porcelain vase, hand painted in green, blue, red and brown on a stunningly shaped porcelain body, a signed masterpiece by highly acclaimed award-winni...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Blue Red Green Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite large Japanese contemporary decorative Imari ceramic vase, hand-painted in vivid blue, red, green and yellow on a beautifully shaped ovoid ceramic vase, a striking piece ha...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Ceramic

Japanese White Red Green Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase hand painted in red, white and green on a beautifully shaped body, a signed work by highly acclaimed Japanese master porcela...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Gold Porcelain Vase by Master , 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite gilded and dimpled porcelain vase decorated with "ran" or orchid in green, blue and iron-red, by highly respected master porcelain artist in the Imari-Arita style and the r...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Contemporary Red Blue Green Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted on a stunningly shaped porcelain body in blue and red, a stunning piece by highly-acclaimed awar...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Kutani Blue Gray Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, stunningly hand painted in brown on a stunning egg shape body in beautiful background with stripes on a blue/gray gradati...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Large Meiji Period Cloisonne Enamel Vase
Located in London, GB
Of ovoid form, with a narrow neck and outward flaring rim, on dark blue ground depicting wisteria blossoms in white and purple cascading from the shoulder with birds throughout and w...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Enamel

Large Pair of Japanese Imari Porcelain Floriform Trumpet Floor Vases, circa 1900
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of antique Japanese floriform trumpet floor vases in Imari porcelain, Meiji Period, circa 1900. These beautiful Japanese floriform trumpet floor vases are adorned in polychrome ...
Category

Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Meiji Period Bronze Vase with Two Frogs
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Meiji period bronze vase with two frogs against a rough textured ground, signed ‘Hyakusei’, Japanese, circa 1880.    
Category

1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Contemporary Green Red Yellow Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing Japanese contemporary museum quality decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand-painted in vivid green, red, yellow and blue on a stunning cylinder shape body....
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Contemporary Blue Platinum Porcelain Vase by Japanese Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese decorative porcelain vase, platinum-gilded hand painted porcelain vase in a stunning shape and signed by highly acclaimed master porcelain artist in the Imari-Arit...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Black Brown Hand-Glazed Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary museum quality contemporary Japanese hand-glazed decorative porcelain vase in a stunningly shape in black and brown, a masterpiece by a highly respected master porcelai...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Red Blue Purple Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Elegant gilded contemporary Japanese porcelain decorative vase hand painted in red, blue, purple and green on an elegant bottle shape body, a signed work by widely acclaimed Japanese...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary Imari signed porcelain vase, hand painted in deep blue and green on a beautiful bottle shape body, the work of highly acclaimed award-winning third generation m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Yellow Green Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary museum quality signed Kutani porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in Ko-Kuatani (old Kutani) traditional five colors of mustard yellow, purple, gr...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Blue Green Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Unique contemporary Japanese signed decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in deep blue and green on a beautifully shaped body, a masterpiece by widely acclaimed award-w...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Large Meiji Period Bronze Vases
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A pair of large Meiji period bronze vases, each of baluster form raised on three oni-mask feet on a ring-shaped base, applied with arched mask-and-ring handles, finely inlaid in patinated metals, silver and gilt with boys playing around a large water jar...
Category

1910s Japanese Vintage Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Large Japanese Contemporary Red Black Gilded Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Outstanding very large Japanese contemporary dimpled Imari Porcelain vase, hand painted in vivid red, platinum and gold on a gracefully shaped porcelain body, a stunning piece by wid...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold, Platinum

Large Meiji Period Bronze Twin Handled Urn with Decoration
Located in Redding, CT
Large Meiji period bronze twin handled urn with decoration. Decoration consists of raised birds, branches with cherry blossoms and a dragon. Nice patina to this gorgeous vase that ca...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Red Blue Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, hand-painted on a beautifully shaped porcelain body, a signed masterpiece by widely respected award-winning Japanese mast...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Porcelain Vase in Red and Blue by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Stunning contemporary decorative porcelain vase showcasing a blue and turquoise Phoenix gracefully extending its wings all around the body of the vase on a red background with a deta...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Contemporary Red Black Hand-Glazed Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing highly collectible Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase of exceptional charm, an exhibition piece, stunningly hand-glazed in vivid blue, red and black on a bea...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Green Blue Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary hand painted decorative porcelain vase, a masterpiece by highly acclaimed award-winning master porcelain artist of the Kutani region of Japan, featu...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Green Orange Gold Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Japanese Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing large contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, extremely intricately hand painted in green, orange and gold, a breathtaking masterpiece by highly acclaimed master...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Japanese Green Blue White Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite hand painted Japanese contemporary porcelain vase created by acclaimed award-winning master artist from the Imari- Arita region of Japan, featuring a stunning arabesque pat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Cloisonné Vase with Silver Mounted, Japan, circa 1900
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Cloisonné vase with silver mounted. Japan, circa 1900.
Category

Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Enamel, Silver

Japanese Contemporary Blue Red White Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted on a beautifully shaped fine Arita porcelain body, featuring three attractive flower panels, a sig...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Usubata Ikebana Vessel, c. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
This early 20th century iron vessel is a Meiji-era vase designed especially for ikebana, the Japanese art of floral arrangement. The two-piece vase was cast in the classical usubata ...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Iron

Contemporary Japanese Platinum Gold Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary museum-quality Japanese contemporary porcelain vase extremely intricately hand-painted with high purity gold and platinum on a stunning auspicious double gourd porcelai...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum, Gold

Japanese contemporary Blue Red Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand-painted in vivid red and blue on a stunningly shaped double gourd porcelain body, a signed work by highly acclaimed ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Meiji Bronze Ikebana Vessel with Chrysanthemum Blossoms Base
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Meiji period ikebana vessel made in bronze with a decorative tripod base featuring Chrysanthemum blossoms on stems. The piece has a channeled g...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Platinum Black Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Unique contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase hand painted in platinum and black over a beautifully shaped body with a scalloped rim , an exclusive signature piece by a high...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum

Japanese Contemporary Gold Green Red Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary contemporary Japanese decorative porcelain vase, intricately hand painted in the artist's unique miniature technique on a elegantly shaped porcelain body in green, blue...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

Pair of Japanese Large Bronze Vases with Turtles and Cranes
Located in Hudson, NY
Early Meiji period (1868-1912) bronze vases, incised, detailed designs on each vase. One vase is decorated with a family of cranes at a rocky water's edge, with flowers and an old pine tree. The other vase depicts turtles at a rocky water's edge with bamboo, along with turtles swimming...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Antique Meiji Period Earthenware Vase with Butterfly Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique earthenware vase was made in Japan is circa 1900 in the Meiji period and style. This vase stands a foot high and is done w...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Earthenware

Large Pair of Antique Japanese Meiji Bronze Vases
Located in London, by appointment only
A pair of large Japanese Bronze vases dating from the Meiji period. Of baluster form with raised panels of birds among tree branches foliage...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Kutani Meiji Period Vases Porcelain Urns Table Lamps Antiques LA light
Located in West Hollywood, CA
A fine quality pair of Meiji period (1868-1912) Japanese Kutani porcelain vases made into lamps, 19TH century. Each with wonderful gold white and orange ground decoration. Inset painted panels depicting courtiers and a child, motifs and borders of exotic flowers. Antiques Dealer Los Angeles CA Beverly Hills. The table lamps emit very soft light, as delicate as the work and love invested in creating them. With handmade shades this pair of lights will add the perfect touch of elegance and refined taste to any room. From a boudoir to a bedroom, a powder room or a living room to an entryway. The perfect light for a side table, on an enfilade, a console or credence This exquisite pair of Mid Meiji period Japanese Kutani gilded hand painted porcelain vases has two panels in a heart shape depicting very finely painted clouds...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

19th century Satsuma Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Savannah, GA
Made for the European market in the Meiji period, this lovely Japanese Satsuma porcelain vase has been converted into a table lamp and mounted on a wooden base. Decorated with delica...
Category

1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Contemporary Black Blue Red Porcelain Vase by Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing Japanese contemporary museum-quality decorative porcelain vase, painstakingly intricately hand painted in black, blue and red Set against a stunning globular background i...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Bronze Ikebana 'Flower Arranging' Basket with Frog
Located in Hudson, NY
Meiji period (1868-1912) bronze flower arranging basket with a small frog climbing up the side. Excellently rendered details in the basket weaving. Signature on the bottom reads: Eiho.
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Vases

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Contemporary Blue Silver Etched Porcelain Vase by Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing tall Japanese Contemporary museum quality decorative porcelain vase with mysterious etchings with three-dimensional effect in a stunningly elegant shape featuring silver ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Silver, Foil

Large Blue Silver Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Japanese Master Artist
Located in Takarazuka, JP
mesmerizing Japanese large contemporary porcelain vase in blue and silver based foil in many different shades of blue on a stunningly shaped globular body. This is a masterpiece by a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Platinum, Silver

Japanese Red Gold Blue Porcelain Vase by Contemporary Master Artist, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Mesmerizing large Japanese contemporary decorative porcelain vase, hand painted in vivid red, blue, green and gold on a strikingly shaped porcelain body is a signed masterpiece by hi...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Vases

Materials

Gold

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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