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.
Imari Porcelain Large Plate, Edo Meiji Period, Early 18th Century
Located in Worcester Park, GB
Imari ware is a style of Japanese porcelain made in the town of Arita and exported from the port of Imari. It is characterized by its vibrant colours, typically including underglaze ...
Ceramic
$1,775Sale Price|45% Off
Edo Period Ko-Arita/Ko-Imari Porcelain Plate Blue and White, 17th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
A great plate dating to most probably the second half of the 17th century, delicate painting and shape. Its a Japanese version of a well know Late ming dish (see pictures also). Very...
Porcelain
$1,241Sale Price|48% Off
Edo Period Japanese Porcelain Ko Imari Charger Crane Flowers Spur Marks
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Large and amazing charger with a scene of a stunning crane between flowers/plants. The blue colors are amazing. Many spur marks at the base Additional information: Material: Porcela...
Porcelain
$744Sale Price|45% Off
Japanese Ko-Imari Porcelain Edo Period Dish Antique Japan, Ca 17th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you a very nice example of the Edo period. A scene of a deer in a landscape under an overhanging pine tree. Objects and flowers in the rim and moulded outer rim Additio...
Porcelain
Antique Quality Japanese Imari Plate
Located in Suffolk, GB
Antique quality Japanese Imari plate having a scalloped edge with wonderful hand painted panels in red, blue, green, white and gold colours In lovely original condition Dimensio...
Ceramic
$1,800
H 2 in Dm 18.88 in
Large Japanese Blue and White Arita Porcelain Charger, Edo Period, 19th C, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A large Japanese blue and white decorated Arita porcelain charger, Edo Period, early 19th century, Japan. The large and shallow blue and white Arita porcelain charger measures 18 ...
Porcelain
Russian Lomonosov Blue Gold and White Porcelain Plate
By Lomonosov
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful Russian blue, gold and white porcelain plate in the 'Cobalt Net' pattern by Lomonosov Porcelain, Russia, circa late-20th century, after 1991. Wi...
Porcelain
19th Century Japonese Imari Plate
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Japonese Imari Plate. 8.5 inches diameter.
Porcelain
19th Century Japonese Imari Plate
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Japonese Imari Plate. 8.5 inches diameter.
Porcelain
$153Sale Price|45% Off
Dm 9.06 in
Antique Yongzheng/Qianlong Qing Period Chinese Porcelain Plate, 18th Century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Sharing with you this lovely plate from the Qing period. It has a rather unusual scene. Additional information: Material: Porcelain & Pottery Region of Origin: China Period: 18th ce...
Porcelain
Large Japanese Imari Porcelain Charger from the Meiji Period
Located in Kastrup, DK
A large Japanese porcelain imari charger dating from the Meiji era. Hand painted design in polychrome colors, six alternating panels surrounding the central floral medallion. Reverse...
Porcelain
18th Century Worcester Blind Earl Porcelain Dish
By James Giles, 1st Period Worcester Dr. Wall
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A Worcester Blind Earl porcelain plate made circa 1770 with beautifully enamelled decoration of butterflies and insects among raised leaf and rose...
Porcelain
Japanese Imari Porcelain, Blue & White Plate, Meiji Era, (1868-1912)
Located in Worcester Park, GB
A fine example of Japanese Imari porcelain, this plate likely dates to the Meiji period and reflects the artistry and craftsmanship that made Imari ware so prized worldwide. Originating in the kilns of Arita and shipped through the port of Imari, these porcelains became synonymous with elegance, rich design, and cultural exchange between Japan and the West. Design: This plate features a scalloped edge and is richly decorated in cobalt blue and white with a detailed tableau of peacocks, birds, flowering trees, and foliage—motifs deeply symbolic in Japanese art, representing beauty, longevity, and renewal. The balance of naturalistic detail and decorative flourish is characteristic of Imari porcelain of the late 19th century. Era: Given its style and subject matter, this piece can be attributed to the late 19th to early 20th century, during Japan’s Meiji era, a period when traditional craftsmanship flourished alongside modernization. Why Collectors Value It: Exemplifies the refined artistry of Japanese porcelain during a culturally transformative period. Features timeless natural motifs that resonate with both collectors and decorators. A versatile piece—equally striking as a display plate, wall mount, or part of a larger Imari collection...
Ceramic, Porcelain
19th Century Japanese Imari Scalloped Plate
Located in Pearland, TX
A striking 19th century antique Imari plate with a lovely scalloped edge, featuring vibrant red-oranges and blues. It displays beautifully, perfect on a wall or plate rack. Originati...
Porcelain
19th Century Japonese Imari Plate
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century Japonese Imari Plate. 8.5 inches diameter.
Porcelain
Set of Ten Antique Japanese Imari Porcelain Dinner Plates
Located in Point Richmond, CA
A Set of Ten Antique Japanese Imari Porcelain Dinner Plates. This set of fine porcelain china is decorated in three firings. The first firing in light and dark under glaze cobalt blu...
Porcelain
Sold
H 0.5 in Dm 9 in
Japanese Imari Porcelain Plate with Dragon, Lions, Cranes, 17th C, Edo 1680-1700
Located in London, GB
This is a beautiful plate with a dragon, two lions and two cranes. It was made in Japan in the Imari style some time between 1680 and 1700, during the Edo period. The plate is sm...
Porcelain