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.
Large Matching Pair Satsuma Meiji Era Figural Vases Figures in Clouds Gold Leaf
By Satsuma
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
LARGE Matching Pair Satsuma Meiji Era Figural vases figures in clouds gold leaf. Amazing multi color decoration. Vases display prominently from any decor...
Pottery
$8,843 / set
Pair of Satsuma Earthenware Meiji Period Vases
Located in London, GB
Pair of Satsuma earthenware Meiji period vases Japanese, Early 20th Century Height 36cm, width 23cm, depth 15cm The pair of outstanding vases was crafted in early 20th century Ja...
Enamel
Antique Set of Ten Japanese Nabeshima Mt Fuji Celadon Pottery 8.5" Plates 1900
Located in Portland, OR
A fine set of ten antique Japanese celedon glazed Meiji period Mt. Fuji Plates, signed Nabeshima, circa 1900. Each circular plate is 8.5" in diameter, with a rich celadon green glaze...
Pottery
Signed Japanese Black Glaze Kutani Porcelain Vase by Mitsui Tamekichi III
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Japanese Kutani porcelain vase. By Mitsui Tamekichi the 3rd (?????3?). Born Mitsui Eiichi in 1935. He met his wife while apprenticing under Kutani master Torijo...
Porcelain
Japanese Meiji Satsuma Covered Scenic Jar
By Satsuma
Located in Sarasota, FL
Japanese Meiji satsuma covered scenic jar. Very detailed hand gilding and hand decoration. Maker's mark present on the bottom .
Ceramic, Pottery
$1,356Sale Price|20% Off
H 15 in Dm 12.2 in
In Stock in Los Angeles, Blue & Gold Pirate Terracotta Vase
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 500 other unique products. (2) In Stock in Los Angeles The bold Don Filippo Vase is part of a remarkable range of mytho...
Gold Leaf
Antique Kitamura Black Japanese Satsuma Ware vases Meiji 19thC
By Satsuma
Located in Den Haag, NL
Fabulous Kitamura Black Japanese earthenware Satsuma vases depicting several rakan (Sk. Arhats, holy disciples of the historical Buddha) and moriage (raised enamel) white dragon. Sat...
Earthenware
Satsuma Japanese Meiji Miniature Enameled Teapot Kozon Mark
By Satsuma
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An exceptional Japanese Satsuma miniature spool shaped pottery teapot and cover finely hand enameled with Kozon mark and dating from around 1880. This delightful teapot has an invers...
Pottery
$1,345 / set
H 6 in Dm 7.75 in
Poterie De Bavent French Pottery Covered Terrines with Under-Plates, Set of Four
By Bavent
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A marvelous set of four individual terrines from the Poterie de Bavent, Normadie, France circa 1900-1920. Potted and glazed by hand, each terrine includes a lid and under-plate – ...
Earthenware
Vintage Japanese Studio Pottery Stoneware Insect Design Vase, Signed
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual vintage Japanese studio pottery vase decorated with stylized insects and signed to base. The bulbous stoneware vase stands on a flat unglazed base and is decorated in brow...
Stoneware
$1,250
H 11.5 in W 4.5 in D 4.5 in
Japanese Antique Meiji Satsuma Pottery Buddhist Monks Vase & Shimazu Crest Mark
By Satsuma
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful Japanese Satsuma pottery studio vase featuring multiple kesa-clad enlightened Buddhist monks on each side of the vase. The piece is finely detailed with rich raised gilt highlights throughout and beautifully decorated in gold and various hand painted other colors. From the Meiji period (1868-1912). This piece has the all-important Shimazu Family crest mark (red circle with a cross inside) on the base authenticating the work as an old and original Satsumaware work. The mark shows the pottery was made under the rule of the Shimazu clan. From a Los Angeles Collection...
Earthenware, Pottery
Art Deco Japanese 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...
Porcelain
Vintage Boho Studio Pottery Plates- Set of 8
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous set of 8 gorgeous dinner and salad plates. Super chic hand made studio pottery in thr most beautiful shade of green. Four dinner plates and four salad plates. Acquired fro...
Pottery
Turn of the Century Large Covered Earthenware Water Jug
Located in Vista, CA
Turn of the century earthenware water jug with cream glaze and green and red finger style markings motif with handled lid and thin spout. Once a common piece of pottery used daily in...
Earthenware
$718Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.57 in Dm 6.3 in
Antique Japanese Satsuma Vase, Hand-Painted Warrior Scene, Meiji-Era Masterpiece
By Satsuma
Located in Bochum, NRW
Antique Japanese Satsuma Vase – Hand-Painted Warrior Scene, Meiji-Era Masterpiece. Japanese Satsuma ceramic vase with polychrome decorations of Japanese men and soldiers in armor. Go...
Porcelain
Japanese Satsuma Vase
By Satsuma
Located in New York, NY
A gorgeous hand-painted Japanese Satsuma vase, Meigi, circa 20th century, Japan. Beautiful hand-painted detail of colorful flowers and spider mum flowers around finished with gold de...
Earthenware
Large Pair of Meiji Period Satsuma Vases
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very impressive and decorative pair of 19th century (Meiji period 1868-1912) Japanese Satsuma flared neck vases. Each with wonderful gilded and hand-painted decoration. Depicting out door scenes of people on horse...
Porcelain
Sold
H 25.99 in Dm 18.51 in L 25.99 in
Japanese Antique Paper-Covered Pottery Flower Vase Wabi-Sabi Pot
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a large Japanese pottery. It is from the Meiji period. The entire pottery is covered with paper. This large vase was used to transp...
Pottery
Small Antique Bowl from Okinawa, Japan / Late 19th Century / "Tsuboya ware"
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an Okinawan bowl that was baked around the Meiji era (1868-1912). Okinawa is a small island at the southernmost tip of Japan. Today, it is a very famous island as a tourist...
Pottery
Sold
H 12.8 in Dm 5.71 in
Pair of Antique Japanese Satsuma Meiji Moriage Lidded Pottery Koros Circa 1920
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine pair antique Japanese Meiji Satsuma Moriage enameled pottery koros and covers with lion dog handles and with a lion dog resting on a ball finial....
Pottery
Japanese Redware Pottery Vases
Located in Downingtown, PA
The bottle-form redware vases are decorated with a moulded design of a three-clawed scaled dragon, its tail and body entwining the vase against a pricked ...
Pottery
Antique Kyoto Pottery Dragon Vase
By Kyoto Pottery
Located in Wilton, CT
Antique Kyoto pottery dragon vase with applied and carved decoration in high relief, circa 1900. The dragon curled around the midsection amongst the clou...
Pottery