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.
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
Antique Awaji Pottery Dragon Japanese Arts & Crafts Plate Danto Kiln Signed
Located in Wilton, CT
Awaji Pottery plate in sancai (three color) glaze with hand incised pair of circling dragons. Meiji Period. Circa 1900. From the Danto Kiln, successor to the famous Minpei Kiln. Impr...
Pottery
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
$9,009 / 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
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
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
$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
$946 / set
H 8.67 in W 3.94 in D 3.94 in
Pair Of Satsuma Earthenware Vases "zenkozan" Japan, Meiji Period
By Satsuma
Located in Bilzen, BE
Pair of Earthenware vases from Satsuma Japan Each side with different decoration Signature under the base "Zenkozan" end of the Meiji period Height 22 cm Perfect condition
Earthenware
$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
$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
$1,057Sale Price|66% Off
H 5.12 in Dm 12.41 in
Large Antique Meiji period Japanese Satsuma Bowl Figures with mark Japan 19c
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Country of origin: Japan Age: Meiji Period 19th century Size: 39.5 cm / 40 cm Diameter Condition Period 19th century PRoC (1949 - now)
Porcelain
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
Large Kutani Million Faces Porcelain Platter 19th Century
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Large 15" in diameter Kutani Million Faces Porcelain Platter 19th Century. Age appropriate condition with a mark on the foot and some crazing from age.
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
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
Satsuma Earthenware Vase and Cover, Japanese, Meiji Period
By Satsuma
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A Satsuma Earthenware vase and cover, Japanese, Meiji period, (1868-1912) decorated in polychrome enamels and gilt over a clear, crackled glaze, delicately painted with samurai on ...
Ceramic
Japanese Satsuma Incense Burner, Koro, with Silver Lid, Meiji Period, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A fantastic Japanese Satsuma incense burner, koro, with phoenix and brocade designs and a silver lid, Meiji Period, late 19th century, Japan. The cens...
Silver
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