In the late 19th and early 20th century, France developed an enduring passion for Japanese aesthetics and craftsmanship. Not only did this interpretation of Japanese culture — which became known as Japonisme — infuse fresh energy into French art and design, but it also radically transformed how Europeans, and subsequently the world, would come to understand visual culture.
Until 1853, Japan had been closely guarded against foreign visitors for over two centuries. However, American Commodore Matthew C. Perry sailed into Japan that year and initiated the first of its treaties with the United States and Europe, thereby opening its borders and giving the West its first-ever look at Japanese design.
For the next few decades, taken with Japonisme, sophisticated collectors in Paris, New York and elsewhere gorged themselves on lacquered screens, celadon ceramics and netsuke ornaments, along with artworks depicting various aspects of Japanese life. The East Asian country’s influence on Europe, particularly France, contributed to one of the most creatively prosperous periods in history, leaving an imprint on the Impressionist, Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements, and inspiring artists like Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Vincent van Gogh as well as luxury houses such as Louis Vuitton and Hermès. Japonisme emerged at the time when the ornate Renaissance Revival style was the most prominent mode of decorating in Europe, and Japanese aesthetics seemed strikingly modern and elegant in comparison.
In addition to everyday practical objects from Japan, such as vases, tableware and decorative boxes, Japanese art, especially Japanese woodblock prints by masters of the ukiyo-e school, caught the eye of many artists — particularly those in the Art Nouveau poster community in 1880s Paris. The luscious organic colors associated with traditional Japanese design, motifs like cherry blossoms and carp and the vivid patterns found in woodblock prints, silks and more were adopted and appropriated by painters as well as ceramicists and those working in other fields of the decorative arts. Today, demand for Japanese lacquerware — furniture, trays, writing boxes, screens, incense burners — from the Edo period (1615–1868) and the late 19th century continues to be very strong among collectors.
Find a collection of antique Japonisme furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Dinner plate for L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicat...
Ceramic
L'Escalier de Cristal's Plate, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By Choisy-le-Roi, L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicat...
Ceramic
Plate L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By Choisy-le-Roi, L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicat...
Ceramic
Dinner plate L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By Choisy-le-Roi, L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicat...
Ceramic
Lot Of Six Rare Japanese Kutani Porcelain Ramekins Dessert Dishes & Saucers
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
LOT OF SIX RARE JAPANESE KUTANI PORCELAIN RAMEKINS DESSERT DISHES & SAUCERS Circa 1910. Two sets of three eggshell richly decorated in polychrome enamels and gold moriage fi...
Porcelain
$668Sale Price|24% Off
Six Wedgwood Majolica Argenta 'Lincoln' Pattern Dessert Dishes
By Wedgwood
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Six Wedgwood majolica Argenta palette ‘Lincoln' pattern dessert plates with finely molded maroon prunus blossoms and dark taupe pine branches surrounded by a yellow Greek key border. The dishes are decorated in the japonisme style and feature the “Three Friends of Winter” motif, an Asian artistic convention showing the pine, plum, and bamboo together to represent steadfastness, perseverance, and resilience. The Wedgwood factory introduced muted Argenta glazes to its majolicas in the 1880s to keep up with ever-changing fashions. The Argenta glaze color palette was more subdued than that of traditionally vibrant majolica, and was thus more appealing to the Aesthetic Movement japonisme style that pervaded the market. These Argenta majolica dessert dishes...
Earthenware, Majolica
$2,880Sale Price|20% Off
Duhme American Japonesque Sterling Silver Fish Serving Fork & Slice
Located in New York, NY
Japonesque sterling silver fish serving fork and slice. Made by The Duhme Company in Cincinnati, ca 1885. Handles shaped and tapering with fish and crabs in scrolled current; stipple...
Sterling Silver
Serving Dish Choisy-le-Roi for L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By Choisy-le-Roi, L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
Introducing the "Grands Oiseaux" footed plate, an elegant piece hailing from the iconic Escalier de Cristal, the premier tableware store of the 19th century. This exquisite plate fe...
Ceramic
$6,720Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Tiffany Japanese Sterling Silver Asparagus Tongs
Located in New York, NY
Rare Japanese sterling silver asparagus tongs. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1875. U-form; terminals with low-relief stylized ornament: Perched birds, flowers, and cattails. ...
Sterling Silver
"Escalier de Cristal" Dinner plate 19th from famous service "Grands Oiseaux"
By Choisy-le-Roi, L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plates, an exquisite piece from the most world world well-knowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand...
Ceramic
Footed bowl Choisy-le-Roi for L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By Choisy-le-Roi, L'Escalier de Cristal
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" footed bowl, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This elegant bowl showcases a delicate hand-painted pheasant...
Ceramic
$1,850 / set
8 Tiffany Audubon Sterling Silver Luncheon Forks
Located in New York, NY
Eight Audubon sterling silver luncheon forks. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Perfect for completing a set in the revived pattern Japanese that was designed by Edward C. Moore and...
Sterling Silver
Rörstrand. Set of nine lunch plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of nine lunch plates. Lunch plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, char...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Set of two large serving dishes. 'Japan' series.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of two large serving dishes. Large serving dishes in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japan...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Set of two large round serving dishes. 'Japan' series.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of two large round serving dishes. Large round serving dishes in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed paint...
Faience
Rörstrand. Set of ten flat plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of ten flat plates. Flat plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, charact...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Six dinner plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of six dinner plates. Dinner plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, cha...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Six dinner plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of six dinner plates. Dinner plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, cha...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Six deep plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of six deep plates. Deep plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, charact...
Faience
Rare Tiffany Lap Over Edge Japonesque Dragonfly Fish Slice
Located in New York, NY
Lap Over Edge sterling silver fish slice. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Tapering stem with applied dragonflies hovering over eddying water represented by acid-etched whiplash sc...
Sterling Silver
$1,880Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Tiffany Chrysanthemum Sterling Silver Oyster Ladle
Located in New York, NY
Chrysanthemum sterling silver oyster ladle. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1920. Round bowl with twisted fluting and curved and reeded stem with d...
Sterling Silver
Rörstrand. Set of nine lunch plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of nine lunch plates. Lunch plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, char...
Faience
Rörstrand. Set of ten flat and deep dishes. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of ten flat and deep dishes. Flat and deep dishes in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japan...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Two serving dishes and a bowl. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set consisting of two serving dishes and one bowl. Serving dishes and bowl in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detai...
Faience
Luxury 60 Pcs Service "Japon" Imari Know as "Monet" Creil & Montereau 19th
Located in Paris, FR
"Japon" Imari service, produced in 1876 by the Creil & Montereau pottery, shows the great success of Japonism in tableware production, like the Bracquemo...
Gold
Gorham Berry Spoon in Aesthetic Japonesque Chrysanthemum Pattern
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Chrysanthemum sterling silver berry spoon. Made by Gorham in Providence, ca 1885. Tapering stem. On recto, bright-cut flowerheads on butler-finished ground; verso plain. Scalloped bo...
Sterling Silver
Rörstrand, Sweden. Six dinner plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of six dinner plates. Dinner plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, cha...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Six dinner plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of six dinner plates. Dinner plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, cha...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Six dinner plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of six dinner plates. Dinner plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, cha...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Five dinner plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of five dinner plates. Dinner plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, ch...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Four dinner plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of four dinner plates. Dinner plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, ch...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Four dinner plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of four dinner plates. Dinner plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, ch...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Seven deep plates in faience. 'Japan' series. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of seven deep plates. Deep plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, chara...
Faience
Rörstrand, Sweden. Six deep plates in faience in Japanese style. Early 20th C.
Located in København, Copenhagen
Rörstrand Japan series, set of six deep plates. Deep plates in faience with oriental-inspired decoration in polychrome colours and finely detailed painting in Japanese style, charact...
Faience
Plate L'Escalier de Cristal, 19th "Grands Oiseaux"
By L'Escalier de Cristal, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Paris, FR
Presenting the "Grands Oiseaux" plate, an exquisite piece from the renowned Escalier de Cristal, the definitive tableware store of the 19th century. This hand-painted plate delicate...
Ceramic