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.
Japanese Antique Wooden Board, "Abstract Sculptures", Wabi-Sabi, Mingei
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This wooden antique board is from the Meiji period. It is made of lauan wood. Years of use and age have given it a beautiful appearance. Hang it o...
Wood
Japanese Antique Wooden Board, "Abstract Sculptures", Wabi-Sabi, Mingei
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is a wooden antique board from the Meiji era. It is made of Japanese cedar wood. It has a beautiful appearance due to years of use and aging. It was used as a board for kneadi...
Wood
Antique Japanese Recycled Saki-Ori Farmer’s Vest
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Japanese Recycled Saki-Ori Farmer’s Vest This late 19th C recycled farmer’s vest from northern Japan was strip woven from repurposed cotton scraps in a technique known as sa...
Cotton
Antique Japanese Nabeshima Carpet (Dantsu)
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Japanese Nabeshima Carpet (Dantsu) Nabeshima dantsu (carpets) are some of the earliest examples of rug making in Japan. The original weavers learned their craft from Chinese...
Cotton
Japanese Asian Hand Painted Lacquered Temple Shrine Plaque Horses, 19th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful and intricate work likely originally from a Japanese temple. The hand painted scene depicts a single rider and group of frolicking horses set against a gorgeous countrysi...
Lacquer, Paint, Wood
Japanese Asian Hand Painted Lacquered Temple Shrine Plaque Peacock, 19th Century
Located in Studio City, CA
A beautiful and intricate work likely originally from a Japanese temple. The hand painted scene depicts a majestic peacock posed against a gorgeous countryside landscape. Would be...
Lacquer, Paint, Wood
Japanese Signed Glazed Edo/Meiji Ceramic Pottery Monkey with Custom Wood Stand
Located in Studio City, CA
A truly fantastic and rather unique piece. The collectors we have shown have gone gaga over this piece. Beautifully crafted and glazed with amazing detail to facial features. ...
Ceramic
Early to Mid-20th Century Rosewood Biwa Plectrum, Japan
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Rosewood Plectrum for Biwa, Japan A beautiful rosewood plectrum used in plucking the strings of a chikuzen-biwa, which is a 4-5 string fretted lute used t...
Wood
Japanese Antique Wooden Board, "Abstract Sculptures", Wabi-Sabi, Mingei
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is a wooden antique board from the Meiji era. It is made of Japanese cedar wood. It has a beautiful appearance due to years of use and aging. It was used as a board for kneadi...
Wood
$760Sale Price|20% Off
Japanese Theatre Mitsumekozo Theatre Mask Meiji Period, circa 1900
Located in Prahran, Victoria
Unusual Japanese Folk Art theatre mask depicting the playful character Mitsumekozo, a three eyed goblin often portrayed as a mischevious creature in comical plays, late Meiji period,...
Wood
Rare Japanese Fireman's Four-Piece Assemble Meiji to Showa Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
A rare four-piece Japanese Fireman's assemble (Shobosho uniform) woven with heavy cotton and decorated with stencil resist dye circa 1890-20s Late Meiji to Showa Period. The assemble...
Cotton
$757Sale Price|20% Off
Old Wooden Netsuke Japanese Peanuts Meiji Period, Japan, 19/20th C
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Lovely and very detailed piece. Unsigned. Japan 19th or 20th century. Weight: 9 grams Provenance: Collected in the 1980’s. From the collection of Clemens Merkelbach van Enkhuizen...
Wood
Japanese Wabi-Sabi Small Vase, Meiji Period, 1750-1850
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is an old Japanese pottery. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). It was used as a fire extinguishing pot. This piece has beautiful color and texture. It is very rare...
Pottery
Mexican Hand Woven Palm Raincoat
By G. None
Located in Guadalajra, Jal
Rare to find raincoat made of braided palm leaves. Of pre-Hispanic origin, it is a woven garment that protects against the rain. Also known as Capisayo in or Capote in other parts of...
Natural Fiber
Antique Akha Hill Tribe Silver Cuff Bracelet, 517grams
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
An exceptionally large Akha Tribe woven silver bracelet with spiral design. This Tribal bracelet encompasses tradition Hill tribe silversmithing techniques ...
Silver
$1,462
H 5.52 in W 25.01 in D 5.91 in
Antique Danish Wooden Mangle Board Wedding Love Gift with Horse Dated 1823
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish mangle board (clothing and bedding press) dated 1823. Made of wood with hand-carved edge and horse as handle. Richly decorated with hand-painted flowers in orange-brown, blue...
Wood
Antique Rugs Blue Caucasian Kazak Rugs, Geometric Carpet Livingroom Rug
Located in Wembley, GB
Kazak rugs have primarily been produced as village productions rather than city pieces. Made from materials particular to individual tribal provinces and the rugs of the Caucasus typically display bold geometric designs in primary colours. Kazak rugs are a type of Armenian rug...
Wool, Natural Fiber, Organic Material
Antique Berber Henna-Dyed Woman's Ceremonial Head Scarf
Located in Milan, IT
A very finely woven wool veil used as a head cover in the wedding ceremony among the Ait Abdellah Berber people of the Moroccan Anti Atlas region. The pattern is obtained with the re...
Wool
$1,462
H 7.49 in W 21.66 in D 5.91 in
Antique Danish Wooden Mangle Board, a Wedding Love Gift with Horse 1750-1800
Located in Silkeborg, Silkeborg
Danish mangle board (clothing and bedding press) dated from ca. 1750-1800. Made of wood richly decorated with hand-carved geometric patterns and a horse as handle. With original re...
Wood
$875 / set
H 5.12 in W 4.34 in D 0.6 in
19th-Century Hand-Painted Aquatic Collection, Fish Illustrations
Located in GB
This captivating set of 19th-century hand-painted illustrations beautifully captures the vibrant diversity of aquatic life. Each piece features a meticulously detailed depiction of v...
Glass
Framed Pre-Columbian Proto Nazca Textile Frangment
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Proto-Nazca textile fragment from Southern Peru circa 100BC-200AD. The linked munecas ("dolls" in Spanish) figures were woven with fibers likely from l...
Wool
Silk, Chinese Painting, 19th Century, Temple Scene, Asia
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Silk, Chinese painting, 19th century, temple scene, Asia Measures: H 81cm, W 48cm, W 1cm.
Silk
Late 19th Century Silk Ikat Uzbekistan Tribal Weaving
Located in New York, NY
Gorgeous handwoven silk Ikat weaving in rich magenta, gold and purple color, circa late 19th-early 20th century, Uzbekistan, Central Asia, on the ancient...
Silk, Cotton
$1,050 / set
H 8.27 in W 5.91 in D 4.34 in
Antique Japanese Zushi, wabi sabi miniature shrine w/ Ebisu figurine mingei
Located in 常陸大宮市, JP
Antique wooden Zushi (miniature shrine, the "house of the Gods") with mini wooden figurine of Ebisu - from Tohoku area., Japan. Manufactured circa 1860s - 1900s (late Edo to Meiji pe...
Wood
$180Sale Price|20% Off
H 65 in W 19.5 in D 1 in
Japanese Antique Bold Hand-Painted "Two Horses" Silk Scroll, Meiji Period
Located in South Burlington, VT
A fine and bold Japanese hand-brushed, hand-painted silk scroll of two horses below plumb tree mountain- worthy of your favorite room Hand painting on silk in simple soft pleasing co...
Silk
Sold
H 9.65 in W 8.27 in D 7.88 in
Japanese Antique Wood Carving Daruma 1860s-1920s / Sculpture Wabi Sabi Mingei
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old daruma wood pattern made in Japan. The expression of the wood grain and traces of handwork suggest that it was made between the Meiji and Taisho periods (1860s-1920s)....
Walnut
Rare Antique Japanese Oversized Sleeping Kimono (Yogi)
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Rare Antique Japanese Oversized Sleeping Kimono (Yogi) This is the outer shell of a type of shaped sleeping kimono known as a yogi. Yogi were in more common use during the Edo and M...
Cotton, Linen
Antique Japanese Kumanozome Stencil-Dyed Sleeping Kimono (Yogi), Japan
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Japanese Kumanozome Stencil-Dyed Sleeping Kimono (Yogi), Japan This Japanese yogi, or over-sized, shaped sleeping kimono, is made of a uniquely patterned indigo-dyed cotton ...
Cotton
Antique Japanese Recycled Boro Patchwork Futon Cover
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Antique Japanese Recycled Boro Patchwork Futon Cover This indigo-dyed patchwork boro futon cover is a physical testimony to the determination and resourcefulness of those living in ...
Cotton
Sold
H 13.19 in W 14.18 in D 7.09 in
Japanese Antique God House "ZUSHI" 1860s-1900s / Wabi Sabi Object
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
A very old God's house made in Japan. It is called "ZUSHI" in Japanese. It is a Meiji era item (1860's to 1900's). The material is cedar wood. It was found in an old Japanese house....
Cedar
Sold
H 66.54 in W 34.65 in D 0.99 in
Japanese Antique lattice , "Abstract Sculptures", Wabi-Sabi, Mingei
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
Introducing a masterpiece from Japan's Taisho era, this lattice embodies the intricate craftsmanship of traditional Japanese woodworking techniques known as "hozo-zumi." Constructed ...
Wood
Sold
H 24.41 in W 13.78 in D 20.87 in
Japanese Antique / House-shaped steamer /1868s-1912s Folk art objet WabiSabi
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
It was used as a rare type of wood steamer in Japan. It's not seen in modern times, and it's a valuable thing. It's in the shape of a house, and there are 5 drawers inside. The bot...
Wood, Reed, Cedar
Sold
H 37.41 in W 22.45 in D 2.84 in
Japanese Antique Wooden Board, "Abstract Sculptures", Wabi-Sabi, Mingei
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is a wooden antique board from the Meiji era. It is made of high-grade Japanese zelkova wood. It has a beautiful appearance due to years of use ...
Wood
Sold
H 40.04 in W 35.04 in D 3.15 in
Japanese Antique Wooden Board, "Abstract Sculptures", Wabi-Sabi, Mingei
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is a wooden antique board from the Meiji era. It is made of high-grade Japanese zelkova wood. It has a beautiful appearance due to years of use ...
Wood
Japanese Wabi-Sabi Small Vase, Meiji Period 1750-1850
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is an old Japanese pottery. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). It was used as a fire extinguishing pot. This piece has beautiful color and texture. It is very rare.
Pottery
Sold
H 41.54 in W 24.81 in D 2.37 in
Japanese Antique Wooden Board, "Abstract Sculptures", Wabi-Sabi, Mingei
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This is a wooden antique board from the Meiji era. It is made of high-grade Japanese chestnut wood. It has a beautiful appearance due to years of use and aging. It was used as...
Wood
Japanese Antique Wooden Painting, Abstract Art, Wabi-Sabi, Mingei
Located in Katori-Shi, 12
This piece is a component used in antique Japanese furniture. It is from the Meiji period (1860s-1900s). It is made of black persimmon wood, which is ...
Wood