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.
KITA LIVING Flow Coffee Table Large - Bronze Glass
By İsmail Dağlı, Gökhan Eryaman
Located in Bomonti, TR
The triangular Flow Coffee Table Large with rounded edges, contours its form by curved three legs. With the interlocking linear laths, the sculptural skeleton joins into the legs to ...
Glass, Wood, Oak, Plywood
$1,396
Japanese Cabinet, 1930s
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
This Japanese cabinet with drawers and sliding doors is an attractive eye-catcher for any interior. Crafted from solid wood, it boasts a beautiful, we...
Elm
$147,861Sale Price / set|20% Off
"Hana I" and " Hana II" Uchiwa Pendant Lights by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s
By Ingo Maurer, M Design
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
Pair of rare "Hana I" and "Hana II" chandeliers from then Uchiwa series by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s, Germany. Executed in bamboo and 6 rice paper fans. The chandeliers can ...
Cotton, Bamboo, Paper
$1,871 / set
Set of Two Satsuma Vases, Japan, 1920
By Satsuma
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of two beautiful Satsuma designed in Japan vases from the beginning of the 20th century , 1920s. Meiji-period. Hand-painted ceramic vases depicting men surrounding a geisha, fram...
Ceramic
Pair of 19th Century Japanese Arita Imari Porcelain Vase Lamps
Located in London, GB
A pair of antique Japanese Arita Imari porcelain vase lamps. Meiji period (1868-1913) Japanese porcelain vases decorated in bright enamels in Imari colours. The body is decorated wi...
Porcelain
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Lacquer Gold Maki-e Wood Letter Opener
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Lacquer Gold Maki-e Wood Letter Opener Japan Wood, lacquer, paint c. 1900 Dimensions: Length 28cm Dating to the Meiji period, this superb letter...
Gold
French Japonisme Bamboo Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 20th century French Japonisme Aesthetic Movement side table. Sturdy bamboo frame with Japanese lacquered tray top and lower shelf. Circa 1900-1920 Dimensions: 14.5" x 14.5" ...
Bamboo, Lacquer
Japanese folding screen, or byōbu, decorated with lotus flowers
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Asian Art - Antique Decoration Japanese Four-Fold Floor Screen !!!!(Damage)!!!! - See Photos Closed : 47x8cm H:92cm Open : 184x2cm H:92cm
Fabric, Wood, Paper
KITA LIVING Flow Coffee Table Large - Oak Wood
By İsmail Dağlı, Gökhan Eryaman
Located in Bomonti, TR
The triangular Flow Coffee Table Large with rounded edges, contours its form by curved three legs. With the interlocking linear laths, the sculptural...
Wood, Oak, Plywood
Large Antique Hand Painted Ironstone Pottery Bowl. English C.1860
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous ironstone pottery bowl Hand painted decoration Imari inspired " Amherst Japan " pattern No makers mark. Possibly Minton Good condition / tiny hairline on the outside of ...
Pottery
1980s Japanese Large Retro Golden Maneki Neko Beckoning Cat Coin Bank
Located in Chiba, JP
Large type retro ceramic ‘Maneki-neko’ coin bank, 1980s, Japan, approx. H 40 x W 24 x D 20 cm (15.74 x 9.44 x 7.87in). in rare very fine storage condition with just some expected sli...
Ceramic
Théodore Deck (1823-1891), A 19th French Japonisme Cache-Pot, circa 1875
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Théodore Deck (1823-1891) A 19th French Japonisme Cache-Pot, circa 1875 A Polychrome Enameled Faience Round-Shaped Cachepot and Jardinière Hand-painted design in the Japonisme Aesthe...
Faience
$1,046 / item
KITA LIVING Wa Bench
By Gökhan Eryaman, Tuğberk Kurtaran, İsmail Dağlı
Located in Bomonti, TR
Contoured by a delicate structure, Wa Bench takes its name from the Japanese word “harmony”. It characterizes its presence in the balance of soulful forms and refined details. Wa Be...
Oak
Japanese Style Hand-folded White Paper Pendant Lighting "Siphonia"
Located in Grythyttan, SE
Elegant and at the same time soft and indirect light for a unique and personal home. This Japanese style white paper pendant lighting called Siphonia is hand-folded from almost 70 s...
Stainless Steel
Extremely Rare Japanese Edo Period Menpo Armor Mask, Leather & Iron, Ca. 1690s
Located in New York, NY
Extremely Rare Japanese Edo Period Menpo Armor Mask, Leather & Iron, Ca. 1690s Edo Period (1603-1868) DIMENSIONS: Height: 10 inches Diameter: 8 inches ABOUT An exceptionally rare and powerful example of a Japanese Edo period menpō (samurai armor mask...
Metal
$450Sale Price|40% Off
Mid-Century Sommerso Cobalt Blue with Black Spiral Vase
By Soichiro Sasakura
Located in Soquel, CA
Stunning, rare heavy handblown vase with cobalt blue and black spiral in clear glass by Soichiro Sasakura of Sasaki glass. Very contemporary aesthetic that would be perfect in reside...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Sommerso
Chess Game Set with Handmade Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Chessboard Black Lacquered
Located in Bochum, NRW
Chess Game Set with Handmade Board Made of Wood and Mother of Pearl Inlaid An early 1920s Chinese or Vietnamese Export black lacquered Mother-of-Pearl Inlaid Chessboard. The Chessboard measures 38x38cm overall with 4 cm squares. Each square chessboard has an inlaid decor of birds and trees. Included are 32 bakelite chess...
Plastic, Bakelite, Wood
Japanese wooden box, 19th century, Japan
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A 19th-century Japanese wooden box with an elegant geometric shape, crafted using traditional Japanese decorative arts techniques. The black lacquered surface is adorned with delicate painted and inlaid motifs, blending stylized floral elements, graphic symbols, and decorative characters. The composition is structured by a play of diagonal lines and ornamental bands, lending the piece a remarkable visual restraint while revealing refined and meticulous craftsmanship. The contrasts between the deep black, the golden tones, and the light accents attest to masterful craftsmanship. The antique patina, with subtle signs of age, enhances the authenticity and charm of this piece. Serving as both a storage object and a decorative element, this box embodies the aesthetics of 19th-century Japan, where functionality and symbolism harmoniously converge. It will find its place naturally in a wabi-sabi, minimalist, or eclectic interior, or within a collection of antique Asian objects. Main features: Antique wooden box Japan, 19th century Black lacquered wood Painted and inlaid decoration Stylized symbolic and floral motifs Original patina Storage and collectible item Keywords: antique Japanese box...
Wood, Lacquer
KITA LIVING Frame Lounge Chair - Oak Chocolate - Brown
Located in Bomonti, TR
Inspired by the sculptural forms, Frame Lounge Chair is a seating piece with a wider and lower design that presents a cocoon feeling to the person who sinks into it. With the idea of...
Canvas, Oak, Plywood
Japanese Wood Soroban Abacus, 1940s
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A hand-made wooden Soroban or Abacus, Japan, circa 1945-1952. A student abacus, made of wood, with wooden beads on metal spokes. Hand painted Japanese numbers. An abacus is a calc...
Wood
Vintage Japanese Watercolor Painting of Two Geisha, Signed, Late 20th Century
Located in Chatham, ON
Vintage watercolor painting of two Geisha under an umbrella - watercolor over graphite with gold gilt border - signed upper right (unidentified artist/maker...
Paint, Paper
Rare "Ju-Yon" Uchiwa Pendant Light by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s
By Ingo Maurer, M Design
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
Rare Uchiwa pendant lamp mod. "Ju-Yon" by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s, Germany. Executed in bamboo and 14 rice paper fans. Can be vertically extended and dismantled. Diameter: ...
Bamboo, Paper
Exceptional Dominic & Haff Japonisme Sterling Cabinet Vase Dragonfly & Cobwebs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Exceptional Dominic & Haff Japonisme Sterling Cabinet Vase—Dragonfly & Cobwebs This exquisite Dominic & Haff sterling silver cabinet vase is a rare and finely detailed example of Ja...
Sterling Silver
Antique Early 1900s Meiji Period Japanese Tansu Chest
Located in Centennial, CO
A stunning antique Meiji period early 1900s Japanese Tansu chest with original hardware and working keys. Lacquered dark stained pine comprises the outside casework while oxblood lac...
Iron
$240 / item
KITA LIVING Hikari Oil Burner
By İsmail Dağlı, Gökhan Eryaman
Located in Bomonti, TR
Dedicated to moments of tranquillity and serenity, Hikari Oil Burner is a living object that embodies a form within the balance of the Japandi style and the 1980s deconstructivism movement. It defines a sculptural volume of conic pieces that complete each other distinctively. Crafted with softly brushed aluminium, Hikari Oil Burner is designed by Gökhan Eryaman and İsmail Dağlı...
Aluminum
19th Century English Blue & White Pagoda Plate Staffordshire
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century English blue & white Pagoda Plate signed Staffordshire.
Ceramic
Monumental 19th Century Théodore Deck Jardiniere – 67 cm
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
An exceptional large-scale polychrome glazed earthenware jardinière by Théodore Deck, France, circa 1875. Decorated with flowering branches, birds and butterflies on a nuanced yello...
Faience
Rare "Hana II" Uchiwa Pendant Light by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s
By M Design, Ingo Maurer
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
Rare Uchiwa pendant lamp mod. "Hana II" by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s, Germany. Executed in bamboo and 6 rice paper fans. Can be vertically extended an...
Bamboo, Paper
$10,631Sale Price|20% Off
Kano School Japan Byôbu Screen “Wild Horses”, Kano School, Edo period
Located in Valladolid, ES
One of a kind Japanese folding screen, or byōbu, with six panels depicting a delicate and graceful scene of wild horses in a natural setting. Masterfully painted with ink and waterco...
Brass
$1,000Sale Price / item|20% Off
Japanese Geisha Princess Doll in Original Glass & Wood Case
Located in Plainview, NY
Japanese Geisha Princess Doll in Original Glass & Wood Case : This exquisite antique Japanese Geisha doll is a beautifully preserved example of traditional craftsmanship, elegantly presented in its original glass display case. The doll is depicted in a graceful reclining pose on a woven tatami mat, dressed in an opulent ivory kimono...
Porcelain, Fabric, Glass, Wood
Extremely Rare Red "Shichi" Uchiwa Pendant Light by Ingo Maurer, 1970s
By Ingo Maurer, M Design
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
An ultra rare Uchiwa "Shichi" pendant lamp by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s, Germany. Executed in bamboo and rice paper in original red color! Socket: 1 x E27 or E26 or standard s...
Bamboo, Paper
Regency Style Black Gold Japonisme Lacquer Center Table After Gillows Lancaster.
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Regency Style Black and Gold Japonisme Lacquer Center Table after Gillows of Lancaster. Extraordinary side or center table ebonized and parcel gilt in Regency style in the manner of the 18th century furniture maker Gillows of Lancaster. The surface is painted in japonisme gold against black, depicting birds and flowering branches. The top is of rectangular shape with re-entrant corners and a pierced brass key-fret gallery. It is mounted on a lyre form trestle support on splayed legs, terminating in scrolled feet on brass box revolving casters. With its ebonized and parcel gilt spindle end base, this table is a particularly sophisticated and refined example of the Gillows pattern. It corresponds to an 1818 model for a spindle end table...
Brass
$1,286 / item
KITA LIVING Frame Table Elliptical - Charcoal Black
By İsmail Dağlı, Gökhan Eryaman
Located in Bomonti, TR
Defined by the sculptural woodwork, Frame Table Elliptical is an expression of gentle geometry. With the idea of creating a versatile table, it has a utilitarian perspective by offe...
Birch, Oak, Plywood
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Tall Vintage Cement Japanese Pagoda Garden Statue
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Tall cement 3 piece Japanese pagoda sculpture. An antique decorative garden artwork used to evoke a sense of tranquility and add a touch of A...
Cement
Japanese Export Carved Dragon Chair
Located in New York, NY
Eye catching highly carved sculptural dragon armchair. Japanese dragon motif carried throughout arms and chair with fantastic detailed hand carvings. Victorian era cabriole legs fini...
Wood
Bronze Sculpture of a Koi Fish Sculpture Vase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Bronze Koi Fish. The beautiful fish can be used as a decorative piece, a vase, and if you're really ambitious, could make a lovely fountain. A compliment to any space - living ro...
Bronze
$1,544 / item
KITA LIVING Frame Lounge Chair - Charcoal Black
By İsmail Dağlı, Gökhan Eryaman
Located in Bomonti, TR
Inspired by the sculptural forms, Frame Lounge Chair is a seating piece with a wider and lower design that presents a cocoon feeling to the person who sinks into it. With the idea of...
Canvas, Oak, Plywood
Japanese Stone Object medium / wabi-sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese stone object. This stone object has a beautiful black and beige gradation. An art object that gives you a sense of wabi-s...
Stone
Rare Antique Original high Ranking Edo period Samurai armor Yoroi Japan Daimyō
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
This complete Edo-period samurai armor is an exceptional example of the refined martial elegance and ceremonial grandeur associated with Japan’s warrior aristocracy. Every component reflects a precise harmony of functionality, symbolism, and prestige. At the heart of the set is a superb suji-bachi kabuto, constructed from multiple riveted iron plates arranged with flawless symmetry and enriched by a beautifully aged patina. It is crowned with a gilt tehen no kanamono, and the imposing maedate presents a pair of antler-like blades framing a gilded sun disc an emblem of celestial authority and divine lineage. The Fukigaeshi feature extraordinary gilt dragon ornaments, carved in high relief. Dragons, ancient symbols of protection and power, were reserved for armor of the highest rank, strongly indicating that this set belonged to a Daimyō or high-ranking retainer. The menpō, lacquered in deep black, includes a natural-hair moustache and an articulated jaw (resseibō), lending the face a vivid sense of character. Below it, the shikoro is composed of finely lacquered blue-and-gold plates, meticulously laced with silk. The okegawa ni-mai dō cuirass is finished in a dark brown lacquer and laced in deep indigo silk, complemented by elegant orange ceremonial tassels a hallmark of formal presentation armor. The sode (shoulder guards) retain their rare bear-fur trimming, an expensive and status-laden material symbolizing courage and noble rank. Completing the ensemble are beautifully made kote, haidate, and suneate, each executed with rich fabrics and refined lacquer work. A butterfly mon (chō-mon) appears on the leg guards an elegant symbol of transformation, adding a poetic contrast to the armor’s martial presence. The extensive use of gilding, the rare bear-fur details, and the prominent dragon motifs confirm this as a piece created for the highest echelons of samurai society. It is a masterpiece where ceremonial artistry, symbolism, and authority converge. Artistic and Historical Significance This armor epitomizes the Edo-period ideal, when arms and armor transcended their battlefield origins and became expressions of identity, dignity, and cultural refinement. The interplay of dark lacquer, golden ornamentation, and natural materials embodies the spirit of bushidō discipline, inner strength, and beauty through restraint. Whether displayed in a private collection, gallery, office, or interior setting, this armor commands attention. Its presence transforms any space, making it a truly museum-worthy centerpiece for collectors of Japanese, military, or historical art. The set includes its traditional stand and storage box. As with all antique armor...
Metal
Emile Galle, A Rare & Important Ormolu-Mounted Double Carp Fish Pink-Glass Vase
By Émile Gallé
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A rare and important French "Japonsime" Emile Galle Ormolu-Mounted Double Carp Fish Pink-Glass vase, circa 1879, retailed by L'Escalier De Cristal, Paris ...
Enamel, Ormolu
$2,158 / item
KITA LIVING Flow Desk Charcoal Black
By İsmail Dağlı, Gökhan Eryaman, Tuğberk Kurtaran
Located in Bomonti, TR
Flow Desk is an organic shaped table with a two-piece skeleton and curved legs. The linear pieces of the skeleton join into the legs to create a well-proportioned base for the table ...
Wood, Oak, Plywood
$1,111Sale Price|50% Off
Japanese Library Furniture - Shou Sugi Ban Technique
Located in TARBES, FR
Japanese Library Furniture - Shou Sugi Ban Technique Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance of Japan with our remarkable bookcase inspired by the anc...
Wood
Large Bamboo Coffee Table by Axel Vervoordt, Belgium
Located in Echt, NL
Exceptional coffee table in very good condition. Designed and produced by de renowned Belgian decorator Axel Vervoordt in the 1980s. This particular table is constructed with a com...
Bamboo, Wood
1940s Japanese Iron Pagoda Candle Lantern, Hand-Crafted Japonisme
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Japanese iron pagoda garden candle lantern. Hand cast iron Japanese candle lantern with hearts on top. Can rest on table or hanged by loop Meas...
Iron
Japanese Bronze Vase Early 20th Century
Located in Meer, VAN
Tall Bronze Vase, Japan, Early 20th Century. This is a very beautiful eared vase / urn in bronze from Japan. Probably early 20th century. From a hig...
Bronze
Pair of large antique Japanese Imari porcelain vases
Located in Brea, CA
Large Japanese beautiful porcelain vases A pair of baluster Imari porcelain vases, Japan, Meiji. Polychrome floral decor, very beautiful ,
Porcelain
Japanese Iron Pagoda Garden Lantern
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury Japanese cast iron pagoda lantern with lattice fret work hinged door. Bird and bamboo iron cut outs surround pagoda. Beautiful slo...
Iron
Vintage obi textile art " Pines Through Seasons " by ikasu Black Beige Japan
By Kimono ikasu
Located in Setagaya City, JP
[Size] approx. 90cm x 100cm x 4cm [Materials] silk (outside-layer) , paulownia (wooden frame) [Edition] 1/1 (one of a kind) [Story behind the work] This artwork is created from fo...
Silk, Wood
20th Century Three-Panel Gilt Folding Screen
Located in New York, NY
This 20th Century three-panel wooden screen stands out for its hand-painted gold surface. Varying in application, the gold paint scintillates in rich, painterly washes that call to m...
Wood, Giltwood
Rare Uchiwa "Yotsuba II" Wall or Ceiling Light by Ingo Maurer for Design M
By Ingo Maurer
Located in Warsaw, PL
An extremely rare and iconic “Yotsuba II” lamp by Ingo Maurer, Germany, 1973. This sculptural piece is crafted from hand-woven bamboo rice paper fans arranged in an overlapping fan-...
Iron
Vintage Japanese Ceremonial Kimono Gold Brocade with Flying Cranes
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A vintage Mid-Century ivory color silk brocade collectable Japanese ceremonial kimono. One of a kind hand crafted. Fabulous museum quality ceremonial piece in pure silk with intricat...
Silk
Antique Japanese Koto Wakizashi Sword
Located in Dallas, TX
Japanese Koto Wakizashi Sword Japan Ca. 1400-1600s Length: 24.25” Blade Total Length: 27.25 Nagasa: 18.5” Koto wakizashi, with wild midare (Soshu?) hamon, including wild boshi. Hada indeterminate, with Shakudo & gold dragon menuki, beehive design fuchi kashira...
Steel
$2,850 / set
Japanese Bronze Vases Collection of Eight
Located in Atlanta, GA
Collection of Eight Japanese Bronze Vases, Japan, at least circa 1950s, some much earlier. The largest vase measures 12.75"H x 4.25"W. The smallest vase measures 5.25"H x 3"W. They r...
Bronze
Vintage Kimono Silk Brocade Japanese Ceremonial 1970
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A vintage Mid-Century ivory color silk brocade collectable Japanese ceremonial kimono. One of a kind. Fabulous museum quality ceremonial kimono in pure silk with intricate detailed h...
Silk
Vintage Kimono Red Silk Brocade Japanese Ceremonial Wedding Dress
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
A vintage midcentury red color silk brocade collectable Japanese ceremonial wedding kimono. One of a kind handcrafted . Fabulous museum quality ceremonial piece in pure silk with ...
Silk
Original Vintage Print by Edmund Dulac, C.1920
By Edmund Dulac
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful image by Edmund Dulac Tipped in plate onto paper Lithograph. Published C.1930 The measurement given is the paper size not the actual coloured printed image. Free ship...
Paper
Wooden room divider with lattice design
Located in Diest, BE
Wooden room divider with lattice design Wooden room divider made in France 1960's but with some amazing Japanese aesthetic vibe. Add a touch of elegance to your space with this hand...
Wood
$11,697 / item
Rare Uchiwa II Table Lamp by Ingo Maurer, circa 1970s
By M Design, Ingo Maurer
Located in Wiesbaden, Hessen
Pair of rare table lamps by Ingo Maurer for Design M, 1970s, Germany. Executed in bamboo, rice paper fan and black lacquered iron. Socket: 1 x E27 or E26 (US) for standard screw bul...
Iron
KITA LIVING Wa Stool - Oak Mist
By İsmail Dağlı, Gökhan Eryaman
Located in Bomonti, TR
Wa Stool Contoured by a lyrical structure, Wa Stool takes its name from the Japanese word “harmony”. It characterizes its presence in the balance of soulful forms and delicate detail...
Oak