Japonisme Furniture

JAPONISME STYLE

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.

Style: Japonisme

Returnable Items Only

Large C19th French Faux Bamboo Mirror

Located in London, GB

Large C19th French faux bamboo mirror. Beautiful turned fruitwood mirror with ebonised grooves and original back. In very good condition with light wear and foxing. Height 81cm 61c...

Category

1880s French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Mirror, Fruitwood

Large C19th French Faux Bamboo Mirror

19th Century Shop Chest

Located in Seattle, WA

This is a beautiful 19th Century Shop Chest in the Tansu family. It has original wavy glass sliding doors in the upper portion of the cabinet. The lower portion is made up 5 rows o...

Category

19th Century Asian Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood

19th Century Shop Chest

Ingo Maurer 'Uchiwa' Chandelier in Original box, Unused, Germany, 1970s

By Design M, Ingo Maurer

Located in Budapest, HU

Ceiling lamp designed by Ingo Maurer (1932-2019) for Design M, Munich, known as the SHICHI model from the “Uchiwa” series, crafted in 1973. Even though it was made in the 1970s, thi...

Category

1970s German Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rope, Paper

Ingo Maurer 'Uchiwa' Chandelier in Original box, Unused, Germany, 1970s

Original Antique Print of Japanese Cloisonne Enamels, Dated 1876

Located in St Annes, Lancashire

Great image of cloisonne enamels Chromo-lithograph after A. Willms Published by Sutton Sharpe & Co. 1876 Unframed. It gives you the option of perhaps making a set up using y...

Category

1870s English Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Paper

Original Antique Print of Japanese Cloisonne Enamels, Dated 1876

No Reserve

17th Century Orange Blue White Japanese Arita Ware Charger Plate

Located in Lomita, CA

This Japanese Export porcelain charger is singular and speaks for itself in a beautiful palette of soft orange, blue and white. It is remimiscent of Imari, but the appraisers say it is from a 17th or 18th century kiln in Arita Japan. The colors are vibrant and clear, and there are no chips or other damage to this beautiful piece. Arita ware...

Category

Late 17th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

17th Century Orange Blue White Japanese Arita Ware Charger Plate

Pair of Antique Japanese Arita Imari Porcelain Vase Lamps

By Imari Porcelain

Located in London, GB

A pair of antique Japanese Arita Imari porcelain vases, available as lamps. Meiji period (1868-1913) Japanese porcelain vases decorated in bright enamels in Imari colours. The body ...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Antique Japanese Arita Imari Porcelain Vase Lamps

A large bronze vase depicting an egret

Located in Milano, IT

Large bronze vase depicting an egret, in relief, on a perch in the center of a watercourse, surrounded by four swimming fish. The figure of the egret emerges from the vase with remar...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze

A large bronze vase depicting an egret

A Satsuma vase decorated with a garden of chrysanthemums

Located in Milano, IT

Satsuma vase, with slender neck and terminal part adorned in pure gold decorated with a garden of chrysanthemums, made with enamel and gold in relief. Different varieties of chrysan...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

A Satsuma vase decorated with a garden of chrysanthemums

Kogo box in maki-è lacquer depicting a naturalistic scene

Located in Milano, IT

Kogo box in maki-è lacquer, with a domed lid depicting a naturalistic scene. The gold decoration depicts the Japanese pine, known as Matsu, and a typical house with a thatched roof a...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Kogo box in maki-è lacquer depicting a naturalistic scene

Satsuma ceramic plate adorned with polychrome and gold decorations

Located in Milano, IT

Satsuma ceramic plate adorned with polychrome and gold decorations within numerous reserves of unique shape and size, depicting scenes of Japanese daily life. The plate is signed un...

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Satsuma ceramic plate adorned with polychrome and gold decorations

Two Antique Shiebler American Sterling Silver Novelty Spoons

By George W. Shiebler & Co., Theodore B. Starr

Located in New York, NY

Japonesque sterling silver spoon. Made by George W. Shiebler & Co. in New York, ca 1885. Tapering stem and round terminal; front hand-hammered and applied with a bug and bit of bambo...

Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Two Antique Shiebler American Sterling Silver Novelty Spoons

19th Century Imari Porcelain Lidded Bowl Jewelry Box

Located in Pearland, TX

A fine and rare lidded and hinged Imari bowl with ormolu fittings, set atop three ornamented feet. Perfect for jewelry, trinkets, or sweets.

Category

Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century Imari Porcelain Lidded Bowl Jewelry Box

Koyoto Sanjusangendo Temple Stamp Goshuln Framed Antique

Located in San Diego, CA

Koyoto Sanjusangendo Temple Stamp Goshuln Framed Antique print original frame .

Category

20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Glass, Paper

Koyoto Sanjusangendo Temple Stamp Goshuln Framed Antique

ANTIQUE SOLiD BRONZE JAPANESE KOI CARP STATUE OF A WONDERFULLY ELEGANT FISH

Located in GB

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning circa 1920 solid bronze Japanese Koi Carp statue A wonderfully original find, this...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze

ANTIQUE SOLiD BRONZE JAPANESE KOI CARP STATUE OF A WONDERFULLY ELEGANT FISH

STUNNING SiGNED ANTIQUE CIRCA 1870 JAPANESE VASE DEPICTING A BIRD ON A BRANCH

Located in GB

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning circa 1870 signed to the base solid bronze Japanese bronze vase depicting a large b...

Category

1870s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze

STUNNING SiGNED ANTIQUE CIRCA 1870 JAPANESE VASE DEPICTING A BIRD ON A BRANCH

Ancient Solid Bronze Vase with Chinese or Japanese Elephants

Located in Palermo, Sicily

Ancient solid bronze vase with Chinese or Japanese elephants

Category

Early 1700s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Ancient Solid Bronze Vase with Chinese or Japanese Elephants

No Reserve

Antique Japanese Ikebana Boat Form Flower Basket

Located in Norwood, NJ

Antique Japanese woven boat shape (funagata) Ikebana flower basket, with lacquer,975 rattan, root and smoked bamboo. Fine quality weaving with wonderful patina.

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Antique Japanese Ikebana Boat Form Flower Basket

Midcentury Japanese Coffee Table In Wood And Seagrass, Japan, 1960s

Located in ABCOUDE, UT

Beautiful Japanese coffee table made of wood and seagrass, Japan 1960s. A nice example of a minimalistic coffee table which brings harmony in a busy life. A nice large table top made...

Category

1950s Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Seagrass, Wood

Midcentury Japanese Coffee Table In Wood And Seagrass, Japan, 1960s

14-Piece Japanese Gilt and Painted Tea and Dessert Serving Set with Peacock

Located in Norwood, NJ

14-piece Kutani Japanese gilt and painted tea and dessert serving set with Peacock. Hand painted gilt and painted Peacock tea and serving set. Features floral and peacock design. Lidded tea and coffee pots, lidded creamer, sugar bowl, and five snack sets...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Gold

14-Piece Japanese Gilt and Painted Tea and Dessert Serving Set with Peacock

A boxwood netsuke depicting a snake wrapping around a pumpkin

Located in Milano, IT

Boxwood netsuke depicting a snake wrapping around a pumpkin. The snake is a symbol often associated with rebirth, transformation while the pumpkin is a symbol of fertility, abundanc...

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Boxwood

A boxwood netsuke depicting a snake wrapping around a pumpkin

Vintage Kimono Silk Brocade Japanese Ceremonial 1970

Located in North Hollywood, 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...

Category

20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Silk

Vintage Kimono Silk Brocade Japanese Ceremonial 1970

Denim Peony1

Japonisme Furniture

1880s French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Large C19th French Faux Bamboo Mirror

19th Century Asian Antique Japonisme Furniture

19th Century Shop Chest

1970s German Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Ingo Maurer 'Uchiwa' Chandelier in Original box, Unused, Germany, 1970s

1870s English Antique Japonisme Furniture

Original Antique Print of Japanese Cloisonne Enamels, Dated 1876

Late 17th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

17th Century Orange Blue White Japanese Arita Ware Charger Plate

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Pair of Antique Japanese Arita Imari Porcelain Vase Lamps

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

A large bronze vase depicting an egret

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

A Satsuma vase decorated with a garden of chrysanthemums

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Kogo box in maki-è lacquer depicting a naturalistic scene

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Satsuma ceramic plate adorned with polychrome and gold decorations

Late 19th Century American Antique Japonisme Furniture

Two Antique Shiebler American Sterling Silver Novelty Spoons

Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

19th Century Imari Porcelain Lidded Bowl Jewelry Box

20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Koyoto Sanjusangendo Temple Stamp Goshuln Framed Antique

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

ANTIQUE SOLiD BRONZE JAPANESE KOI CARP STATUE OF A WONDERFULLY ELEGANT FISH

1870s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

STUNNING SiGNED ANTIQUE CIRCA 1870 JAPANESE VASE DEPICTING A BIRD ON A BRANCH

Early 1700s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Ancient Solid Bronze Vase with Chinese or Japanese Elephants

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Antique Japanese Ikebana Boat Form Flower Basket

1950s Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Midcentury Japanese Coffee Table In Wood And Seagrass, Japan, 1960s

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

14-Piece Japanese Gilt and Painted Tea and Dessert Serving Set with Peacock

19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

A boxwood netsuke depicting a snake wrapping around a pumpkin

20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Vintage Kimono Silk Brocade Japanese Ceremonial 1970

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Peony1

1920s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Furniture

A Fumidai stool - Japan - 1920

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Dahlia1

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Daruma Midnight Charcoal

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Hickory Daruma

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Daruma Crash

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Sunflower

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Rose3

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Daruma Patchwork Big

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Daruma Indigo Big

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Rose5

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Rose4

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Rose2

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Dahlia4

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Rose1

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Dahlia3

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Denim Dahlia2

2010s Japonisme Furniture

Denim Peony3

2010s Japanese Japonisme Furniture