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Meiji Sofa Tables

MEIJI STYLE

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.

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Style: Meiji
Japanese Antique Low Table 1860s-1920s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi
Japanese Antique Low Table 1860s-1920s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi

Japanese Antique Low Table 1860s-1920s / Sofa Table Wabi Sabi

By Axel Vervoordt

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a rare old Japanese wooden low table, believed to date from the late Meiji period to the Taisho period, circa 1860s to 1920s. The tabletop is made from a single solid slab o...

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Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables

Materials

Wood

Japanese old wooden low table/wabisabi coffee table/1868-1920
Japanese old wooden low table/wabisabi coffee table/1868-1920

Japanese old wooden low table/wabisabi coffee table/1868-1920

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This Japanese low table was crafted during the Meiji to Taisho period (1868–1920), a time when traditional Japanese craftsmanship remained deeply connected to everyday life and the n...

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Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables

Materials

Wood

Japanese Antique Sofa Table or Storage Box 1860s-1920s / Side Table Wabisabi
Japanese Antique Sofa Table or Storage Box 1860s-1920s / Side Table Wabisabi

Japanese Antique Sofa Table or Storage Box 1860s-1920s / Side Table Wabisabi

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This is an old Japanese storage chest that also functions as a low table. It was crafted during the Meiji to Taisho periods (1860s–1920s) and made from traditional Japanese cedar (su...

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Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Sofa Tables

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Japanese antique wooden low table "Fuzukue" / Made in 1870 / Coffee table

Japanese antique wooden low table "Fuzukue" / Made in 1870 / Coffee table

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

This is a wooden fuzukue (low writing desk) made in Meiji 3 (1870). A fuzukue is a traditional low writing desk that has long been used in Japan. Rather than being used with chairs,...

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Antique Japanese wooden coffee table with a tasteful ink-wash pattern/Meiji

Antique Japanese wooden coffee table with a tasteful ink-wash pattern/Meiji

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Long a beloved part of Japanese culture, the "fuzukue" (writing desk) originated as a piece of furniture for writing, literally meaning "a desk for writing," and has accompanied quie...

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Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Sofa Tables

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Beech

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Meiji sofa tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Meiji sofa tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Early 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage sofa tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, cedar and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Meiji sofa tables made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and Japan pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for sofa tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $2,200 while the average work can sell for $1,200.