Meiji Decorative Art
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 Large Paper Mat "Abstract art" 1860s-1920s / Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is a very old Japanese matte paper.
It was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1920s) and is very large, measuring approximately 1900 mm x 1420 mm.
The Japanese paper is carefu...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Japanese Antique Wooden Board / Wall Decoration Abstract Art / Wabi-Sabi
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is an old Japanese workboard.
It was called "Mochiita" and was used as a workbench for kneading flour.
It seems to be around the Meiji period.
The board is thought to be pine...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Japanese Antique Large Paper Boro / Wall Decoration /Wabi-sabi Mingei
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is a large old Japanese paper, and it is speculated that it may have been used for sericulture.
The appearance of being randomly pasted to increase the thickness of the paper h...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Japanese Antique Wooden Board / Wall Decoration Abstract Art / Wabi-Sabi
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is an old Japanese workboard.
It was called "Mochiita" and was used as a workbench for kneading flour.
It seems to be around the Meiji period.
The board is thought to be pine...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Japanese Antique Large Paper Boro / Wall Decoration /Wabi-sabi Mingei
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is a large old Japanese paper, and it is speculated that it may have been used for sericulture.
The appearance of being randomly pasted to increase the thickness of the paper h...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Japanese Antique Large Paper Mat "Abstract art" 1860s-1920s / Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is a very old Japanese matte paper.
It was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1920s) and is very large, measuring approximately 1900 mm x 1420 mm.
The Japanese paper is carefu...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Japanese Antique Dough Board Wall Art 1879s / Display Stand Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old noodle board made in Japan.
On the back, it is inscribed “明治十二年” in writing, clearly indicating that it was made in 1879s.
Over 140 years have passed, and this piece s...
Category
1870s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Cedar
Japanese Antique Large Door Abstract Art 1860s-1900s / Wall Decoration Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese-made sliding door from an old warehouse.
It was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s) and is a special piece that has passed through a long period of tim...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Iron
19th Century Japanese Shibayama Lacquered Inlay Charger, Meiji Period
Located in London, GB
19th Century Shibayama Lacquered Inlay Charger, Meiji Period, Japan
A decorative 19th Century Japanese charger beautifully depicting herons and pi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Lacquer
Japanese Antique Door "Wall Decoration" 1860s-1900s / Abstract Art Wabi Sabi
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This was a very old Japanese warehouse (kura) window sliding door.
It was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s).
The frame is made of cedar wood and the lattice is bamboo.
It w...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bamboo, Cedar
Japanese Contemporary Brocade Silk Handcrafted Framed Oshie Decorative Art
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary framed oshie wall decorative art piece, recreating a famous painting from Meiji period featuring a Japanese dancer holding a net with cherry blossom ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Brocade, Silk
Japanese antique wall hanging bamboo vase/1868-1920/Wabisabi object
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old bamboo vase made from the Meiji period to the Taisho period (1868-1920).
It is made in the shape of a fish cage using thin bamboo strips.
In Japan, fish caught in rive...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bamboo
Japanese antique bamboo woven basket/wall hanging vase/1868-1920/Mingei
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a woven bamboo basket made in Japan from the Meiji to Taisho periods (1868-1920).
I don't know if the baskets actually used by farmers were repurposed as flower vases, or if ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bamboo
Japanese Old Vase with Lid / Late 19th Century
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is a woven bamboo basket made in Japan during the Meiji to Taisho eras (1868-1920).
It is a vase that imitates the shape.
It was hung on t...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bamboo
Japanese Antique Paper Art / Japanese Paper Wall Decoration / Wabi-sabi
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is an original wall decoration made by combining antique Japanese tools.
Old paper from the Edo to Meiji periods was used and pasted together randomly.
Two pieces of paper are...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper, Straw, Cedar
Japanese Antique Paper Art / Japanese Paper Wall Decoration / Wabi-sabi
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is an original wall decoration made by combining antique Japanese tools.
Old paper from the Edo to Meiji periods was used and pasted together randomly.
Two pieces of paper are...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Wood, Paper, Straw, Cedar
Japanese Antique Large Door Abstract Art 1860s-1900s / Wall Decoration Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese-made sliding door from an old warehouse.
It was made during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s) and is a special piece that has passed through a long period of tim...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Iron
Japanese Antique Dough Board Wall Art 1879s / Display Stand Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old noodle board made in Japan.
On the back, it is inscribed “明治十二年” in writing, clearly indicating that it was made in 1879s.
Over 140 years have passed, and this piece s...
Category
1870s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Cedar
Antique Vase Made of Japanese Bamboo and Bark /Wall-Mounted Flower Vase
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
If you want something special, we recommend purchasing items selected by Brood.
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I've seen tens of thousands of items so far.
Based on that experience, only selected items are posted here.
We are able to do this because of our long experience.
There may be items on the 1stdibs site that look and feel the same, but the items selected by Brood are unique.
This is an old Japanese vase...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bamboo
Japanese Contemporary Framed Brocade Silk Handcrafted Oshie Decorative Art, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary unique Japanese Contemporary large framed and signed traditional Oshie decorative art piece in black and cream, known as oshie (literally, “pressed pictures”) that goes back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). It is said this art form was born of the reluctance of ladies of the court and elite aristrocratic women to discard the magnificent silk kimonos and brocaded obi they had donned for a lifetime. The solution was to recycle these opulent fabrics into stunning works of art. The creator of this signed piece prides herself in using the best antique and vintage kimono and obi fabrics...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Brocade, Silk
Japanese Antique Lattice Door / Wall Decoration / 1868-1912s / Wabi-Sabi
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is a wall decoration made from an old Japanese door.
It is thought to date from the Edo to Meiji period.
It has a simple design and features a lattice frame made at regular in...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Cedar, Wood, Pine
Japanese Contemporary Black Gold Silk Brocade Two-Panel Folding Screen
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary two-panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring two graceful ladies dressed in elegant formal traditional Japanese kimonos. This folding screen is ins...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold
Japanese antique Large basket woven with grape vines/1868-1920/Vase on the wall
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese basket made from the Meiji period to the Taisho period (1868-1920).
The material is made of wild grape vines, and it is tho...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Other
Imperial Imari Charger with Large Gilded Eagle and Gilded Flying Crane
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Imperial Imari 14.25" charger with large gilded eagle and gilded flying crane, Japanese, Meiji period, circa 1870.
Category
1870s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Contemporary Red Black Silk Folding Screen, 2
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Outstanding Japanese contemporary two panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring genryoku style handcrafted raised pure silk kimono in black, red and gold on textured black background...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Silk Red Black Cream Hand-Crafted Two Panel Folding Screen
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary two panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring genryoku style handcrafted silk raised kimono Japanese decorative art in crimson red, cream and gold o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Silk Brown Black Cream Two-Panel Folding Screen, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary contemporary Japanese two-panel "byobu" or folding screen showcasing genryoku style handcrafted raised embroidered silk brocade kimono Japanese decorative art in autumn...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold
Contemporary Japanese Red Black Gilded Silk Folding Screen
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary two panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring genryoku style handcrafted raised pure silk kimono in black, red and gold on textured black backgrou...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Silk, Brocade
Japanese Contemporary Orange Black Cream Silk Two-Panel Folding Screen, 4
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary two panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring genryoku style handcrafted silk raised kimono Japanese decorative art in Purple, blue, black and ora...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold
Japanese antique Large basket woven with grape vines/1868-1920/Vase on the wall
Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba
This is an old Japanese basket made from the Meiji period to the Taisho period (1868-1920).
The material is made of wild grape vines, and it is tho...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Other
Japanese Antique Wabi-Sabi Wood Board 1860s-1900s / Wall Decoration
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese wooden board called “Mochiita” (rice cake board).
It was used during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s) and is made of pine wood with a rich texture.
As the name ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Pine
Japanese Antique Bamboo Panel / Wall Decoration / 1868-1912s / Wabi-Sabi
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is an old Japanese bamboo wall decoration.
It is believed to have been used as a farm tool around the Meiji period.
Perhaps it was used as a tool to transport crops.
The latt...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bamboo
Japanese Contemporary Framed Blue Purple Gray Silk Brocade Decorative Art
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary framed three-dimensional decorative art piece in Japanese traditional silk and brocade in soft green, blue and purple on a deep gray background, recreating an 1...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Brocade, Silk
Set of Ten Antique Calligraphy Woodblock Panels
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and remarkable set of ten 19th century Japanese calligraphy prints on paper executed in a woodblock technique and presented under glass in a gi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Paper
Japanese Antique Bamboo Panel / Wall Decoration / 1868-1912s / Wabi-Sabi
Located in Iwate-gun Shizukuishi-cho, Iwate Prefecture
This is an old Japanese bamboo wall decoration.
It is believed to have been used as a farm tool around the Meiji period.
Perhaps it was used as a tool to transport crops.
The latt...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bamboo
Japanese Antique Wabi-Sabi Wood Board 1860s-1900s / Wall Decoration
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is an old Japanese wooden board called “Mochiita” (rice cake board).
It was used during the Meiji period (1860s-1900s) and is made of pine wood with a rich texture.
As the name ...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Pine
19th Century Japanese Iron and Mixed Metal Wall Panel
Located in North Miami, FL
A rare Meiji period 1868-1912 iron and mixed metal panel by a highly important early Meiji period artist. The ironwork panel housed within its original hardwood frame depicts the charming subject of a roaster fighting with snake, this particular early Meiji period panel demonstrates all the skills of a leading Mito school metalworker more used to making tsuba and sword fittings for the shogunate and now adapting his unique skills to satisfy the emerging western market, the naive charm and inspiration for this study is probably from an earlier Japanese or even Chinese painting, artists with such breathtaking metalworking skills as this artist could simply replace an artists paintbrush...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Iron
Japanese Nashiji Lacquer Tray with Crane and Wave Design
Located in Hudson, NY
Japanese Nashiji lacquer tray with crane and wave design, this exquisite tray is a masterful example of multiple lacquer techniques using gold (including maki-e and takamaki-e). This...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold
Massive Museum Pair of Meiji Period Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Chargers Plates
Located in New York, NY
A massive Museum pair of Meiji Period Japanese Cloisonne Enamel chargers plates, attributed to Hayashi Kodenji Studio, 19th century.
Each measuring ...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Enamel
Japanese Contemporary Red Black Cream Folding Screen Silk Brocade Kimono Art, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exceptional Japanese contemporary two panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring genryoku style handcrafted silk raised kimono Japanese decorative art in crimson red, black and gold o...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold
Kanban, Japanese Shop Sign, Meiji Period, 1868-1912
Located in Camden, ME
This 19th century Japanese Pharmacy sign advertises a popular stomach medicine, Aifu from the Juwa Co. in Osaka. The hand-painted registered trademark of the world looking through bi...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Lacquer
Japanese Contemporary Framed Red Black Silk Brocade Oshie Decorative Art
Located in Takarazuka, JP
A sophisticated technique is used to transform highest quality kimono fabrics into exquisite antique pieces of kimono fabric to recreate a Genryoku kosode kimono . Tagasode is the wa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Silk, Brocade
Japanese Contemporary Orange Black Silk Brocade Two-Panel Folding Screen, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Extraordinary Japanese contemporary two panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring genryoku style handcrafted raised silk and brocade kimono in black, orange and gold on textured crea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold
Japanese Contemporary Gold Leaf Brown Framed Porcelain Panel by Master Artist, 3
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite museum quality Japanese contemporary framed porcelain panel art work consisting of three pieces intricately hand-painted showcasing a wintry ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
Japanese Contemporary Framed Green Red Black Gold Decorative Art
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite Japanese contemporary framed three-dimensional decorative art piece in Japanese silk kimono fabric in vivid red, green and black on gold leaf Japanese paper, recreating a s...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Gold Leaf
A Large Japanese Meiji Period Porcelain Charger, Circa 1890
Located in Central England, GB
A Superb Large Japanese Meiji Period Porcelain Charger, Circa 1890
This large scale Japanese porcelain charger is finely hand-painted in rich c...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Painted Wood Sign with a Samurai, 19th Century
Located in Yonkers, NY
A Japanese carved and painted wooden sign with a Samurai from the Meiji Period, 19th century. This 19th century sign with a samurai was made in wood and painted in Japan during the Meiji period. The narrow rectangular panel features a painted frame with a character depicted in the upper section, showcasing a seated samurai wearing his armour. The section below is adorned with four lightly carved and back painted calligraphies. This tall panel can be hinged thanks to two square buckles on the top. Made during the 19th century, this antique Meiji period painted wood sign...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Wood
Pair of Japanese Vintage Gilded Embroidered Silk Wall Decorative Art, circa 1935
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite pair of Japanese vintage (circa 1935) hand-crafted extremely intricately embroidered silk fabric used in the presentation of ceremonial gifts on special occasions called fu...
Category
1930s Japanese Vintage Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Silk
Japanese Traditional Brocade Silk Two-Panel Folding Screen
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Japanese contemporary two-panel "byobu" or folding screen featuring two graceful ladies dressed in elegant formal traditional Japanese kimonos. This folding screen is inspired by Jap...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Brocade, Silk
Large Japanese Carved and Polychromed Wood Panel of Gourds and Lotus
Located in Essex, MA
Depicting two large melons with calligraphy surmounted with lotus and flower and dragonfly. Painted in golds, reds, blues and green.
Estate of John Volk, Pa...
Category
1850s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Other
Gilt and Patinated Bronze Plaque, Japan, circa 1900
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Gilt and patinated bronze plaque. Japan, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Decorative Art
Materials
Bronze
Meiji decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Meiji decorative art for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Meiji decorative art 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 decorative art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $700 and tops out at $95,000 while the average work can sell for $3,177.