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.
Pair of Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Inlaid Table Lamps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Exceptional and finely crafted pair of Japanese table lamps from the Meiji period (1868–1912), showcasing exquisite bronze bodies adorned with delicate inlaid decoration. The vases a...
Bronze
Late 19th C., Pair of Japanese Satsuma Vase Table Lamps with Warrior Figures
Located in Morristown, NJ
Late 19th pair of Japanese Satsuma vase table lamps, decorated with Japanese warriors., with floral and gold accents. Possibly Meiji period. This pair of columnar lamps, with a brass base, socket and harp, has an overall attractive appearance. Decorated on a white background with gold, blue, yellow and...
Porcelain, Paint
$541
H 15.36 in W 6.3 in D 6.3 in
French Antique Table Lamp Made with a Boat Wood Rudder, Late 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Table lamp made circa 1960 with a boat rudder. The rudder is very old and has probably been in the water for some time. This gives the lamp a unique look, where the wood tells its ow...
Wood
Pair of 19th Century Italian Fragment Lamps
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 19th c. Italian Carved Wood Fragments converted to Lamps. The Shades are included and are Hand Made of Parchment Paper. They are Hand Gilded and Decorated. The lamps have be...
19th Century Satsuma Vase or Lamp
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality late 19th century (Meiji period 1868-1912) Japanese satsuma vase or lamp. Having classical gilded decoration of flowers, birds and scholars. Mounted on a fretted ormol...
Porcelain
Pair of Bronze Table Lamps in the Manner of James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1960s cast bronze with brass hardware on a wood base table lamps in the manner of James Mont. Newly rewired and new vanilla linen shades. Lamps can be purchased without shades. D...
$12,500 / set
H 18 in W 6 in D 6 in
Pair of Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze and Japanese Satsuma Porcelain Lamps
By Satsuma
Located in Long Island City, NY
A beautiful pair of late 19th century gilt bronze and Japanese Satsuma porcelain lamps Each side with painted panels, the front and back depicting samurai warriors, the sides with...
Bronze
$923Sale Price|45% Off
H 44 in W 6 in D 6 in
Bronze 19th Century Archaic Meiji Period Japanese Table Lamp
Located in Lomita, CA
The attenuated silhouette of this late 19th century bronze table lamp turns heads. It is an antique Asian archaic style bronze. The intricate carving and the oxidized bronze color sp...
Bronze
A Pair of Meiji Period Japanese Bronze Candlesticks as Lamps
Located in London, GB
Japan, circa 1900 A pair of Japanese Meiji period bronze candlesticks, the lobed circular bases with slender reeded stems and lily pad drip trays, now mounted as lamps. Height 32.00...
Bronze
Asian Meiji Period Styled Bronze Table Lamp
By Asian Modern
Located in Cincinnati, OH
An exceptional very well-crafted bronze table lamp with incised designs to the upper rim, ribbed body and leaf handles to each side of the piece. In the style of the Meiji period thi...
Bronze
$2,500Sale Price / set|56% Off
H 17.5 in W 10 in D 9 in
Pair of 19th Century Porcelain Ormolu Mounted Table Lamps by Sevres
By Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of fine quality 19th Century Louis XVI style Sevres porcelain ormolu mounted table lamps. Traditional French porcelain. These beautiful h...
Bronze
Pair Japanese Meiji Period Cloisonne Enamel Vases / Lamps
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A fine quality pair of Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912) Cloisonné enamel vases, each having a Grey colour ground with wonderful Herons perched on trees with flowers and foliage arou...
Enamel
Meiji Period Japanese Ariake Andon Table Floor Lantern Lamp
Located in Fort Collins, CO
Traditional Japanese Ariake Andon are cube shaped lanterns, originally used as a kind of nightlight lamp. With washi paper and a black and red lacquer wood frame and handle, the out...
Wood, Lacquer, Paper
$2,950 / set
H 24 in W 7 in D 7 in
Pair of 19th Century Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Dragon Vase Table Lamps
Located in Studio City, CA
A pair of fabulous cylindrical forms Meiji Period (1868-1912) patinated bronze table lamps on carved wood bases with dragon, turtle, and mystical creatures motifs. Likely late 19th/Early 20th century. From a Los Angeles collection of fine Japanese vintage art...
Bronze
Sold
H 30 in W 17 in D 13.25 in
Pair of Japanese Meiji Reticulated Bronze Table Lamps with Decorative Shades
Located in Milford, NH
A fine pair of Japanese Meiji two-light reticulated bronze table lamps with bulbous stems, footed bases, silk rectangular shades with pagodas, figures and landscapes, accented with a...
Bronze
Handsome Antique Japanese Hand Cast Lantern "Gentle Grasses" Motif
Located in South Burlington, VT
From our recent Japanese acquisitions in original condition Japan, an attractive and sturdy antique lantern, with an aged "Gentle Grasses" motif on fire box. Found from a Japa...
Iron
Japanese Cloisonne Composite Table Lamp Meiji Period
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A Japanese Cloisonne Composite Table Lamp Meiji period, mounting modern. Comprising of a two cloisonné vessels (koro and vase) with circular c...
Enamel
Japanese Imari Porcelain Vase Converted Table Lamp
Located in Miami, FL
Late 19th-early 20th century Imari porcelain hand painted vase converted to table lamp, with brass mounts and fittings. Includes a custom silk...
Brass
Sold
H 59.8 in Dm 11.4 in
Antique and Stylish Japanese Meiji Era Bronze Floor Lamp with Cloisonné Inlay
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare, handcrafted and clearly marked Japanese floor lamp. We have sold one large cloisonné floor lamp in the past and we have seen a few other la...
Bronze
Pair of Japanese Style Gilt Bronze and Cloisonne Enamel Lamps
Located in London, GB
The late 19th and early 20th century craze for Japanese art, known more commonly as Japonism, provides the inspiration for this wonderful pair of lamps. Combining fine Japanese Meiji...
Ormolu, Enamel