How can I tell if my Japanese pottery is antique?

To tell if your Japanese pottery is antique, look for markings, which usually appear on the bottoms of pieces. If you see the word "Nippon," your piece was likely produced between 1891 and 1921, making it an antique. Pieces marked with the words "made in occupied Japan" originated between 1945 and 1952 and are vintage, based on their age. A "made in Japan" marking may indicate a vintage or contemporary piece. If you don't see any of these markings, consult trusted online resources to get a rough idea of when your pottery was produced. Any piece that dates back 100 years or more is antique. Should you encounter difficulty with the dating process, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Japanese pottery.

Antique Japanese Urns

19th Century Japanese Imari Vase

Japanese Bronze Vase With Handles

Imari Urn

Meiji Period Japanese Bronze Bird

Category

1890s Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Pottery

19th century Nippon Moriage Urn Lamp with Roses

$450

Pair of Large Gilt Bronze and Cloisonne Urn Table Lamps

By Champeleve

Located in New York, NY

neoclassical urn form is combined with a mottled gilt bronze surface and with enamel inlaid (Cloisonne

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Aesthetic Movement Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Pair of Large Gilt Bronze and Cloisonne Urn Table Lamps

$1,495 / set

Antique Japanese Cast Bronze Handled Sensor with Embossed Wise Man Scene 19thC

Located in Big Flats, NY

Antique Japanese Cast Bronze Double Handled Urn-Form Sensor with Embossed Wise Man Scene 19thC

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Antique Japanese Cast Bronze Handled Sensor with Embossed Wise Man Scene 19thC

$520 Sale Price

20% Off

Pair of Antique Asian Champleve’ Enameled Bronze Urns Fashioned As Table Lamps

Located in Forney, TX

For your consideration, a most distinctive pair of similarly styled Japanese archaic style urns

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Pair of Antique Asian Champleve’ Enameled Bronze Urns Fashioned As Table Lamps

$1,495 / set

Antique Golden Age Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Chrysanthemums And Sparrows Vase

Located in Long Island City, NY

, c.1895 to 1935, a Japanese artist. The urn shaped vase is enameled with a polychrome design

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Enamel, Copper

Antique Golden Age Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Chrysanthemums And Sparrows Vase

$5,700

Pair of Kutani Meiji Period Vases Porcelain Urns Table Lamps Antiques LA light

Located in West Hollywood, CA

pair of Meiji period (1868-1912) Japanese Kutani porcelain vases urns made into lamps. Each with

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Metal

Pair of Kutani Meiji Period Vases Porcelain Urns Table Lamps Antiques LA light

$7,840 Sale Price / set

20% Off

Japanese antique pottery bowl [tokoname ware]/Tokoname ware/12th-13th century

Located in Sammu-shi, Chiba

circle on the attached map). This particular bowl was originally made as the lid for a large urn. In

Category

15th Century and Earlier Japanese Other Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Pottery

Japanese antique pottery bowl [tokoname ware]/Tokoname ware/12th-13th century

$900

Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Double Dragon French Mounted Gilt Bronze Centerpiece

Located in Long Island City, NY

An antique Japanese gilt bronze centerpiece urn or jardiniere with enameled body. Late Meiji period

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Enamel, Bronze

Japanese Cloisonne Enamel Double Dragon French Mounted Gilt Bronze Centerpiece

$1,820 Sale Price

35% Off

Large Pair of Antique Decorative Vases, Japanese, Bronze, Amphora, Victorian

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a large pair of antique decorative vases. A Japanese, bronze amphora or urn, dating to the

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Large Pair of Antique Decorative Vases, Japanese, Bronze, Amphora, Victorian

$4,112

Antique Cloisonne Lamp, Japanese, Bronze, Table Light, Victorian, Meiji, C.1850

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is an antique cloisonné lamp. A Japanese, bronze urn with light conversion, dating to the

Category

Mid-19th Century Japanese Victorian Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Antique Cloisonne Lamp, Japanese, Bronze, Table Light, Victorian, Meiji, C.1850

$1,883

Large Antique Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Floor Vase with Foo Dog Handles

Located in Morristown, NJ

Late 19th/Early 20th c., large Japanese Meiji bronze floor urn. The principal decoration on both

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Large Antique Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Floor Vase with Foo Dog Handles

$2,200

Pair Of Antique Imari Vases, Japanese, Hand Painted, Meiji, Victorian, C.1900

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a pair of antique Imari vases. A Japanese, hand-painted ceramic baluster urn, dating to the

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Pair Of Antique Imari Vases, Japanese, Hand Painted, Meiji, Victorian, C.1900

$1,946 / set

Four 19th Century Gaudy Dutch Urn Pattern 10-Inch Plates

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

porcelain from Japan. The urn, often accompanied by floral decorations, symbolizes abundance and classical

Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Pottery

Four 19th Century Gaudy Dutch Urn Pattern 10-Inch Plates

$1,920 Sale Price / set

20% Off

Large French Japonisme Ormolu Garniture Clock Set Attributed to Edouard Lievre

By Edouard Lievre

Located in New York, NY

. Relief cartouches on each urn depict serene Japanese landscapes—one with ducks swimming beneath a tree

Category

19th Century French Japonisme Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Large French Japonisme Ormolu Garniture Clock Set Attributed to Edouard Lievre

$39,500 / set

19th Century Japanese Urn with 1, 000 Faces

Located in Salt Lake City, UT

Japanese urn with faces decorated in gilt. Signed on base with a carved wood lid from the 19th

Category

19th Century Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century Japanese Urn with 1, 000 Faces

$1,950

A 19th Century Japanese Urn Of The Meiji Period.

Located in New York, NY

This unusually large and impressive Meiji Bronze Urn was cast in six pieces. The rustic form

Category

19th Century Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

A 19th Century Japanese Urn Of The Meiji Period.

$21,000

Pair of George III Japanned Chestnut Urns

Located in London, GB

A quality pair of George III Regency pewter chestnut urns, decorated with houses and landscapes

Category

Early 1800s English Regency Antique Japanese Urns

Pair of George III Japanned Chestnut Urns

$7,539 / set

Grand Japanese Imari Vase, Late 19th Century

Located in London, GB

A grand Japanese porcelain Imari vase hand painted with classical scenes. Likely to have originated

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Grand Japanese Imari Vase, Late 19th Century

$2,193

Granite Stone Water Basin Japan Garden Art

Located in Monterey, CA

This Japanese stone water basin also known in Japanese as Tsukubai is hand-carved out of granite

Category

19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Granite

Granite Stone Water Basin Japan Garden Art

$4,500

Japanese Meiji Period Tea Leaf Storage Vessel with Glazed Interior

Located in East Hampton, NY

Late 19th century Meiji period Japanese Shigaraki tea leaf storage vessel (one available).

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Terracotta

Japanese Meiji Period Tea Leaf Storage Vessel with Glazed Interior

$2,400

Mid 19thC. Japanese "shigaraki" Water Vessel

Located in East Hampton, NY

Mid to Late 19th century. Japanese Shigaraki hand thrown fired and glazed water storage urn.

Category

Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Terracotta

Mid 19thC. Japanese "shigaraki" Water Vessel

$2,950

Granite Stone Water Basin with Heads as Handles Tsukubai Japan Garden Art

Located in Monterey, CA

Stone water basin with heads as handles (Tsukubai) Material: Granite Origin: Japan Age: Late

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Granite

Granite Stone Water Basin with Heads as Handles Tsukubai Japan Garden Art

$3,200

Antique Japanese Bronze Rosy Vase, Japan 1900, H622

Located in Vancouver, BC

Antique Japanese bronze rosy vase, Japan 1900, H622. Japan 1900 Bronze Well cast and

Category

Early 1900s Scottish Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Antique Japanese Bronze Rosy Vase, Japan 1900, H622

$285

Pair of 18th Century Chinese or Japanese Vases in Cream Red Green

Located in Ettlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg

A pair of hand-painted Chinese or Japanese urn vases in fantastic condition for their age

Category

Late 18th Century Chinese Japonisme Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of 18th Century Chinese or Japanese Vases in Cream Red Green

$1,128 / set

Large Shigaraki Jar

Located in Sag Harbor, NY

Green and white stripe graze jar is called "Sudare-tsubo" which means look like a
bamboo shade pattern. Storage jar for soy source, sake, etc..

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Large Shigaraki Jar

$2,800

Pair of Japanese Covered Urns

By Ceramital

Located in San Francisco, CA

Each ceramic body and domical lid decorated with blossoming branches against a sanguine-colored background. With original import stamp on the base.

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Anglo-Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Japanese Covered Urns

$350 / set

Beautiful 18th Century, Japanese cloissone urn

Located in New York, NY

Beautiful 18th century Japanese cloisonne urn

Category

18th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Enamel

Beautiful 18th Century, Japanese cloissone urn

$900

19th Century Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Urn

By Hashimoto Eijirô 1

Located in Brisbane, Queensland

A 19th century Japanese Meiji period cast bronze urn signed by Hashimoto Eijiro of West Kyoto. The

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Urn

$2,750

Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Urn Lamp

Located in Atlanta, GA

Japanese Meiji period bronze vase mounted as a lamp with bird and foliage decoration. 34" H to top

Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Meiji Period Bronze Urn Lamp

$2,600

Japanese bronze Urn mounted as a Lamp

Located in Charleston, SC

foliage. Drilled and signed on the base (in Japanese and black ink). Meiji Period, Ca 1890

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Japanese bronze Urn mounted as a Lamp

$1,450

Pair of Japanese Kutani Urns on Gilt Bronze Pedestals

Located in Vancouver, BC

Pair of Japanese Kutani urns mounted on gilt bronze. Beautiful color and composition on cast bronze

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Japanese Kutani Urns on Gilt Bronze Pedestals

$15,000 / set

Very Large pair of Japanese Lacquer Urns - Over 4 feet tall!

Located in Seattle, WA

A very large pair of Japanese papier-mache lacquer urns with finely engraved exotic ivory cranes in

Category

19th Century Japanese Chinoiserie Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Soapstone

Very Large pair of Japanese Lacquer Urns - Over 4 feet tall!

$9,000

Pair of Japanese 19th Century Imari Lidded Urns

Located in London, GB

A pair of beautiful and large scale Japanese 19th century Imari lidded urns. Each urn displays most

Category

19th Century Asian Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Japanese 19th Century Imari Lidded Urns

$13,023

Japanese Taishō Period Bronze Champlevé Urn with Buddha Figure Lid, c. 1915

Located in San Francisco, CA

A circa 1915 antique Japanese Taishō period larger-size bronze champlevé urn or vessel with buddha

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Taisho Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Japanese Taishō Period Bronze Champlevé Urn with Buddha Figure Lid, c. 1915

$2,400

Bronze Edo Period Urns

Located in Seattle, WA

Pair- Japanese Edo Period Urns w/ Detachable Figures and Inscribed Poem "I purchased these

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Edo Period Urns

$1,760

Large Covered Satsuma Urn

Located in Washington, DC

Large Japanese Satsuma pottery domed covered urn. Signed on bottom.

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Pottery

Large Covered Satsuma Urn

$4,000

Large Antique Japanese Meiji Satsuma Covered Urn Vase with Foo Dog, 19th Century

Located in London, GB

A stunning large antique Japanese Meiji Satsuma covered urn vase with foo dog, 19th century

Category

19th Century Asian Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Large Antique Japanese Meiji Satsuma Covered Urn Vase with Foo Dog, 19th Century

$4,798

Pair of Derby Porcelain Urns in the "Old Japan" Pattern, England, 1800-1825

Located in Alexandria, VA

Ovid form vases - well marked in red on bottom of each urn - hybrid porcelain - these are old Derby

Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Japanese Urns

Pair of Derby Porcelain Urns in the "Old Japan" Pattern, England, 1800-1825

$975 / set

Pair of Scalloped Imari Covered Urns, 19th Century.

Located in Atlanta, GA

Pair of vividly painted Imari Urns, with a scalloped form giving these beautiful pieces a nice

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of Scalloped Imari Covered Urns, 19th Century.

$4,000 / set

Okinawan Nineteenth Century Ryukyu Kingdom Second Dynasty Tsuboya Ware Urn

Located in Stockbridge, MA

19th century Ryukyu Kingdom, (Present day Okinawa) Second Dynasty Tsuboya Ware urn. In addition to

Category

19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Okinawan Nineteenth Century Ryukyu Kingdom Second Dynasty Tsuboya Ware Urn

$850

Early 20th Century Japanese Champlevé Lamp

Located in Hudson, NY

Encrusted turquoise, garnet, and lapis enamel on Japanese bronze urn. Chrysanthemums symbolizes

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Early 20th Century Japanese Champlevé Lamp

$1,600

Oversized Massive Japanese Urn

Located in Hopewell, NJ

Lovely blue and white design, 60" tall x 24" in diameter at widest point . 19th century

Category

19th Century Antique Japanese Urns

Oversized Massive Japanese Urn

$11,500

PAIR OF JAPANESE BRONZE URNS

Located in Los Angeles, CA

19TH CENTURY JAPANESE BRONZE URNS

Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

PAIR OF JAPANESE BRONZE URNS

$3,200

Japanese Art Nouveau Bronze Urn

Located in Astoria, NY

Japanese late Meiji period Art Nouveau large bronze urn. The piece showcases secessionist elements

Category

Early 1900s Japanese Art Nouveau Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Japanese Art Nouveau Bronze Urn

$19,200

Pair of Regency Japanned Pewter Chestnut Urns

Located in Essex, MA

Black urns with painted gold pagodas, bridges, and Asian gardens on the front, back, and on top of

Category

19th Century Dutch Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Pewter

Pair of Regency Japanned Pewter Chestnut Urns

$2,800

Pair Japanese Bronze Vases Antique Dragon Urns, 1880

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Pair of Japanese bronze vases highly decorated with leaves and plants Decorated with amazing

Category

1880s Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Pair Japanese Bronze Vases Antique Dragon Urns, 1880

$1,576

Pair Japanese Bronze Vases Antique Dragon Urns, 1880

Located in Potters Bar, GB

Pair of Japanese bronze vases highly decorated with leaves and plants Decorated with amazing

Category

1880s Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Pair Japanese Bronze Vases Antique Dragon Urns, 1880

$1,576

Pair of 18th Century Japanese Imari Urns with Lids

Located in Stockholm, SE

A fine pair of small 18th century Japanese imari urnes with lids.

Category

18th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Pair of 18th Century Japanese Imari Urns with Lids

$653

Large Antique Japanese Shigaraki Stoneware Grain Storage Urn, circa 1900

By Shigaraki Valley Potters

Located in Yonkers, NY

A tall antique Japanese Shigaraki stoneware grain storage urn from the early 20th century with warm

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Stoneware

Large Antique Japanese Shigaraki Stoneware Grain Storage Urn, circa 1900

$2,500

Large Japanese Shigaraki Stoneware Grain Storage Urn with Beige Sand Patina

Located in Yonkers, NY

A tall Japanese Shigaraki stoneware grain storage urn from the early 20th century with beige sand

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Pottery, Stoneware

Large Japanese Shigaraki Stoneware Grain Storage Urn with Beige Sand Patina

$2,500

Small Antique Display Urn, Japanese, Bronze, Posy Vase, Meiji Taste, Victorian

Located in Hele, Devon, GB

This is a small antique display urn. A Japanese, bronze posy vase in Meiji period taste, dating to

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Bronze

Small Antique Display Urn, Japanese, Bronze, Posy Vase, Meiji Taste, Victorian

$833

Antique Japanese Meiji Figural Hand Painted Gilt Footed Foo Dog Urn C1910

Located in Big Flats, NY

An antique Japanese Meiji figural urn offers porcelain construction with foo dog lid and handles on

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Japanese Meiji Figural Hand Painted Gilt Footed Foo Dog Urn C1910

$600

Huge Antique Mason s English Ironstone Imari Japan Ewer Pitcher Urn Early

By Mason s Ironstone

Located in Wilton, CT

Monumental Antique English Mason's Ironstone ewer in Japan imari pattern, Circa 1820's. Unmarked

Category

Early 19th Century British Georgian Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Ironstone

Huge Antique Mason s English Ironstone Imari Japan Ewer Pitcher Urn Early

$2,400

Antique Japanese Wine Storage Pots

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Beautifully glazed ceramic jars used for storing wine

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Japanese Wine Storage Pots

$1,375

Huge Shigaraki Pottery Storage Jar Wabi Sabi Tea Ceremony Garden Urn Vase

By Shigaraki Valley Potters

Located in Wilton, CT

Huge antique Shigaraki wine or water storage jar with Hagi-Nagashi glaze, circa 1900. Nice, organic form with copper green stripes. Measures: 34" high, 21" diameter. Excellent condit...

Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Arts and Crafts Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Stoneware

Huge Shigaraki Pottery Storage Jar Wabi Sabi Tea Ceremony Garden Urn Vase

$1,920

Pair of Large Wabi Sabi Mid-19th Century Japanese Terracotta Pots/Vessels

Located in London, GB

A large pair of mid 19th century Japanese terracotta vessel’s originally used for the storage

Category

19th Century Japanese Edo Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Terracotta

Pair of Large Wabi Sabi Mid-19th Century Japanese Terracotta Pots/Vessels

$3,907 / item

1870s Japanese Shigaraki Ceramic Storage Jar with Celadon Glaze, Meiji Period

Located in Yonkers, NY

A classic 1870s large Japanese Shigaraki celadon glazed ceramic jar from the late Edo or early

Category

19th Century Japanese Meiji Antique Japanese Urns

Materials

Ceramic

1870s Japanese Shigaraki Ceramic Storage Jar with Celadon Glaze, Meiji Period

$3,300

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Antique Japanese Urns For Sale on 1stDibs

At 1stDibs, there are several options of antique Japanese urns available for sale. The range of distinct antique Japanese urns — often made from metal, ceramic and bronze — can elevate any home. Antique Japanese urns have long been popular, with older editions for sale from the 18th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. Antique Japanese urns made by Regency designers — as well as those associated with Arts and Crafts — are very popular at 1stDibs. Many antique Japanese urns are appealing in their simplicity, but Shigaraki Valley Potters, Champeleve and Hashimoto Eijirô produced popular antique Japanese urns that are worth a look.

How Much are Antique Japanese Urns?

Prices for antique Japanese urns start at $250 and top out at $84,950 with the average selling for $2,400.

Questions About Antique Japanese Urns

How can I tell if my Japanese pottery is antique?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertAugust 8, 2024
To tell if your Japanese pottery is antique, look for markings, which usually appear on the bottoms of pieces. If you see the word "Nippon," your piece was likely produced between 1891 and 1921, making it an antique. Pieces marked with the words "made in occupied Japan" originated between 1945 and 1952 and are vintage, based on their age. A "made in Japan" marking may indicate a vintage or contemporary piece. If you don't see any of these markings, consult trusted online resources to get a rough idea of when your pottery was produced. Any piece that dates back 100 years or more is antique. Should you encounter difficulty with the dating process, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can assist you. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Japanese pottery.