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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.

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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Japonisme
Japanese Modernist Beige Studio Ceramic Flower Vase, Circa 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Modernist Beige Studio Ceramic Flower Vase, Circa 1950s DIMENSIONS: Height: 11 inches Diameter: 4 inches ABOUT JAPANESE MODERNIST BEIGE STUDIO CERAMICS Japanese Modernist...
Category

1950s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

A Pair of Art Deco Chinese Cloisonné Incense Holders w/ Horses, Ca. 1920
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of Art Deco Chinese Cloisonné Horses Incense Holders, Ca. 1920 DIMENSIONS (each) Height: 10.75 inches Length: 9 inches Depth: 5 inches
Category

1950s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Metal

Japanese Meiji Period Koransha Olive Green Gold Glaze Porcelain Vase, Ca. 1880
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Meiji Period Koransha Olive Green & Gold Glaze Porcelain Vase, Ca. 1880 DIMENSIONS Height: 4.5 inches Diameter: 5 inches ABOUT Meiji Period (1868–1912) Koransha Porcelain ...
Category

Early 1800s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Japanese Emperor Shōwa Period Kiyomizu-Ware Vase, 18th Century
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Emperor Shōwa Period Kiyomizu-Ware Vase, 18th Century Emperor Shōwa Period - from 1926 to 1989/1990 DIMENSIONS Height: 9 inches diame...
Category

1770s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Antique Whiting Japonesque Craftsman Hand Hammered Water Pitcher
Located in New York, NY
Japonesque Craftsman sterling silver water pitcher. Made by Whiting in New York, ca 1885. Drum form neck and globular bowl on short and straight foot ring; c-scroll handle and small ...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Japanese Ceramic Ikebana Vase Bizen Ware Nanba Koyo
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tall vintage ceramic vase with handle from Japan (20th century) by Nanba Koyo. Made in the tradition of Bizen ware, the vase has a modern aesthetic with a...
Category

20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Massive Japanese Arita Presentation Porcelain Plate Meiji Period
Located in Atlanta, GA
This massive Japanese Arita plate was made in Hizen, circa 1890-1910s, at the end of Meiji period by a potter named Takeshige Yoshisuke who was active in A...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Antique Japanese Gourd Shape Bamboo Ikebana Basket
Located in Atlanta, GA
A lovely Japanese bamboo ikebana basket in the shape of gourd with an open mouth and a body circa 1920s-1940s. The piece was woven in great details and styles with mostly irregular a...
Category

20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

French Painted Metal Life Size Figure of a Geisha by Charles Mass e
Located in Essex, MA
Figure standing wearing kimono with arms out front. On an iron base. Signed Ch Masse , Sculp, Paris. Provenance , Estate Of William Hodgins. Interior d...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Metal

Antique Japanese Ink Hanging Scroll Hidaka Tetsuo with Wood Storage Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
A hanging ink (Sumi-e) silk scroll by Japanese Zen artist Hidaka Tetsuo (1791-1871). Well presented in brocade boarders and mounted on paperback, this scroll depicts "Three Noble Friends in Winter" in a poetic and novel way. One of the favorite subjects by Chinese painters, the three noble friends in winter consists of pine, bamboo and plum flowers. They were admired for their characters of strength in cold resistance to remain evergreen and even blossom in unfavorable condition. The artist, however, composited the subjects in a none-conventional way as Ikebana. Bamboo and flowering plum branches were presented in an oversized pot...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Brocade, Wood, Paper

Japanese Emperor Shōwa Period Tamba-Ware Textured Glazed Vase, Ca. 1970
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Emperor Shōwa Period Tamba-Ware Textured Glazed Vase, Ca. 1970 Emperor Shōwa Period - from 1926 to 1989/1990 Signed. DIMENSIONS Width: 8 inches Height: 5.5 inches ABOUT ...
Category

1970s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Japanese Meiji Porcelain Figurine of Boy Holding a Green Whistle Bird, Ca. 1890
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Meiji Porcelain Figurine of a Boy Holding a Green Whistle Bird, Ca. 1890 Meiji Period (1868-1912) DIMENSIONS Height: 8 inches Length: 7 inches Depth: 6.5 inches
Category

1890s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Japanese Art Deco Showa Period Hakata Ningyô of a Boy Holding a Fish, Ca. 1920
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Art Deco Showa Period Hakata Ningyô of a Boy Holding a Fish, Ca. 1920 Signed on the bottom. DIMENSIONS 8” high x 7.5” wide ...
Category

1920s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Japanese Bronze Vase with Metal Inlays by Mitsufune
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of elegant vases of solid oiled bronze from the Meiji era, Japan (1868-1912). In a Classic Meiping shape, the pair has a mirrored inlay with gold, silver and red enamel that d...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Louis XV Style Duvinage Brass-Inlaid Marquetry Games Table
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Attributed to Ferdinand Duvinage, the shaped square hinged handkerchief top rotating open to reveal a felt top, the frieze with two drawers, the who...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Brass

Japanese Seto Mingei Ceramic Plate Ishizara Edo Peorid
Located in Atlanta, GA
A glazed stoneware Ishizara (food serving platter) from Seto kilns. The platter features an unusual lobed edge and a slight irregular form from hand made....
Category

Early 19th Century Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Japonesque Bronze Cache Pot by Berndorf, Austria, (marked) circa 1890
Located in San Francisco, CA
Japonesque bronze cache pot by Berndorf, Austria, circa 1890. Nouveau with a Japanese decorative motif. Stamped Bergdorf over an E Decorated with thr...
Category

1980s Austrian Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze

19th Century Japanese Imari French Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in Tarzana, CA
JAPANESE IMARI PORCELAIN AND ORMOLU MOUNTED MANTEL CLOCK, 19TH CENTURY urn shaped with three ormolu mounted cherubs with Roman Numeral and Arabic dial. Dimensions Height: 22" Width: ...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Early Japanese Plique-a-Jour Bowls from Nagoya
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of small but exquisite Plique-a-jour cloisonné bowls with nearly identical design from Nagoya area in Japan circa 1900-20s. Maker's unknown but possibly by Ando company. The t...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Two Japanese Mother of Pearl Wood Dishes
Located in Brea, CA
Two Japanese mother of pearl wood dishes, very beautiful pieces. Measures: Large one H 2” x L 13.5” x W 10”.
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Japanese Maki-e Lacquer Portable Sagejubako Theme of Three Winter Friends
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sagejubako is a portable lunch or picnic set that became popular in the early Edo period when an additional meal was added between breakfast and dinner. It normally consists of a han...
Category

19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Japanese Glazed Ceramic and Silver Koro Incense Burner Makuzu Kozan
Located in Atlanta, GA
A tri-pod ceramic incense burner (koro) by Japanese Imperial potter Makuzu Kozan (1842-1916) circa late Meiji to the start of Taisho period (1890-1910s). A fine example of the artist's work belonging to the late part of his underglaze paint phase (started around 1887 until his death), the surface of the koro was painted in beautiful shades of blue to depict a continuous landscape not unlike a traditional ink and watercolor hand scroll. The rise and fall mountains recede and fade into the horizon and are dotted with groves of pines. The sky is painted with a beautiful subtle shade of pink, suggesting a time of sunrise or sunset. The koro is fitted with an ensuite reticulated sterling silver hoya (incense cover), pierced with swirling cloud and marked with "pure silver' in Kanji. The base is signed in underglaze blue "Makuzu Kozan Sei" within a double ring. The piece is beautifully potted in form and the decoration was done with expertise using the novel technique developed by Kozan called Fuki-e (the blow painting), in order to achieve the striking landscape known as "Mountain and Water" with sense of dimensions and gradient, the poetic effects normally conveyed only by sumi ink staining on paper. The piece comes with an unsigned tomobako (wood storage box) of a recent age. Also known as Miyagawa Kozan (1842–1916), Makuzu Kozan was one of the most established and collected ceramist from Meiji Period. Born as Miyagawa Toranosuke, Kozan established his pottery studio in Yokohama around 1870s and later became one of the appointed artists to the Japanese Imperial household. His work was exhibited in many international fairs that the Meiji government participated at the turn of the century and won many grand prizes. Being one of the most creative ceramists, Kozan started experimenting with new chemical colors from the West in the format of his porcelain glaze around 1880s. New colors allowed him to create underglaze designs that appeared bright, smooth and glossy. He even invented his own receipt of cobalt blue to achieve a much brighter yet softer shade, as evident on this vase. To create landscape that is realistic and dimensional, more common in the western paintings, he was inspired by the native Japanese ink painting technique developed around 1900 by Yokoyama...
Category

Early 1900s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Silver

Asian Flambe Studio Pottery Vase
By Kyoto Pottery
Located in Atlanta, GA
A garlic bottle vase in an archaic Chinese form, but likely Japanese in origin. Several circumventing grooves however, suggest a more modern age. It was done in a brilliant purple glaze over a robin egg blue background glaze. The bubbling and bursting effects during the firing renders the surface an artistic spotting effect. The color pallet recalls the Classic Jun Yao...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Japanese Bamboo Basket Ikebana
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese woven bamboo basket in the shape of crescent with open top and a wrapped handle circa 1920s-1940s. The basket was woven with "sooted" bamboo (susutake in Japanese). This b...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

French Patinated Bronze Figure of a Standing Japanese Geisha with Kimono Obi
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful French patinated bronze figure of a standing Japanese geisha in a traditional kimono with an obi. This geisha is exceptionally cast with immense detail. Starting from the...
Category

Early 20th Century French Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair 19th C. French Ormolu Mtd. Chinoiserie Baccarat Cut-Crystal Vases/Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A Pair of 19th Century French Ormolu Mounted Chinoiserie/Japanism Baccarat Hand-Diamond Cut Engraved and Copper-Wheel Cut Crystal Vases, Later Turned to Lamps, Never Drilled, Electri...
Category

1880s French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Antique Jade and Silvered Bronze Mantel Clock Retailed by Yamanaka Co.
Located in New York, US
Our lovely portico style mantel clock, retailed by Yamanaka & Company Ltd. in New York in the early 20th century, features a silverplate frame flanked by two finely carved foo lions ...
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Jade, Metal

Japanese Woodblock Print Les Jades Chinoise by Paul Jacoulet
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Japanese Woodblock print by Paul Jacoulet (French, 1896-1960) entitled Les Jades Chinoise (Jade Lady Chinese). Created in 1940, this is the most popular and recognizable print by t...
Category

1940s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Paper

Schumacher Lotus Garden Pillow in Porcelain
Located in New York, NY
This pillow features Lotus Garden with a self welt finish. An enchanting pattern recreated from a 1920s document in our archives. The masterful design is an ode to Japanese natural m...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Linen

Japanese Rosewood Hand Carved Pedestal
Located in Tarzana, CA
Japanese rosewood hand carved pedestal. Japan, circa 1920 Measures: Height 24", width 19".
Category

Early 20th Century Japanese Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

French Japanism Champleve Enamel Ormolu Mounted Clock, Christofle Cie, 1800s
Located in New York, NY
French Japanism Champlevé Enamel Ormolu Mounted Clock, Christofle & Cie. The clock consists of a spherical champlevé enamel body mounted in an ormolu structure. The enamel surface i...
Category

19th Century French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Ormolu, Enamel

French Antique Ormolu Mounted Porcelain Japonisme Style Garniture Set
Located in Tarzana, CA
A very fine antique 19th century French gilt bronze and hand painted porcelain 3-piece clock set in the Japonisme style. The clock finely decorated with porcelain plaques, painted in the Japanese style with Cherry blossom branches. The front plaque features a Sulphur-crested cockatoo with a red sun in the sky on the right. The clock’s rectangular body is crowned by an arched top which contains a circular porcelain dial. This dial features a painting of a pair of birds on a cherry branch at its center, encircled by black Roman Numerals within white cartouches. The shoulders of the clock are mounted with gilt bronze elephant...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Japanese Emperor Shōwa Period Classic Oval-Shaped Vase, Ca. 1960
Located in New York, NY
Japanese Emperor Shōwa Period Classic Oval-Shaped Vase, Ca. 1960 Emperor Shōwa Period - from 1926 to 1989/1990) Featuring bamboo handles. Signed on the bottom. DIMENSIONS Height:...
Category

1960s Japanese Vintage Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

French Japonisme Mantel Clock and Candelabra Attributed to Edouard Lievre
Located in New York, US
Our mantel clock and candelabra with silvered, gilt and cloisonne enamel surfaces in the French Japonisme style dates from the 1870s and is in good condition. Attributed to the influ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Late 19th Century Oil on Canvas of Japanese Figures by Francis Neydhart
By Francis Neydhart
Located in Dallas, TX
A realistic oil on canvas of a person with umbrella bowing to a monk standing on steps by artist Francis Neydhart, (1860-1948). Fronted by a sun-dappled street in front of a large bu...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Wood

Framed Japanese Ink Painting Hidaka Tetsuo
Located in Atlanta, GA
An ink painting on the fan surface by Japanese Zen artist Hidaka Tetsuo (1791-1871), now framed in a traditional Japanese carved wood frame with silk fabric mat and decorative hangin...
Category

1850s Japanese Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paper

Pr. 19 C. French Japonisme Gilt Bronze Marble Mounted Porcelain Vases, Malpass
Located in New York, NY
A Fine Pair of 19th-Century French Japonisme Gilt Bronze-Mounted Porcelain Vases with Double Handles, Resting on Black Marble Bases, by Louis Pierre Malpass. The vases have an elonga...
Category

1890s French Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze

12 Mason s Patent Ironstone Japonesque Rimmed Soup Bowls w/ Gold Scalloped Rims
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 Mason's ironstone, 19th century. rimmed soup bowls are decorated with poly chrome enamels in a wonderful array of colors, highlighting a ...
Category

1880s English Antique Japonisme Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Japonisme furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Japonisme furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, asian art and furniture, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, ceramic and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Japonisme furniture made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and Japan pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Tiffany Co., Gökhan Eryaman, İsmail Dağlı, and Makuzu Kozan. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $29 and tops out at $185,360 while the average work can sell for $2,527.