Meiji Lighting
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
19th Century Antique Japanese Meiji Bronze Floor Lamp
Located in Point Richmond, CA
19th century antique Japanese Meiji bronze floor lamp.
This finely cast, well composed, pedestal lamp depicts mythical creatures on the base, cranes in high relief on the stem are...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Silver Wire Cloisonne Vase Lamp, Meiji Period, c 1900, Japan
Located in Austin, TX
A vibrant Japanese turquoise ground and silver wire cloisonne vase, now mounted as a lamp, Meiji Period, circa 1900, Japan.
The tall vase of elegant rouleau shape, with a straight n...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Rock Crystal, Silver, Brass, Copper
Exquisite Antique Pair of Japanese Imari Porcelain Oil Table Lamps
Located in Lincoln, GB
Exquisite Antique Pair of Japanese Imari Porcelain Oil Table Lamps
This exquisite pair of antique oil table lamps embodies the timeless artistry of Japanese Imari porcelain. Crafted...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Japanese Large cloisonné enamel Lamps , 19th Century
Located in NICE, FR
Charming pair of cloisonné enamel vases from the Japanese Meiji period (1868-1912), each with a mauve background featuring pretty swallows fluttering among flowering branches and fol...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Japan Early Ikebana Planter Garden Cart with Children, Meiji Period
Located in South Burlington, VT
A rare 19th century hard to find Japanese Usubata Flower Planter Cart "Norimono",
Late Meiji Period.
Japan, this handsome quality old style "garden cart" ikebana planter is an exceptionally rare find and an authentic old work of Japanese art.
Brilliantly designed and a handsome plant presentation with removable ikebana vase inserted into an openwork wicker basket set on a wheeled cart...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Iron
Extrordinary Pair of Japanese Jars with Mythological Scenes as Table Lamps
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Cylindrical jars glazed with striated colors in the top background. With overall dense raised colorful decoration of a mythological scene with a variety of figures. A prominent figur...
Category
20th Century Asian Meiji Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Satsuma Table Lamp
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine quality hand painted Meiji period 1890 c. Satsuma pottery vase on a carved wood stand. This was converted to an electric table lamp in the first half of the 20th century.
Re...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
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 from the late 19th century, repurposed as highly decorative table lamps.
Japan, Meij...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Yellow Bronze Lamp with Inlay Red Bronze and Silver, Japanese Meiji Period 1890
Located in San Francisco, CA
A solid yellow bronze with inlaid red bronze and silver vase converted to a lamp. The body of the vase would have originally had a dark green p...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Silver, Bronze
Japanese Wall Light / Reproduction of Japanese Antique Lighting Wabi Sabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is our Japanese wall light.
It is a faithful reproduction of an antique light that was popular as an exterior or interior light in private homes and stores in Japan from the Mei...
Category
2010s Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass
Japanese Wall Light or Ceiling Light / Wabisabi
Located in Chōsei District Nagara, JP
This is a Japanese-style wall or ceiling light.
It is a faithful reproduction of antique lights that were popular as exterior and interior lights in private homes and stores in Japan...
Category
2010s Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass
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...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Meiji Japanese Cast Bronze Relief Chrysanthemum & Birds Lamps 'Pair'
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of large, cast bronze, urn-shaped lamps made circa 1885-1890, during the Meiji period (1868-1912) in Japan. They are decorated in both relief and applique with chrysanthemums,...
Category
1880s Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass, Bronze
A fine Bronze Lamp stand vase Depicting Cranes and Bamboo Meiji period
Located in Den Haag, NL
Baluster-shape, Lamp stand the bronze vase attractively patinated to a dark reddish-brown finish, finely worked in relief with neatly incised details dep...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Champlevé Bronze Elephant Floor Oil Lamp
Located in Montreal, QC
A Japanese floor oil lamp, crafted in bronze with a dark lush patina and decorated with enamel in a champlevé technique in floral designs with peasants....
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
An Early 20th Century Meiji Period Red Crowned Crane Bronze Floor Lamp
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
An early 20th Century Meiji period bronze floor lamp. Fine detailed Red Crowned Crane standing on a lily pad with a branch in it's beak, holding an original red lotus flower glass sh...
Category
1910s Japanese Vintage Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Japanese Tansu Style Wooden Crate Cage Chandeliers
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fascinating pair of Japanese wooden crates or cages made in a Tansu style with iron strapping. The square crates have a house shaped roof made of an eboni...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass, Iron
Japanese Porcelain Lamp, Decorated with Castles and Pagodas, Mid-20th Century
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
This Japanese porcelain lamp, dating from the mid-20th century, subtly blends tradition and aesthetics.
With its elegant gourd-shaped form and square base, it is a true testament to...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
Antique Meiji Period Imari Porcelain Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Classic iron red and cobalt blue Imari Porcelain vase now as a lamp/ The circa 1900 Japanese vase, handprinted in the traditional colors, elec...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of 19iCentury Meiji Period Japanese Bronze Censers Turned into Lamps
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A pair of baluster form patinated Meiji Period Japanese bronze censers with embossed geometric patterns and flowers all-over and handles of a s...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Japanese Sumida Gawa Ceramic Height Adjustable Table Lamp
Located in Tonbridge, Kent
Vintage Japanese Sumida Gawa Ceramic Table Lamp with American Brass Hardware - Mid 20th Century
Illuminate your space with this extraordinary vintage table lamp, a stunning fusion o...
Category
Mid-20th Century Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass
Kutani Polychrome Porcelain Elephant Mounted as Lamp, 19th Century Japanese
Located in El Monte, CA
A unique example of kutani polychrome porcelain mounted as a lamp from the Meiji period. An intricately designed porcelain elephant with pagoda is elaborately decorated in various color. The piece features overglazed enamel work typical of Japanese Kutani-ware and sits atop a red wood base. The elephant and pagoda produce a modern lamp outfitted with a hand painted green and gold lamp...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Meiji Period Carved & Bone Inlaid Bamboo Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique Japanese Meiji Period Carved Bamboo & Bone Inlaid Lamp—Samurai on Horseback, c. 1900
This exquisite Meiji-period Japanese lamp (circa 1900) showcases masterful craftsmanship, featuring a hand-carved bamboo base with a striking relief of a samurai warrior on horseback. The warrior’s face is expertly carved in bone, creating a striking contrast against the deep, warm tones of the bamboo. The intricate carving highlights the samurai’s armor, horse, and surrounding motifs, demonstrating remarkable attention to detail and artistic skill.
This rare antique Japanese lamp...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Metal
19th Century Japanese Meiji Period Satsuma Vase Fitted as Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Large antique Japanese Meiji period Satsuma vase fitted as table lamp with two standard sockets, wiring and plug, mounted on ebonized wooden stand.
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Ceramic
Early 20th Century Meiji Blue and Gold Glazed Baluster Vase Lamp
Located in London, GB
An early twentieth century baluster vase, decorated throughout with gilded fans, river scenes, birds, fish scales and other stylised emblems associated with Kimono designs. Now mount...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Ceramic, Porcelain
19th century Satsuma Porcelain Vase Table Lamp
Located in Savannah, GA
Made for the European market in the Meiji period, this lovely Japanese Satsuma porcelain vase has been converted into a table lamp and mounted on a wooden base. Decorated with delica...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
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...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
Pair of 19th C Meiji Bronze Champleve and Cloisonne Enamel Vases Mounted as Lamp
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of 19th century Japanese Meiji Bronze Champleve and Cloisonne Enameled Vases Mounted as Lamps.
Very rare pair. 8" x 8" x Adjustable height 21" to 24"H.
Category
Mid-19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th century Nippon Moriage Urn Lamp with Roses
Located in Savannah, GA
Nippon urn featuring raised Moriage decoration, gilt highlights, double handles and gorgeous open garden roses hand painted on either side. It has been conv...
Category
1890s Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Pottery
Japanese Red Green Gold Porcelain Table Lamp
Located in Takarazuka, JP
Exquisite large Japanese contemporary gilded and intricately hand painted porcelain table lamp in an auspicious double gourd crackled fine porcelain body...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass, Gold
Circa 1900-1920 Japanese Vase Mounted as a Lamp
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1900-1920 Japanese vase now mounted as a lamp. Antique cobalt & orange floral reserve porcelain vase made for the Western market, mounted as a lamp in the mid-20th century. Som...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Metal
Japanese Cloisonne Vase fitted as an electric table lamp
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Japanese Cloisonne Vase fitted as an electric table lamp. The bulbous vase form with tall narrow neck and flared mouth having a rich dark blue background with variegated blossoms of...
Category
Early 20th Century Japanese Meiji Lighting
Materials
Enamel
Pair of 19th Century Japanese Bronze Lamps
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of bronze Meiji period lamps highly decorated with elephant head handles and ornate birds on flowering branches in the centre, top and base. Carved panels surround the central...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
Pair Antique 19th Century Meiji Period Japanese Bronze Vase Table Lamps
Located in London, GB
A pair of antique 19th century Meiji Period Japanese patinated bronze vase table lamps.
A pair of Japanese patinated bronze vases of cylindrical f...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Chinese Export Royal Crane Vase Table Lamp
Located in Savannah, GA
In the Chinese culture cranes are the symbols of longevity. This ceramic vase was converted into a table lamp and features a pair of cranes with flowers on a decorative filigree brass base, lovely muted pastel colors, brass fittings and an Asian script...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass
Pair of Meiji Period Satsuma Bottle Vase as Lamps
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Pair of Porcelain Satsuma Bottle Vase Lamps. impressive condition, most likely converted as lamps in mid 20th Century using excellent quality bronze mounts.
Japan, Meiji Period, Cir...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Japanese Meiji Cloisonné Enamel Brass Table Lamp with Double Socket
Located in Toledo, OH
A beautiful Japanese Meiji cloisonné table lamp. It features an enamel finish with a black field and purple, blue and pink iridescent iris flowers. The shade shown in the photo is no...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass
Meiji period Cloissone Lamp
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A beautiful finely done Meiji period cloissoné table lamp on a custom made 1920s pierced brass base. Beautiful done polychrome enameled mythical beasts add a touch of mystique to t...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Japanese Bronze Lamp, 19th c.
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is an outstanding example of a large Japanese Meiji period bronze vase now mounted as a lamp. The vase is cast with high relief and finely detailed cockerels and flaming pearls....
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Bronze, Brass
Pair of Late 19th Century Meiji Period Satsuma Porcelain Vase Lamps
Located in London, GB
A pair of late 19th century orange glazed satsuma vases, each with handles and a bulbous body, decorated with courtly figures in landscapes. Now raised on turned giltwood bases as ta...
Category
19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
19th Century, Kutani Porcelain Vase Lamp
Located in London, GB
A late nineteenth century Meiji Period Kutani porcelain vase, with floral decoration. Mounted as a table lamp on a turned giltwood base.
Dimensi...
Category
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Meiji Lighting
Materials
Porcelain
Pair of Vintage Italian Table Lamps with Custom Shades in Irish Linen
Located in Portlaoise, IE
Stylish pair of vintage Italian table lamps with bespoke custom made Irish linen shades. This beautiful pair offer a two way lighting system where by both the top and the bottom of t...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Meiji Lighting
Materials
Chrome
Meiji lighting for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Meiji lighting for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage lighting created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting, decorative objects, asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Meiji lighting 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 lighting, popular names associated with this style include and Imari Porcelain. 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 lighting differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $450 and tops out at $11,000 while the average work can sell for $2,300.