Meiji Maki-e
These Japanese Meiji maki-e objects bring gold lacquer craftsmanship into your home, offering portable artistry and traditional utility.
Meiji Maki-e
When you search for meiji maki-e, you look at items created during the Meiji period using traditional lacquer techniques embellished with gold powder. These pieces range from small portable personal items to larger storage furniture.
The objects on this page include lacquer writing boxes, jewellery boxes, hair ornament sets, sake cups with stands, table cabinets, and cabinets on stands. You will frequently meet lacquerware boxes and cabinets alongside sets of sake cups.
The origins trace to Japanese makers working in the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. Several examples carry dates around 1870, 1880, and 1910, reflecting the stylistic output of the era.
How they were made
The foundation of these objects relies on wood or metal substrates coated in layers of lacquer. Artisans then applied gold leaf, gold lacquer, and gilt details to build the decorative maki-e surfaces.
Additional materials appear in specific forms, such as brass fittings, tortoiseshell elements, and porcelain vases featuring lacquer over black paint. These combined media create the distinctive layered textures seen across the collection.
Meiji Maki-e Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for meiji maki-e among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
The listings here span the 19th century, Victorian era, and 1910, uniting wood, gold leaf, lacquer, and brass into functional forms.
What varies in quality
Quality in these objects rests upon the precision of the lacquer application and the depth of the gold leaf details. Finer examples display meticulous control over the painted surfaces and integrated metal fittings.
The complexity of the form also dictates the tier of the piece, moving from simple sake cup sets to intricate cabinets on stands and fitted writing boxes. The execution of the maki-e design defines the upper range.
The Meiji Maki-e Glossary
- Maki-e
- Japanese lacquerware dusted with gold or silver powder while the lacquer is wet. This decorative technique forms the core visual characteristic of these items.
- Kodansu
- A small Japanese cabinet or chest used for storing valuables or documents. These portable boxes often feature intricate exterior lacquer work.
- Shodana
- A type of Japanese display cabinet or shelving unit. These stands showcase multiple compartments for decorative objects.
- Kushi and kogai
- Traditional Japanese hair ornaments comprising combs and decorative pins. They frequently appear as matching sets in lacquer and other materials.
Meiji Maki-e: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a writing box?
A writing box is a portable desk accessory designed to hold stationery, brushes, and ink stones. These fitted containers protect writing tools during transport or storage.
In Meiji pieces, the interiors often contain partitioned trays and elaborate lacquer decoration on both lid and base.
How were lacquer cabinets used?
These table cabinets and cabinets on stands stored small precious items, documents, or personal collections. Their compact size suited tabletop placement in traditional settings.
They offer multiple drawers and compartments hidden behind hinged doors.
How do I date these objects?
Dating relies on stylistic markers from the nineteenth century and early twentieth century. Specific periods like the Meiji era exhibit distinct decorative conventions.
Construction methods and material combinations also help narrow down the production decade.
Where should I place lacquerware?
Lacquerware requires stable indoor environments away from direct sunlight and extreme humidity fluctuations. These conditions preserve the wood and lacquer foundation.
Displaying them on tables or within cabinets allows close appreciation of the gold leaf details.