What is a shodana cabinet?

A shodana is a Japanese cabinet featuring asymmetrical shelves, small drawers, and compartments. These pieces were built for displaying small artistic objects and curiosities.

How do I date a meiji cabinet?

Dating relies on stylistic markers, construction methods, and recorded production eras from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Many pieces carry specific decade attributions matching the Meiji period reign.

What items were displayed inside them?

Owners placed small porcelain dishes, metalwork figures, and carved okimono inside these cabinets. The varied shelf heights accommodated objects of different shapes and sizes.

Are imari plates Japanese?

Imari plates are traditional Japanese porcelains produced in the town of Arita and exported in large quantities. They are distinguished by their cobalt blue, iron red, and gilt palette.