When one thinks of Africa, one thinks not of cities but of jungles and lions. Yet there are cities there. When one thinks of England one thinks not of cities but of castles and knights on armor. So it is with Japan - one thinks of castles and samurai, but not of modern day decorative trends.
If you're looking for authentic Japanese furniture, there are quite a few sites on the web where you can see what's on offer, what they look like, and how much they cost.
But ask yourself...what is authentic Japanese furniture? There are the classic designs everyone thinks of - the mats, the screens, the pillows, the futons. But Japanese furniture design has not stood still, any more than any other country's furniture design has, and there is plenty of modernistic looking stuff out there with just a soupcon of the oriental flair about it.
Asian Culture
If you see an interesting piece of sculpture or ornamentation, or an excitingly designed piece of furniture, purchase it by all means. It all comes down to what you like. But, your appreciation of these pieces can be enhanced if you know the history behind each piece (if any). So do a bit of research into the history of the domestic life of these countries.
A Few Sample Web Businesses
Haiku Designs offers furniture, bedding and artwork, in both traditional and modern Japanese designs. All of their offerings are illustrated with large photos so you can get a good idea of what you're looking at.
I really liked their Kyoto Japanese Style platform bed, which comes with shoulder rests so you can sit up and read before retiring for the night. Very elegant looking. Among other offerings is the Kenso Platform bed, which is what one typically thinks of when thinking of Japanese beds!
Haiku Designs also offers indoor water fountains, but oddly enough not the Lotus Pool that set off their Europa bedroom set, in the descriptive photo!
Greentea Design also offers exclusively Asian-inspired designs for all rooms in the house.
I thought it was interesting that they offered Maru Tables, which are constructed from "original slabs of century-old Korean flooring". These boards are three inches thick and were "used in aristocrat's homes for their main rooms and porches." Well...better that these antique boards should still see use than be burned to create fuel, but what a pity that the buildings from which they come must no longer be in existence...
I like the fact that all of their furniture is made from salvaged wood, however - that is a point of pride with them and I think it makes a lot of sense. "Keep it green" is their motto.
Oriental Furniture is another of the many sites on the web that offer furnishings and decorations - statuary, etc. from Japan and China. I particularly liked their statuary and silk paintings, and they also have jade carvings.
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