Armchairs of this dragon design were best-selling pieces of the Meiji Baroque style. They were very popular, especially towards the end of the Meiji period, and were produced in large quantities and exported globally. Wood carving has is a long standing tradition in Japan, but it was only in the Meiji era (1868–1912) that carved wood furniture was produced as a consequence of westernisation. Carved furniture that is over decorated was predominantly made for export, as they were too decorative for Japanese tastes. These are referred to as Hamamono or Yokohama furniture, and can also be described as ‘Meiji Baroque’ due to the similarities in style with the Western Baroque fashion.
