Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Emerging in reaction to industrialization and mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement celebrated handcrafted design as a part of daily life. The history of Arts and Crafts furniture has roots in 1860s England with an emphasis on natural motifs and simple flourishes like mosaics and carvings. This work is characterized by plain construction that showcases the hand of the artisan.
The earliest American Arts and Crafts furniture dates back to the start of the 20th century. Designers working in this style in the United States initially looked to ideas put forth by The Craftsman, a magazine published by Wisconsin native Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker and founder of the Craftsman style. Stickley’s furniture was practical and largely free of ornament. His Craftsman style drew on French Art Nouveau as well as the work he encountered on his travels in England. There, the leading designers of the Arts and Crafts movement included William Morris, who revived historical techniques such as embroidery and printed fabrics in his furnishings, and Charles Voysey, whose minimal approach was in contrast to the ornamentation favored in the Victorian era.
American Arts and Crafts work would come to involve a range of influences unified by an elevation of traditional craftsmanship. The furniture was often built from sturdy woods like oak and mahogany while featuring details such as inlaid metal, tooled leather and ceramic tiles. The style in the United States was led by Stickley, whose clean-lined chairs and benches showcased the grain of the wood, and furniture maker Charles Rohlfs, who was informed by international influences like East Asian and French Art Nouveau design.
Hubs in America included several utopian communities such as Rose Valley in Pennsylvania and the Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony in New York, where craftspeople made furniture that prioritized function over any decoration. Their work would influence designers and architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, who built some of the most elegant and iconic structures in the United States and likewise embraced a thoughtful use of materials in his furniture.
Find antique Arts and Crafts chairs, tables, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.
21st Century and Contemporary North American Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
1910s American Vintage Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Ceramic
1970s Japanese Vintage Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
Early 20th Century Swedish Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Birch, Mahogany
Mid-20th Century German Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Copper
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
Mid-20th Century European Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Wrought Iron
Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Animal Skin
2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Mid-20th Century Israeli Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Silver
1930s English Vintage Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier American Antique Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Agate
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
1950s Mexican Vintage Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Sterling Silver
1920s Austrian Vintage Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Terracotta
1910s American Vintage Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Mahogany
1850s American Antique Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel
1910s American Vintage Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Late 19th Century American Antique Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
1960s American Vintage Arts and Crafts More Furniture and Collectibles
Stone, Brass