Arts and Crafts Furniture
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.
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal
Early 1900s British Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Pewter
1980s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Fabric, Oak
1910s Swedish Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Mohair, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass, Sheet Metal
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Copper
1910s English Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass, Steel
Early 1900s American Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Leather, Oak
1990s American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Paper
Early 1900s English Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Oak
Early 1900s American Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Limestone, Marble
1960s Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Art Glass
Late 19th Century American Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Marble
Late 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Cherry, Walnut, Wenge
Early 1900s French Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Straw, Wood
Early 1900s Dutch Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
Early 1900s Danish Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Pine
2010s Mexican Arts and Crafts Furniture
Leather
Early 1900s British Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
1890s English Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Paper
2010s Belgian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Poplar
1910s English Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Pottery
1970s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wool, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Terracotta, Terrazzo, Coating
1890s English Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Rush, Beech
20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Linen, Wicker, Rattan
1930s Austrian Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Leather, Oak
20th Century English Arts and Crafts Furniture
Oak
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Mahogany, Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Concrete
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Sterling Silver, Bronze
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Glass, Oak
Early 1900s Dutch Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Rush, Oak
Early 20th Century Northern Irish Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wool
Early 2000s Arts and Crafts Furniture
Art Glass
2010s Nepalese Arts and Crafts Furniture
Silk
Early 1900s English Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century European Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century English Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wool
2010s American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Ceramic
2010s American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Ceramic
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Ceramic
2010s American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Plaster
Early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wool
Mid-20th Century Unknown Arts and Crafts Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Furniture
Bronze
Early 1900s Dutch Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Macassar, Oak
1960s German Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal, Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Onyx, Marble, Brass
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal, Brass, Wire
2010s French Arts and Crafts Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wool
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Canvas, Giltwood
Late 19th Century British Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wool