In its sinuous lines and flamboyant curves inspired by the natural world, antique Art Nouveau furniture reflects a desire for freedom from the stuffy social and artistic strictures of the Victorian era. The Art Nouveau movement developed in the decorative arts in France and Britain in the early 1880s and quickly became a dominant aesthetic style in Western Europe and the United States.
ORIGINS OF ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGN
ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ANTIQUE ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
Art Nouveau — which spanned furniture, architecture, jewelry and graphic design — can be easily identified by its lush, flowing forms suggested by flowers and plants, as well as the lissome tendrils of sea life. Although Art Deco and Art Nouveau were both in the forefront of turn-of-the-20th-century design, they are very different styles — Art Deco is marked by bold, geometric shapes while Art Nouveau incorporates dreamlike, floral motifs. The latter’s signature motif is the "whiplash" curve — a deep, narrow, dynamic parabola that appears as an element in everything from chair arms to cabinetry and mirror frames.
The visual vocabulary of Art Nouveau was particularly influenced by the soft colors and abstract images of nature seen in Japanese art prints, which arrived in large numbers in the West after open trade was forced upon Japan in the 1860s. Impressionist artists were moved by the artistic tradition of Japanese woodblock printmaking, and Japonisme — a term used to describe the appetite for Japanese art and culture in Europe at the time — greatly informed Art Nouveau.
The Art Nouveau style quickly reached a wide audience in Europe via advertising posters, book covers, illustrations and other work by such artists as Aubrey Beardsley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Mucha. While all Art Nouveau designs share common formal elements, different countries and regions produced their own variants.
In Scotland, the architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh developed a singular, restrained look based on scale rather than ornament; a style best known from his narrow chairs with exceedingly tall backs, designed for Glasgow tea rooms. Meanwhile in France, Hector Guimard — whose iconic 1896 entry arches for the Paris Metro are still in use — and Louis Majorelle produced chairs, desks, bed frames and cabinets with sweeping lines and rich veneers.
The Art Nouveau movement was known as Jugendstil ("Youth Style") in Germany, and in Austria the designers of the Vienna Secession group — notably Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffmann and Joseph Maria Olbrich — produced a relatively austere iteration of the Art Nouveau style, which mixed curving and geometric elements.
Art Nouveau revitalized all of the applied arts. Ceramists such as Ernest Chaplet and Edmond Lachenal created new forms covered in novel and rediscovered glazes that produced thick, foam-like finishes. Bold vases, bowls and lighting designs in acid-etched and marquetry cameo glass by Émile Gallé and the Daum Freres appeared in France, while in New York the glass workshop-cum-laboratory of Louis Comfort Tiffany — the core of what eventually became a multimedia decorative-arts manufactory called Tiffany Studios — brought out buoyant pieces in opalescent favrile glass.
Jewelry design was revolutionized, as settings, for the first time, were emphasized as much as, or more than, gemstones. A favorite Art Nouveau jewelry motif was insects (think of Tiffany, in his famed Dragonflies glass lampshade).
Like a mayfly, Art Nouveau was short-lived. The sensuous, languorous style fell out of favor early in the 20th century, deemed perhaps too light and insubstantial for European tastes in the aftermath of World War I. But as the designs on 1stDibs demonstrate, Art Nouveau retains its power to fascinate and seduce.
There are ways to tastefully integrate a touch of Art Nouveau into even the most modern interior — browse an extraordinary collection of original antique Art Nouveau furniture on 1stDibs, which includes decorative objects, seating, tables, garden elements and more.
Lukáš Houdek Ariel Pearl Polished Natural Shell Glass - Tall
Located in PRAHA 1, CZ
Inspired by the rebellious Ariel from The Little Mermaid, whose greatest wish was to become part of the human world. Artisème in collaboration with Lukáš Houdek brings these beautifu...
Shell, Glass
Lukáš Houdek Nautilus Polished Natural Shell and Glass Vase
Located in PRAHA 1, CZ
For centuries, the polished nautilus shell ranked among the most coveted objects in the European Wunderkammer — its perfect logarithmic spiral so extraordinary that Renaissance golds...
Shell, Glass
Lukáš Houdek Ariel Pearl Polished Natural Shell Glass - Short
Located in PRAHA 1, CZ
Inspired by the rebellious Ariel from The Little Mermaid, whose greatest wish was to become part of the human world. Artisème in collaboration with Lukáš Houdek brings these beautifu...
Shell, Glass
Italian Signed E Rossi Art Nouveau Life Size Bronze Sculpture of a Woman
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 75in W: 37in D: 20in This Italian signed Eduardo Rossi (1867-1926) Art Nouveau life size bronze sculpture of a woman is an exceptional sc...
Metal, Bronze
Jar, Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty, Foundry: Eug. Blot Paris, Design: JOUANT
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our Argentina galleries are shipped directly to your address via air freight. • Simplified Customs Management: We handle the processing of export permits and the payment of customs duties. You will receive your purchase without additional paperwork or surprise costs. • High-Security Packaging: Following FedEx international standards, each piece is protected in custom-made wooden crates, designed to withstand 1-meter impacts and ensure the integrity of the object during transit. • Note for shipments to the USA: To comply with shipping company regulations and ensure delivery at the destination, a valid tax ID (EIN, SSN, or ITIN) is required. • Domestic US Shipping: For those pieces available in our United States storage, logistics are managed through 1stdibs. Personalized Restorations Our team of expert artisans offers restoration services tailored to your aesthetic preferences and design needs: • Cabinetry and Polishing: We perform polishing work on woods, allowing for transitions from light to dark tones (including deep black finishes). • Upholstery: We reupholster chairs and armchairs with fabrics or leathers of your choice, guaranteeing a high-quality finish. • Lighting: We adapt ceiling lamps by shortening smooth rods to adjust them to the height of your rooms. • Metal Treatment: * Restoration of chromed or silver-plated bronze pieces to their original state. o Chroming or silver-plating services for bronze objects. Personalized Quotes: We would be delighted to advise you and provide a quote for any intervention according to your personal taste. Design: Jules Jouant (1863-1921) Pitcher sign: Foundry: Eug. Blot Paris / Design: Jouant Material: Silver plated Biography Auguste Jules Alphonse Jouant was born in Paris, Cité Fénelon, in the 9th arrondissement, on June 19, 18632, son of Étienne Alphonse Jouant, carpenter, and Louise Carré. A student of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris3, Jules Jouant was one of Auguste Rodin's practitioners. He exhibited the Bust of Prince Gedroyc at the Salon of 1883 and sculpted busts of musicians such as Richard Wagner, Frédéric Chopin or Ludwig van Beethoven. He obtained an honorable mention at the Salon of 1913. Jules Jouant is renowned for his works of art (vases, dishes, lamp bases, pitchers, candlesticks, table bells, trinket bowls, etc.) typical of the Art Nouveau style, produced in pewter by the Barbedienne founders This link leads to a disambiguation page, Eugène Blot and Ettlinger Frères. He also collaborates with the workshops of the Daum brothers This link returns He was appointed professor at the Ecole Boulle in Paris. He is buried in the Cimetière de Passy (2nd division). Public collections -Museum of Art and History of Belfort seaweed, pewter The Holly, pewter -Mignard, marble bust, Paris, Manufacture des Gobelins7. Plaster model preserved in Angers in the Maine-et-Loire prefecture8 -Léo Delibes, marble bust, National Opera of Paris9. Plaster model preserved in the town hall of Rochefort (Charente-Maritime) -Two bas-reliefs, stone...
Metal
Vine Tree Sculpture, 1900, Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Iron
Tree with Flowers Sculpture, 1900, Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty, France
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Iron
Flower Boat Sculpture, 1900, Style: Jugendstil, Art Nouveau, Liberty
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Logistics and International Shipping We provide a comprehensive export service so that your only concern is enjoying your acquisition. • Door-to-Door Service: Pieces located in our A...
Marble
Figurine of Thumbelina Patinated Bronze n Stone Base 19th Century Art Nouveau
Located in Sweden, SE
Wonderful bronze sculpture of Thumbelina from the fairy tale of the world Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Very fine cast bronze figure of the late 19th century in the Art Nouv...
Stone, Bronze
Mid-Century Modern Mexican Petite Pitcher by Los Castillo
By Los Castillo
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this Mid-Century Modern Mexican Petite Pitcher sporting an amazing handle in a bird motif by Los Castillo Taxco México. The pitcher Marked Los Castillo Taxco Mex...
Precious Stone
Cornucopia of Nautilus Shell and Lizard Object d’Art
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Cornucopia of nautilus shell and lizard mounted on bronze tree in the style of Tony Duqette attributed to Maitland Smith. Lizard has a beautiful tessellated panshell detail on the ba...
Bronze
Giant 18 Inch Natural Clam Shell Specimen
Located in Bradenton, FL
Authentic giant clam shell specimen with its iconic sculptural form and sea inspired colors and textures.
Shell
Mexican Pitcher by Los Castillo
By Los Castillo
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1960. We offer this Mexican metal and malachite pitcher sporting an amazing handle in a parrot motif by Los Castillo Taxco México. This is an exquisite and monumental pitcher s...
Steel
$1,200
H 9.7 in W 4.8 in D 6.3 in
French Majolica Cat with Mandolin Pitcher with Blue Ribbon, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica cat with mandolin pitcher with blue ribbon, circa 1890.
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
South Pacific Natural Giant Clam Shell Specimen
Located in North Miami, FL
This giant Pacific clam shell is all natural and with wonderful details. THIS ITEM IS LOCATED AND WILL SHIP FROM OUR MIAMI, FLORIDA SHOWROOM.
Shell
Monumental Nautilus Shell Container Vase or Planter
Located in Southampton, NJ
Vintage Palm Beach Nautilus Shell Seashell Resin Planter vase or container with gorgeous pearly silver leaf opalescent finish. Al lovely decorative option for multi- functional uses.
Silver Leaf
$49,810Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.67 in W 9.85 in D 4.73 in
'Pichet Espagnol' from the Madoura Pottery 'AR 245' by Pablo Picasso '1954'
Located in London, GB
'Pichet Espagnol' ceramic piece from the Madoura Pottery (A.R. 245) by Pablo Picasso (1954). A fired, unglazed ceramic pitcher in the form of a stylise...
Ceramic
Large Natural Clam Shell
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Organic tridnaca gigas clam shell with its iconic sculptural form and ocean inspired color variations and varied textures.
Organic Material
Decorative Composition of Natural Shells on a Silver Base
Located in Marbella, ES
An elegant decorative composition featuring a selection of natural seashells arranged on a fluted, silver-plated metal base. The variety of shapes, textures, and tones—from pearly wh...
Metallic Thread
Sculptural Abalone Shell with Baroque Pearls on a Polished Agate Base
By Interi
Located in Columbia, SC
Polished Abalone (Haliotis Iris) shell with natural forming baroque pearls mounted on a metal rod on a polished agate base. The iridescent, multi-colored shell coordinates perfectly ...
Agate, Metal
$3,950
H 20 in W 14 in D 8 in
Life Size Art Nouveau Bronze Bust of a Woman Leopold Savine French (1861-1934)
By Léopold Savine
Located in Petaluma, CA
For the art nouveau lover, or anyone who loves beauty, here is a life size bronze beautifully cast young maiden finished in a warm rich patina. The young woman's countenance is so l...
Bronze
French Art Nouveau Wrought Iron and Hammered Brass Jewelry Holder, c. 1900
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Early 20th-century French Art Nouveau jewelry holder formed as a stylized flower. Hand-forged wrought iron stem and spiral base with a hammered brass blossoms. The brass flower is fo...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Lifelike leather Elephant rare decor material from France 1920
Located in Oirlo, LI
This high-quality vintage life-size leather elephant, originating from France, is in beautifully worn condition, showcasing a unique patina from use, especially from children climb...
Leather
Sold
H 17.33 in W 18.12 in D 6.3 in
Bronze Sculpture "Big Stag After Its Moult", C. Paillet, 20th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Sculpture in bronze with brown patina representing a stag after its moult. It rests on a terrace forming a base, moved by tree stumps and stre...
Bronze
Tiffany Studios Style "Jack in the Pulpit" Flower Form Art Glass Vase
Located in Plainview, NY
An exquisite Tiffany Studios style "Jack in the Pulpit" flower shaped vase or sculpture. Finely made of blown glass, the vase shows beautiful patte...
Art Glass
1900s Spelter Joan Of Arc Sculpture by Jean-Baptiste Germain
Located in Germantown, MD
Beautiful and large sculpture, "Pax" made by the artist Jean-Baptiste Germain (1841-1910). - At the front of the sculpture there is a plate with the text, "Pax" par J-B. Germain. - The sculpture has beautiful details. And a very beautiful patina. Base: 8" diameter Width: 11" Height: 24”. Known as a sculptor of classical and allegorical figures, Germain was a student of Dumont and Gumery. He worked with his brother Gustave in producing classical and historical statues and groups. Germain exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1866 to 1879 and later at the Salon des Artistes Français where he became an Associate in 1889. His bronzes include various images of Joan of Arc, Dido and Aeneas...
Spelter
Art Nouveau Bronze Dancer
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Art nouveau bronze dancer Material: bronze Circa 1900 Origin France Signed on its base with illegible signature It represents a dancer with castanets in ...
Bronze
Crystal Ball on Extraordinary Antique Two Tone Bronze Stand
Located in San Francisco, CA
A large crystal ball presented on a unique one of a kind elaborately cast bronze base. This beautiful late 19th-early 20th century base is an unusual two-tone red and gold bronze col...
Crystal, Bronze
Bronze Art Nouveau Louis Kley
By Louis Kley
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bronze Art Nouveau motif (livelula) Louis Kley gilt bronze and onix Artist Louis Kley circa 1900 perfect condition Origin France. Art nouveau, modernist art or modernism was an inter...
Bronze
Sold
H 20.08 in Dm 7.17 in
Pair of Gilt Art Nouveau Style Brass Porcelain Parrot Standing Candlesticks
Located in Rijssen, NL
20th century pair of gilt bronze based porcelain pair blue and white parrot candlesticks. Beautiful hand painted, left and a right orientated parro...
Brass
Faux Bois Stools Set, French Contemporary
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Faux Bois was at its height during the Art Nouveau era in France between the 19th and 20th century. Now reimagined for a contemporary audience, these hand sculpted stools feature cla...
Cement
Gibbs & Canning Faux Bois
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
As part of the Art Nouveau movement, faux bois was the height of sophistication that was crafted expertly by the Gibbs and Canning Company. Founded in 1847, Gibbs & Canning was one of the most prominent manufacturers of terracotta wears well into the 20th century. Closing in 1950, remnants of their work are legendary and can be found throughout many prominent locations in Britain. This pair of faux bois stumps...
Terracotta
Three Tiffany Studios Bronze Graduating Lily Pad Dishes
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Three Tiffany Studios bronze graduating lily pad dishes All pieces marked with Tiffany Studios New York, and "1719" Measures: Largest 4" D, Medium 3.5"D x Smallest 3" D.
Bronze