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.
VINTAGE Scandinavian Tapestry Flatwoven European Kilim 145x191cm Signed 5x6 Rug
Located in New York, NY
Vintage European Kilim Flatwoven Rug Flatwoven Kelim Rug Handmade Tapestry "This is a beautiful European kilim Rug. This magnificent flatwoven rug and t...
Wool
$2,968Sale Price|20% Off
1960's Tibetan Arts & Crafts Style Square Carpet Inspired by William Morris
By Charles Voysey, William Morris (English)
Located in Dallas, TX
79148 Vintage Tibetan Arts & Crafts Style Square Area Rug, 06'08 x 06'10. This hand-knotted wool vintage Tibetan Arts & Crafts style rug, inspired by the visionary designs of William...
Wool
$1,960Sale Price|34% Off
Zeki Muren Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, 06'09 x 10'00
Located in Dallas, TX
52138 Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, 06'09 x 10'00. Warm and inviting with its perfectly worn-in charm, this distressed vintage Turkish Sivas area rug beautifully embodies a Modern Indus...
Wool
Wool, Hand-knotted, Green and Pink Art Nouveau Persian Rug, 10' x 14'
By Bahram Shabahang, Orley Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
Orley Shabahang’s Wool "Framed Garden" Persian carpet from the Art Nouveau Collection measures 10’ x 14’ and was created in Iran circa 2004. Its hand-knotted pure wool pile in lush hues of forest green and blush pink evokes the sensation of walking through a golden rose garden in bloom. Gold, red and blue tones accent the design and echo the traditional Persian Garden rugs of decades past. The versatile, all-over design showcases blooming rose and paisley motifs, detailed by rich green stalks and soft golden flower bulbs. The exterior border features budding roses in similar shades, oriented to serve as a walkway surrounding the flower garden. This warm and inviting design, combined with the highest quality raw materials, conveys the essence of the Persian Garden carpet...
Wool
Large Art Nouveau carpet, Vienna circa 1903, architect's design
Located in Purkersdorf, AT
One of the few remaining original Art Nouveau carpets from Vienna. Hand-knotted – the craftsmanship clearly identifies Backhausen & Sons in Vienna. The stylized floral pattern refl...
Wool
Bobyrug’s Beautiful Vintage French Hand Knotted Cogolin Rug
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Nice mid century French Cogolin rug with beautiful modern design and light colors, entirely hand knotted with wool velvet on cotton foundation. ✨✨✨ "Experience the epitome of luxury...
Wool, Cotton
Art Nouveau–Inspired Hand-Knotted Persian Wool Rug with Botanical Motifs, 4x6
By Bahram Shabahang, Orley Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
This Art Nouveau–inspired hand-knotted Persian wool rug, measuring 4' x 6', showcases a flowing botanical composition rendered in rich, earthy tones. Set against a warm red ground, s...
Wool
Handknotted Art Nouveau Wool Persian Rug in Burgundy, Blue, and Gold, 3' x 5'
By Bahram Shabahang, Orley Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
This handknotted Art Nouveau wool Persian rug in burgundy, blue, and gold, measuring 3' x 5', is a striking testament to the elegance of early 20th-century design and the enduring cr...
Wool
Art Nouveau - Water Inspired Wool Persian Rug, Blue, Green, Red, Gold, 5' x 7'
By Bahram Shabahang, Orley Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
Rippling gently across a lake’s surface before colliding with the shoreline and stylized plant motifs, this hand-knotted carpet, titled Reflections, measures 4’11” x 6’8” and belongs...
Wool
VINTAGE Scandinavian Tapestry Flatwoven European Kilim 135x158cm Signed 4X5 Rug
Located in New York, NY
This vintage European Art Nouveau flat-woven kilim, circa 1980, features a striking geometric tapestry design executed in a harmonious palette of pink, red, ivory, blue, purple, and ...
Wool
21st Century Hand-Knotted Egyptian Ziegler Rug in Charcoal Grey Floral Pattern
By Kahhal Looms
Located in Cairo, EG
About the rug: This 19th century-inspired floral Ziegler is a unique rug due to its handmade nature. It is handwoven by Egyptian artisans using hand-dyed 100% Egyptian wool. The area...
Wool
Antique Rug from the Jerusalem by Bezalel Art Schoo. 4' 9" x 7' 9"
Located in New York, NY
Antique Bezalel rug, origin: Jerusalem Israel, circa early 20th century. Size: 4 ft 9 in x 7 ft 9 in (1.45 m x 2.36 m) Initially this lovely antique Bezalel impresses the viewer as ...
Wool
$3,920Sale Price|20% Off
1980's Tibetan Arts & Crafts Style Rug Inspired by William Morris
By Charles Voysey, William Morris (English)
Located in Dallas, TX
79182 Vintage Earth-Tone Tibetan Rug, 09'00 x 12'02. This hand-knotted wool vintage Tibetan rug unfurls like a gentle reverie—a soft-spoken symphony of stylized flora and subtle symm...
Wool
Art Nouveau Red, Gray, and Cream Wool Persian Rug, 6' x 9'
By Orley Shabahang, Bahram Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
Evoking underwater views, this contemporary Art Nouveau carpet entitled Convergence measures 6’1” x 9’1” and belongs to the Orley Shabahang Art Nouveau Collection. Crafted using Orle...
Wool
Vintage Art Nouveau Tapestry Woven Floral Love Green 72cmx127cm Signed 2x4
Located in New York, NY
This is a magnificent vintage Art Nouveau handwoven tapestry. With unique design elements, coloration & exotic flowers, this piece can bring texture , color and a touch of artistry t...
Wool
1870s Oversized Antique Kurdish Persian Bijar Rug, Hotel Lobby Size Carpet
Located in Dallas, TX
74205 Antique Kurdish Persian Bijar Rug with Art Nouveau Renaissance Style, 12'02 X 18'04. Rich in color with beguiling beauty, this hand knotted wool antique Persian Kurdish Bijar r...
Wool
French Artist carpet or Rug from the Aubusson factory - 220x153 - No. 1516
Located in Paris, FR
This magnificent rug, having benefited from a deep cleaning and a meticulous check by our artisan workshop, is now ready to adorn your interior! Located a stone's throw from the Eif...
Wool
Wool Hand-Knotted Persian Art Nouveau Carpet with Silk Highlights, 9' x 12'
By Bahram Shabahang, Orley Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
A masterful tribute to Art Nouveau’s flowing elegance, this 9' x 12' Persian carpet is hand-knotted in organic wool with delicate silk highlights, blending natural materials with tim...
Wool, Silk
Doris Leslie Blau 1900s Viennese Art Nouveau Rug
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite 1900s Viennese Art Nouveau Rug Size: 8'5" × 13'7" (256 × 414 cm) This spectacular early 20th-century Viennese Art Nouveau rug is a captivating embodiment of fin-de-siècle d...
Wool
$5,400Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage European Art Deco Geometric 14x15 427cm x 445cm Square Beige Rug
Located in New York, NY
Vintage European Art Deco Geometric 14x14 427cm x 445cm Square Beige Rug "This is an exquisite, rare size vintage Art Deco rug. This unique square ...
Wool, Cotton
Alriz Collection Antique Art Nouveau Bijar Rug
Located in Harrington Park, NJ
A stunning and unusual Bijar rug with styles that influenced the Art Nouveau movement. A deep navy blue field anchors the composition, adorned with repeating stylized motifs in warm ...
Wool
21st Century Turkish Art Deco Style Room Size Carpet by Galerie Shabab
Located in New York, NY
This captivating 21st-century East Turkestan Khotan rug, measuring 8' 10" x 11' 10", presents a bold and dynamic interpretation of traditional Khotan design. The richly detailed comp...
Wool
Red & Mustard Vintage Lankaran Geometric Wool Runner Rug 304 x 115 cm
Located in Wembley, GB
Gold Geometric Lankaran Runner Rug, Vintage Handwoven Tribal Carpet, 1960s Wool & Cotton Flatweave with Zig-Zag Motifs This exceptional vintage Lankaran runner rug is a striking exam...
Wool, Cotton, Organic Material
$682Sale Price|30% Off
4x6.8 Ft Hand-Knotted Mid-Century Turkish Deco Accent Rug in Soft Colors
Located in Spring Valley, NY
A finely hand-knotted vintage Turkish carpet from the 1950s featuring an elegant design and soft colors. The rug has evenly low wool pile on cotton foundation. It is heavy and lays ...
Wool, Cotton
Breathtaking Oversized Antique Spanish Savonnerie Rug 15'10" x 26'
Located in New York, NY
Breathtaking Oversized Antique Spanish Savonnerie Rug, Country of origin: Spanish Rugs, Circa date: 1940’s
Wool
Art Nouveau Blue, Copper, and Ivory Wool Hand Knotted Persian Carpet, 9' x 12'
By Bahram Shabahang, Orley Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
This art nouveau blue, copper, and ivory wool hand-knotted Persian carpet, measuring 9' x 12', is an exceptional piece from Orley Shabahang’s acclaimed Galaxy Collection. Reflecting ...
Wool
Nazmiyal Collection Antique Irish Art Nouveau Donegal Rug. Size: 11 ft. x 12 ft.
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful Antique Irish Art Nouveau Donegal Rug, Country of Origin / Rug Type: Irish Rugs, Circa Date: 1920 – Throughout the early 20th century, Done...
Wool
Bobyrug’s pretty mid century French Cogolin rug art nouveau design
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Beautiful mid century French Cogolin rug with a nice art nouveau design and beautiful colours with brown, beige and grey, entirely hand knotted with wool on cotton foundation. ✨✨✨ "...
Wool, Cotton
Abstract Art Nouveau Blue, Cream, Brown and Pink Hand-Knotted Persian Rug, 3 x 5
By Bahram Shabahang, Orley Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
This abstract art nouveau Persian rug, sized 3' x 5', showcases a captivating mix of blue, cream, brown, and pink, creating a bold and unique statement piece. Hand-knotted with preci...
Wool
Multicolor Contemporary Silk Wool Abstract Area Rug Rishikesh by Joseph Carini
Located in New York, NY
This contemporary and dynamic area rug emulates the light dancing off multicolored glass. Rishikesh is an 1890-1910 Parisian moment inspired by abstracting forms like Tiffany’s glass...
Wool, Silk, Natural Fiber
Magnificent Blue Color with Art Nouveau Style Antique Portuguese Needlepoint Rug
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th Century Portuguese Needlepoint Carpet ( 15'6"x 21'6" - 472 x 655 )
Wool
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Pakistani Rug with Persian Design with Arabesque Arts & Crafts Style
Located in Dallas, TX
72029 Vintage Pakistani Rug with Persian Design with Arabesque Arts & Crafts Style. This hand knotted wool vintage Pakistani ...
Wool
$3,920Sale Price|21% Off
New Transitional Carpet with Modern European and Art Nouveau Arabesque Style
Located in Dallas, TX
30017 New Transitional Indian Area Rug, 09'00 x 12'01. In the realm where modern sensibilities dance with echoes of antiquity, this hand-knotted wool transitional Indian rug emerges ...
Wool
Handmade Bohemian Vintage Rug in Jute, Made in India, Late 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
Decorative handmade vintage rug from India, ca 1980s. Made in jute, cotton and wool. The general impression is really good. "Bohemian design, also known as boho design, is a style of interior design...
Wool, Jute, Cotton
Zeki Muren Distressed Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug
By Zeki Müren
Located in Dallas, TX
52013 Zeki Muren Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, 03’00 x 07’02. Nestled amidst the serene landscapes of Turkey's Sivas region, Zeki Muren Turkish Sivas rugs pay homage to the revered Turk...
Wool
$5,520Sale Price|20% Off
The Gilded Garden: A Vintage Persian Mahal Masterpiece of Sublime Refinement
Located in Dallas, TX
76378 Vintage Persian Mahal Rug, 10'08 x 14'00. Steeped in the poetry of Persian artistry, this vintage Persian Mahal rug captures the soul of Mahal weaving—an ode to balance, moveme...
Wool
$840Sale Price|43% Off
Dark Green Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, Art Nouveau Meets Biophilic Design
By Zeki Müren
Located in Dallas, TX
51945 Distressed Green Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, 04'01 x 07'04. Nestled within an Urban Jungle sanctuary, where Biophilic Design seamlessly intertwines with the grace of French Art ...
Wool
Light Yellow French Art Nouveau Rug with Roses
Located in Milan, IT
A truly elegant French Art Nouveau rug, characterized by a light yellow background filled with roses arranged on long stems which branch out to...
Wool
Gray, Blue, and Orange Wool Persian Rug Monarch with Butterfly Design, 4' x 6'
By Bahram Shabahang, Orley Shabahang
Located in New York, NY
This gray, blue, and orange wool Persian rug Monarch, sized 4' x 6', is an exquisite example of intricate craftsmanship, capturing the delicate beauty of a butterfly’s wings in a mes...
Wool
$21,000Sale Price|25% Off
Antique Art Nouveau Turkish Sivas Rug
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Absolutely stunning antique Art Nouveau room-sized Turkish Sivas rug. Produced from luminous hand knotted wool with an incredibly soft pile. The rug features an organic design of scr...
Wool
Open Field Antique Continental European Rug 11'8" x 12'9"
Located in New York, NY
A Beautiful Open Field Antique Continental Rug, Origin Of The Area Rug: England, Circa Date: Late 19th Century
Wool
Art Nouveau Persian Carpet, Hand-Knotted, Gray, Pink, and Cream Wool, 8' x 10'
Located in New York, NY
Introducing Synergy, an exceptional hand-knotted carpet from the renowned Orley Shabahang Galaxy series. Crafted from 100% organic, handspun wool and dyed using natural vegetable pig...
Wool
Doris Leslie Blau Vintage Viennese Art Nouveau Rug
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Viennese Art Nouveau Rug Size: 11'1" × 14'8" (337 × 447 cm) This exquisite vintage rug, crafted in Vienna during the 1940s, is a quintessential example of late Art Nouveau se...
Wool
Lovely Pink Color with Florid Design Antique Donegal - Arts & Crafts Rug
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th Century Donegal Art Nouveau Carpet ( 9'1" x 12'6" - 277 x 382 cm )
Wool
Hand-Knotted Art Nouveau Wool Persian Rug, Red, Pink, and Blue, 6' x 9'
Located in New York, NY
Part of the Orley Shabahang Music Collection, this stunning hand-knotted Persian rug in shades of red, pink, and blue measures 5'10" x 8'10" and is crafted from the finest wool with ...
Wool
Rare Vintage Donegal Rug Vintage Rug 297x508cm Art Nouveau Rug 10x17 c.1920
Located in New York, NY
This vintage European Arts & Crafts rug, circa 1920, features a rare and beautifully executed signed bird motif rendered in a harmonious palette of pink, green, gold, and soft blues....
Wool
Vintage Spanish Rug. Size: 8 ft x 9 ft 3 in
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Spanish rug, Country of Origin: Spain, Circa date: Mid 20th century. Size: 8 ft x 9 ft 3 in (2.44 m x 2.82 m)
Wool
VINTAGE Scandinavian Tapestry Flatwoven European Kilim Rug 6x9
Located in New York, NY
"This is a beautiful Vintage European Rug. This magnificent Flat woven rug can be used on the floor or hung as a tapestry. This piece has great character, artistic geometric design,...
Wool
Art Nouveau Wool Persian Rug, Neutral Flower Motifs, 8' x 10'
Located in New York, NY
In an asymmetrical Oushak-inspired design, this neutral 7'7" x 9'9" wool carpet is hand-knotted and belongs to the Orley Shabahang World Market Collection...
Wool
$23,999Sale Price|20% Off
Late 19th Century Persian Mashhad Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
76601 Late 19th Century Antique Persian Mashhad Rug, 13'01 X 18'11. Woven in the Late 19th Century, this hand-knotted wool Persian Mashhad palace rug stands as an opulent relic of P...
Wool
Elegant Chinese carpet from the Art Nouveau period with a cerise red background
Located in Firenze, IT
Antique Chinese carpet from Pekino, which in its decoration and colors fully echoes the Art Nouveau style that characterized the renewal of taste in furnishings in the late nineteent...
Wool
XXth Century Yellow and Green Round European Savonerie Art Nouveau, ca 1930
Located in Firenze, IT
Handmade carpet made in northern Europe. The carpet is born from the union of two parts evidently knotted with a homemade frame, too small to make carpets of this size. The wool is ...
Wool
Antique Savonnerie Carpet, Elegant
Located in Evanston, IL
Antique Savonnerie rugs exemplify the formal grace and elegance of classical European design. Savonnerie originated in Spain since the eleventh century, and to the rest of European.
Wool
$4,340Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Chinese Silk Landscape Rug 91cm×152 cm Art Nouveau Rug Design 3×5
Located in New York, NY
This 1950 Chinese Silk Tapestry Rug Art Nouveau Floral, showcases a finely woven silk pictorial scene featuring blossoming branches, mountain landscapes, and colorful floral clusters...
Silk
$146Sale Price|60% Off
1970s Handmade Chinoiserie Chinese Rug with Fortune Symbals and Floral Design
Located in San Gabriel, CA
66” long x 36” deep Handmade rug with Chinese symbolism related to harmony and fortune in the home. Shown in different lighting. Blue-ish in brighter lighting and more gray-blue in ...
Yarn
Rugs On Net Antique Ivory Art Nouveau Design Chinese Deco Carpet Wool Square Rug
Located in New York, NY
1920s Chinese Art Nouveau Design Carpet with European Design Influences( 5'7" x 5'7" - 170 x 170 cm ) Antique Chinese – Art Deco / Art Nouveau Design Geometric Knotted Rug, Circa Da...
Wool
$4,484Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage European Kilim Flatwoven Rug Signed Handmade Tapestry Art Nouveau Rug
Located in New York, NY
This is a beautiful Vintage European Tapestry, artist signed by JC Bisery, featuring a distinctive Art Nouveau design with bold florals and strong artistic character. This magnificen...
Wool
Vintage European Kilim Flatwoven Rug Kelim Rug Handmade Tapestry Art Nouveau Rug
Located in New York, NY
This is a beautiful Vintage European rug tapestry that showcases exceptional character and artistic charm. This magnificent flat woven piece features an Art Nouveau bird design, addi...
Wool
$7,600Sale Price / item|20% Off
13x16 Vintage Large Art Deco Rug Art Nouveau Rug European Arts & Crafts Rug
Located in New York, NY
This is a Magnificent vintage Arts & Crafts rug with a unique pattern and splendid coloration. This piece is an incredible, rare, large size, and has a wonderful all-over design. Thi...
Wool
Vintage Ivory and Black Turkish Silk Hereke Carpet
Located in Dallas, TX
77475 Vintage Turkish Silk Hereke Rug, 08'06 x 10'02. In the rarefied world of silk carpets, few pieces attain the celestial refinement of this hand-knotted vintage Turkish Hereke ru...
Silk