Brownstone Mirror

Inspired by the Arts & Crafts style in England, which rebelled against the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution with a proud emphasis on handcrafted design, American Craftsman style similarly pushed against the lavishness of the Victorian era. Coined by Wisconsin-born Gustav Stickley, a furniture designer and publisher of The Craftsman magazine, American Craftsman furniture would influence homegrown styles that followed, such as Mission and the Prairie School.

Like the popular early 20th-century Craftsman houses — which feature meticulous woodwork on everything from built-in bookcases in the living room and cabinetry in the kitchen to earth-toned exteriors with exposed rafters — American Craftsman furniture was all about handmade storage cabinets, bedroom furniture, chairs and other pieces built with organic materials. “Simplicity and straightforwardness of construction has always been the leading characteristic of Craftsman furniture,” Stickley stated. And while he is often credited with most of the designs at the Craftsman Workshops in Eastwood, New York, others such as Harvey Ellis were influential in shaping the straight-backed chairs, beds with vertical slats and tables with exposed joinery that came to define the style.

Highly utilitarian with no unnecessary flair, American Craftsman furniture was designed to emphasize the essence of its modest construction and promote the natural beauty of the wood. Solid oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany were all favored by the movement’s principal figures. Another attribute commonly associated with the style is the integration of subtle details like tooled leather, inlaid metal and hammered iron handles.

Owing to the outbreak of World War I, the popularity of American Craftsman style waned as consumer spending dropped and furniture companies shifted to the production of wartime materials and goods specified in government contracts. Yet, by the 1960s, there was a renewed appreciation for this foundational modern American style, with Stickley and his contemporaries in demand for the clean, simple lines and sturdy construction of American Craftsman furniture.

Find a collection of antique American Craftsman chests, nightstands, seating, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.

Mirrors are versatile, flattering and unobtrusively elegant in any space. Pier mirrors, or console mirrors, are similar to trumeau mirrors as they are traditionally installed between windows. These mirrors are usually very tall and placed on piers that support the ceiling. Sometimes they are suspended from the pier or affixed to the wall.

Pier mirrors were extremely popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, and they were typically used to decorate receiving rooms. They often had extravagant, golden frames that matched the fashionable Rococo and neoclassical styles. Console tables would generally be placed beneath pier mirrors, thus pier mirrors are sometimes referred to as console mirrors.

Mirrors of any kind can be used to visually enlarge and illuminate any room in your home, and just as vanity tables and wall hangings are enjoying a revival of interest, mirrors of all styles are being reinvigorated for the digital era. Pier mirrors are beautiful statement pieces that complement a range of furniture styles and many different aesthetics. Gilded frames are popular choices for pier mirrors, but more modern, streamlined styles are also available.

Find a variety of antique and vintage pier mirrors and console mirrors on 1stDibs.