Kendrick Jefferson

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.

There are few pieces of furniture as functional and enjoyable as an antique or vintage swivel chair.

Ideal for home offices and cozy living rooms alike, these lovable chairs came to life thanks to none other than Thomas Jefferson. Indeed, the third president of the United States would’ve made a great interior designer, and the swivel chair that he designed, a Windsor chair that moved on window-sash parts reconfigured as rollers, supported him while he prepared the Declaration of Independence.

When choosing the right swivel chair for your space, consider functionality: If you’re going for comfort and seeking out the best swivel chairs for your living room, opt for a plush, enveloping Milo Baughman swivel chair or the equally welcoming seats designed by Vladimir Kagan or Edward Wormley. Alternatively, if your work-from-home space is limited and thoughts of the long day ahead are driving your purchase, a minimalist Industrial-style swivel chair or a brushed aluminum model from the likes of Emeco — home of the iconic Navy chair — may be your best bet.

From sculptural mid-century modern swivel chairs that will lend a bit of “pop” to your living space to practical contemporary seating, find a collection of antique, new and vintage swivel chairs on 1stDibs today.