Tiffany Monkey Silver

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.

For centuries, candles have been used in religious ceremonies such as Hanukkah, provided light to work or read by and more. During meals, the soft glimmer of candles adds warmth to a dinner table that no lighting solution could possibly imitate. With the right antique or vintage candleholder, candles can elevate a table setting or just help support your efforts to create a romantic atmosphere in any room.

When you combine the distinctive glow of a candle with a candleholder that matches the color scheme and decor you’ve painstakingly put together, the result can feel like magic. Finding the candleholder that best meets your needs can be daunting because you’re essentially bringing a piece into your home that is as important as the candle itself. Unsurprisingly, venturesome designers over the years have crafted innumerable alternatives to the traditional form of candleholders, and today a broad array of these decorative objects can be found on 1stDibs, whether they’re 19th-century candleholders made of silver or sleek mid-century modern glass candleholders for an understated accent to your dining area.

Try a tabletop orb candleholder from Lynne Meade Ceramics for a distinctive interpretation of this long-loved furnishing. An alluring pair of Georg Jensen stainless-steel candleholders, featuring pronounced organic curves, or Art Nouveau–informed natural-world motifs, on the other hand, can bring a dose of sculptural elegance to your living room.

If you’re more inclined to opt for antique or vintage pieces, find a collection that includes everything from simple wood taper candleholders to elaborate candelabras of gilt bronze or cut glass on 1stDibs now.