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Art Nouveau Period Collection

Art Nouveau Antiques (FRANCE, UNITED KINGDOM, CA. 1880–1914)
Art Nouveau Antiques (FRANCE, UNITED KINGDOM, CA. 1880–1914)

Art Nouveau was a modernizing movement in the decorative arts that developed in France and Britain in the early 1880s and quickly became a dominant aesthetic style in Western Europe and the United States. In its sinuous lines and flamboyant curves inspired by the natural world, Art Nouveau furniture, jewelry and graphic design reflected a desire for freedom from the stuffy social and artistic strictures of the Victorian era.  

Art Nouveau can be easily identified by its lush, flowing forms suggested by flowers and plants, as well as the lissome tendrils of sea life. The 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. The style quickly reached a wide audience in Europe via advertising posters, book covers, illustrations and other work by such artists as Aubrey Beardsley, Henri 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, bedframes 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 studio of Louis Comfort Tiffany 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.

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Item Ships From: New York
Georges de Feure, "Grenade", Art Nouveau Settee, France, c. 1900
By Georges De Feure
Located in New York, NY
This settee is typical of De Feure’s style at the turn of the 20th century. The high back with swooping lines, paired with straight legs curving toward their meeting with the seat, i...
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Wood

Pair of Art Nouveau Silvered Pewter Figural Candelabras
By Achille Gamba
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Art Nouveau silvered pewter candelabras with female figures surrounded by 8 arms (Attributed to WMF) (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Silver, Pewter

Louis Majorelle French Art Nouveau Wooden Table
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau mahogany center table by Louis Majorelle, the rounded top above a slightly bowed frieze, over downswept tapering channeled legs joined by a conforming undertier,...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Bronze

Art Nouveau Copper Veneered Vase
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau copper veneered square shaped vase with tapered neck and incised floral design with opaline inserts as flowers.
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Copper

Pair of French Art Nouveau Bronze Dore Wall Sconces
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French Art Nouveau bronze dore wall sconces with thee arms and whiplash design.
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

Emile Galle French Art Nouveau Walnut Floral Serving Table
By Emile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
French Art Nouveau walnut and floral inlaid serving table on scroll legs with a tray form top having open handles and filigree gallery corners with a drawer (signed EMILE GALLE)
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Walnut

Art Nouveau Floral Embossed Metal Wall Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Art Nouveau (possibly Austrian) wall mirror with floral design embossed metal veneer and a shaped, beveled glass.
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Metal

French Art Nouveau Bronze Heron Floor Lamp
Located in New York, NY
French Art Nouveau bronze floor lamp with heron eating berries from tree on a shaped base.
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Art Nouveau Iron Andirons
Located in New York, NY
Pair of American Art Nouveau iron andirons with foliate finials over a fluted design. (PRICED AS Pair)
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Iron

French Art Nouveau Bergére Arm Chair
Located in New York, NY
French Art Nouveau walnut high back bergere arm chair with brown velvet upholstery
Category

19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Walnut, Upholstery

French Art Nouveau Walnut Dining Table
By Eugène Gaillard
Located in New York, NY
French Art Nouveau walnut 2 section dining table with stretcher. (GAILLARD - page 386, Collectors Encyclopedia of Antiques) (Related Item: ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Walnut

French Art Nouveau Desk
By Ecole de Nancy
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau mahogany desk by l'Ecole de Nancy, featuring a hand-tooled leather top, letter rack and bronze drawer pulls with a floral motif...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Bronze

French Art Nouveau Walnut Arm Chair
Located in New York, NY
French Art Nouveau walnut arm chair with carved floral filigree cane panel back and seat
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Walnut, Upholstery

Gothic Armoire
Located in New York, NY
FAPG 19959D/2 Gothic Revival armoire New York, about 1835-1840 Mahogany, with brass hardware Measure: 104 in. high, 73 in. wide, 30 in. deep Exhibited: Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, 2011–12, The World of Duncan Phyfe: The Arts of New York, 1800–1847, p. 89 no. 45 illus. 89 Ex coll.: Private collection (probably R. H. Selstadt, Big Stone Gap, Virginia) Although no specific pieces of Gothic furniture documented as by Duncan Phyfe have come to light, there is considerable evidence that he, like various of his contemporaries in New York, embraced the Gothic style. For example, the catalogue of the Halliday & Jenkins auction sale of the contents of Phyfe’s furniture ware rooms, which was held on site at 192 and 194 Fulton Street, New York, on April 16 and 17, 1847, included a “mahogany centre table Gothic gilt pillar and Egyptian marble top” (Halliday & Jenkins, p. 3 no. 63); “12 mahogany Gothic chairs...
Category

19th Century American Gothic Revival Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Brass

Art Nouveau Walnut Hatrack & Umbrella Stand
Located in New York, NY
French Art Nouveau walnut and maple hatrack with a large center mirror having whiplash carving and 5 gilt bronze firefly coat hooks and lower umbrella stand with 2 brass rails.
Category

Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Feuillatre Art Nouveau Silver and Enamel Vase
By Eugène Feuillatre
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau silver and enamel vase by Eugène Feuillatre. The vase is decorated with leafed branches holding pink and gold cloisonné flowers ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Tazza by Michael Powolny, VWGK, Austria, circa 1907
By Michael Powolny
Located in New York, NY
Ceramic tazza, composed of three kneeling putti around a blue bottomed basin. Marked on the underside with impressed monogram VWGK factory mark model 153. OUR REFERENCE N8303
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Ceramic

Émile Gallé "Grenouilles" Fruitwood Cabinet
By Emile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
This French Art Nouveau "Grenouilles" carved fruitwood cabinet by Émile Gallé features detailed and masterful marquetry depicting dragonflies and mushrooms in a lush, leafy landscape...
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Beech, Fruitwood

Max Blondat French Art Nouveau Gilt Bronze Vide-Poche
By Max Blondat
Located in New York, NY
A French Art Nouveau gilt bronze vide poche by Max Blondat. Titled "An Embrace". The vide poche features the heads and torsos of a man and a woman, sweeping up from the sides of the dish. Each of the lovers has an arm around the other. Circa 1900. Pictured in: Dynamic Beauty: Sculpture of Art Nouveau Paris, by Macklowe Gallery, The Studley Press, 2011, p. 57. Signed, "MAX-BLONDAT" Founder mark "Siot...
Category

Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Bronze

Tiffany Studios New York Glass "Paperweight" Vase
By Tiffany Studios
Located in New York, NY
A Tiffany Studios New York Art Nouveau ‘paperweight’ glass vase. White blossoms with pink millefiori florets sprinkled throughout a green pulled-leaf motif, all featured on a clear b...
Category

Early 1900s American Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Art Glass

French Art Nouveau Filigree Pedestal
Located in New York, NY
French Art Nouveau stripped floral filigree pedestal with square top.
Category

Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Wood

Louis Majorelle "Caltha des Marais" Two-Tier Table
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
This two-tiered "Caltha des Marais," or "Marsh Marigold," table with golden ormolu mounts and beautifully bowed legs was created at the height of Louis Majorelle's most fertile perio...
Category

Early 1900s French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Bronze

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Loetz Candia Papillon Art Nouveau Vase
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French Art Nouveau Game Table by Emile Galle
By Emile Gallé
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French Art Nouveau game table by Emile Galle.
Category

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Daum Nancy Art Nouveau Vase
By Daum
Located in Dallas, TX
Daum Nancy Art Nouveau Applied Handle footed Vase. A very rare donut shaped vase with beautiful applied handles. From reds to pinks to creams to green. Height: 5 Inches Width: 3.75 ...
Category

1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Art Nouveau Period Collection

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Daum Nancy Art Nouveau Vase
Daum Nancy Art Nouveau Vase
H 5 in W 3.75 in D 1.75 in
Emile Gallé Art Nouveau Tray Stand / Serving Table with Inlaid Flowers 1895-1903
By Emile Gallé
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and practical Art Nouveau table by one of the French master designers. This elegant and remarkable condition table in the Art Nouveau style is entirely made of beautiful woods and the inlaid floral patterns most connoisseurs will immediately recognize as typically Gallé. What is less typical is the 'burned' maker's mark, but this maker's mark most certainly is by the grandmaster himself and we also found this very same 'tray-table' in one of the books we have on Emile Gallé. Besides a few tiny missing pieces of inlay this tray-design table top is in superb condition and the hand carved and also flower inspired base is simply mint. Thanks to the elegant design and the wonderful patinas this rare, one-piece Gallé table...
Category

Late 19th Century French Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Walnut, Satinwood, Nutwood, Beech

Nippon Art Nouveau Style Butterfly Vase
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a gorgeous Nippon Art Nouveau style butterfly vase. Fully marked on base for having been made and hand decorated in Japanese Macau. This h...
Category

Mid-20th Century Macanese Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Porcelain

Nippon Art Nouveau Style Butterfly Vase
Nippon Art Nouveau Style Butterfly Vase
H 14.25 in W 7 in D 5.25 in
Loetz Cobalt Papillon Art Nouveau Vase
By Loetz Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
This Loetz vase in the Cobalt Papillon pattern has blue iridescent Papillon design covering the exterior of the vase. Vase is signed on the polished ...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

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Art Nouveau Round Banquet Dining Table after Majorelle
By Louis Majorelle
Located in New York, NY
Impressive round dining table with stylized carved legs having flowers and naturalistic foliate decorative motif. The carving, and quality is reminiscent of the French master Louis M...
Category

Early 20th Century American Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Walnut

English Queen Anne Walnut Serving Table
Located in Wilson, NC
English Queen Anne Walnut Serving Table has a serpentine front and chamfered corners. The top has elaborately figured walnut book matched veneer. The drawer fronts have flame grain w...
Category

1930s English Vintage Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Brass

English Queen Anne Walnut Serving Table
English Queen Anne Walnut Serving Table
H 35.5 in W 39.5 in D 19.5 in
Art Nouveau Copper Sea Horse Planter by WMF
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in Chicago, US
Oxidized copper planter by WMF.
Category

1910s German Art Nouveau Vintage Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Copper

Art Nouveau Copper Sea Horse Planter by WMF
Art Nouveau Copper Sea Horse Planter by WMF
H 12.25 in W 15.75 in D 11.75 in
Louis Majorelle, Mahogany and Marquetry Little Table, Art Nouveau Style
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Beaune, FR
Lovely little table in solid mahogany and Art Nouveau style marquetry top signed "Louis MAJORELLE Nancy". Tray decorated with sunflowers. This small ta...
Category

20th Century French Art Nouveau Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Mahogany

Emile Gallè Art Nouveau Marquetry Side table
By Emile Gallé
Located in Porto, PT
Macassar ebony and sycamore Emile Gallè Art Nouveau floral marquetry oval side table.
Category

1910s French Art Nouveau Vintage Art Nouveau Period Collection

Materials

Sycamore, Macassar

Emile Gallè Art Nouveau Marquetry Side table
Emile Gallè Art Nouveau Marquetry Side table
H 18.12 in W 27.17 in D 15.75 in

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