Gustav Stickley was one of the principal figures in the American Arts and Crafts movement and the creator of the Craftsman style. As a furniture designer and publisher of the magazine The Craftsman, he adopted many of the ideals of the British design reform movement and popularized both its philosophy and its aesthetics in the United States.
Born in Wisconsin, Stickley moved with his family to Pennsylvania when he was a teenager and began working in his uncle’s chair factory in the town of Brandt. There, he learned the techniques of late-19th-century furniture making at a time when the vogue was for Victorian revival furniture, which was characterized by extensive ornamentation.
In 1883, Stickley established a furniture company called Stickley Brothers with two of his brothers, Albert and Charles (Gustav’s other siblings, Leopold and John George, would later form L & J.G. Stickley Inc.). When Stickley Brothers foundered, he partnered five years later with salesman Elgin Simonds to form a new firm, Stickley & Simonds, which produced traditional furniture that appealed to the burgeoning American middle class. The success of this venture enabled Stickley to travel to Europe, where he discovered the writings of John Ruskin and William Morris, the two preeminent thinkers of the British Arts and Crafts movement. Stickley also traveled to France, where the Art Nouveau movement impressed him with its imaginative designs and skilled craftsmanship.
Stickley parted ways with Simonds at the turn of the 20th century and decided to focus his creative energies on producing furniture in what became known as the Craftsman style, incorporating some of the elements of the designs and movements he had encountered in Europe.
The pieces Stickley created, which he stamped with the logo of a joiner’s compass, were rectilinear, largely free of ornament, made of oak, and built in such a way that the nature of their construction was plainly visible — all reflections of the tenets of the Arts and Crafts movement. While some people referred to Stickley’s furniture as Mission furniture — a term that references the furnishings of the Spanish missions in California — Gustav commonly called his work “Craftsman” owing to the inspiration he found in the British Arts and Crafts movement.
Stickley benches and rocking chairs were popular, and his leather-upholstered armchairs combine practicality, comfort and an understated silhouette. He also made side tables — an unusual example designed during the early 20th century was adorned with an octagonal Grueby Pottery tile in a cool shade of green, which made it an ideal piece for an art pottery collector.
In 1901, Stickley launched The Craftsman magazine, which contained articles on all manner of domestic topics, from gardening and cooking to art and design, as well as poetry and fiction. In addition to popularizing Stickely’s own designs, the magazine acquainted Americans with the Arts and Crafts style in all its forms through its graphic design and the bungalows, art pottery, and hammered-copper lamps pictured in its pages. It also encouraged readers to practice craft themselves, promoting an early form of the do-it-yourself ethos.
In 1904, Stickley founded the Craftsman Home Builders' Club, which allowed subscribers to his magazine to order architectural plans for the Arts and Crafts–style structures that were featured in its pages; eventually, this became one of its most popular features.
An ill-timed attempt to set up a New York showroom led to Stickley’s filing for bankruptcy in 1915. The outbreak of World War I, waning interest in the Arts and Crafts style, and increased competition all conspired to thwart Stickley's efforts. The Craftsman ceased publication a year later. When he died, in 1942, Arts and Crafts had been replaced by modernism as the favored aesthetic. It enjoyed a resurgence, however, in the 1970s, and Stickley is now regarded as one of the most important American designers in the first half of the 20th century.
Find antique Gustav Stickley tables, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Harvey Ellis for Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Arts & Crafts Buffet Server
By Harvey Ellis, Gustav Stickley
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare and exceptional antique Mission or Arts & Crafts period sideboard buffet or server Designed by Harvey Ellis for Gustav Stickley (signed with red decal) USA, Circa 1900 Gorg...
Copper
$1,750Sale Price|37% Off
H 35 in W 40 in D 20 in
Antique Adams Style Neoclassical Satinwood Buffet Server Sideboard Console
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique satinwood buffet / cabinet / sideboard / console / Credenza / Huntboard featuring Adams Style Neoclassical design with inlaid sunburst / starburst veneer surrounded by hand p...
Satinwood
$45,000Sale Price|50% Off
H 60 in W 48 in D 15 in
IMPORTANT Antique Desk/Bookcase by Gustav Stickley -W7794 MUST SELL
By Gustav Stickley, Harvey Ellis
Located in Shamokin Dam, PA
This is an extremely important Antique Desk/Bookcase by Gustav Stickley and Harvey Ellis. This is one of the most important pieces made by Gustav Stickley. It was designed in 1902...
Glass, Oak
Arts & Crafts Mission Stickley Brothers Two Door Oak Bookcase C1910
By Stickley Brothers
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous two door Arts & Crafts bookcase by the Stickley Brothers C1910. Quater sawn oak throughout the cabinet in a deep rich brown. Divided glass panels and a iron ring pull. Sign...
Glass, Oak
Stickley Harvey Ellis Inlaid Bookshelf Mission Oak Arts Crafts
By Harvey Ellis, Gustav Stickley
Located in Atlanta, GA
Clean Lined Mission Oak Bookcase, designed by Harvey Ellis for Stickley, originally designed in the 1910s, this is example was made by Stickley in the 1990s. Retains the Stickley lab...
Oak, Wood
Sold|$760
H 31.5 in W 21.5 in D 28.25 in
Arts & Crafts Stickley Mission Oak File Cabinet With Hammered Copper Hardware
Located in Big Flats, NY
Vintage Stickley Arts & Crafts Mission Oak 2-Drawer File Cabinet With Hammered Copper Hardware Signed 20thC Measures - 31 1/2" x 21 3/8" x 28 1/8" A Stickley Arts & Crafts Mission ...
Oak
$4,700
H 85 in W 56 in D 24 in
Antique French Buffet Server Sideboard Buffet Barley Twist Honey Oak 3-Tier 19C
Located in Tyler, TX
SUPERB 19th Century Antique French Honey Oak 3-Tier Server Sideboard Buffet Cabinet Bookcase~~ c. 1870s This is only one of multiple exquisite pieces recently received from our European shipper~~wonderful hand-carved oak pieces in the highly sought after Black Forest, Gothic, Renaissance Revival and Barley Twist styles~~19th century and in unbelievably spectacular condition! If you're looking for that special and unique "statement piece" for your home or office, please view these items in our inventory! HIGHLY CARVED lion's mask crown~~exquisite corbel supports with carved backsplash, and carved edge shelves Three tiers~~perfect for displaying your favorite Majolica, Imari, Staffordshire or other antique collectibles Two hand cut, dovetailed drawers with carved vine pulls over lower double door cabinet~~original key included~~ cartouche carved center and door medallions...
Oak
$1,960Sale Price|20% Off
H 61.75 in W 46.25 in D 14.75 in
Antique Arts & Crafts Mission Oak 2-Door Bookcase After Stickley c1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Stickley School Arts & Crafts Mission Oak 2-Door Bookcase c1920 Measures - 61 3/4" x 46 1/8" x 14 3/4" An antique bookcase from the Arts and Crafts era, circa 1920, and int...
Oak
$7,995
H 50.75 in W 48.5 in D 13 in
Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Gustav Stickley Craftsman Two Door Bookcase
By Gustav Stickley
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Spectacular simple be yet so elegant. A beautiful piece from the Arts and Crafts and the premier Craftsman Gustav Stickley. Still in its original fumed oak finish and with it all the...
Iron
$8,900
H 54.75 in W 51 in D 18 in
Antique French Art Nouveau Louis Majorelle Mahogany Buffet / Server Cabinet
By Louis Majorelle
Located in Tarry Town, NY
This early 20th to late 19th century French Art Nouveau buffet is a masterwork by Louis Majorelle, one of the most celebrated designers of the period. Crafted in rich, finely grained mahogany, the buffet features Majorelle’s signature ‘Algues’ or seaweed pattern carved in fluid, organic lines across the front and sides, exemplifying the sinuous forms and natural inspiration central to Art Nouveau design. The intricate carving reflects a remarkable attention to detail and a sophisticated understanding of form, turning the piece into both a functional object and a work of art. The buffet is surmounted by a polished marble top, providing a luxurious surface while complementing the warm tones of the mahogany. Beneath, two finely proportioned drawers offer convenient storage, and a single cupboard door opens to reveal fitted sliding shelves, making the piece highly practical in addition to its decorative appeal. The balance of elegance, utility, and sculptural presence is characteristic of Majorelle’s furniture, which is celebrated for merging artistic expression with exceptional craftsmanship. Measuring 54 3/4 inches in height, 51 inches in width, and 18 inches in depth, this buffet commands attention without overwhelming a room, making it suitable for both dining and living spaces. In good condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, it represents a distinguished example of early 20th to late 19th century French Art Nouveau furniture...
Brass
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 56.5 in W 36 in D 14 in
Antique Gustav Stickley attr. Arts & Crafts Oak Two-Door Bookcase C1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Gustav Stickley attr. Arts & Crafts Oak Two-Door Bookcase Unsigned C1910 Measures - 56 1/2" x 36" x 14" A beautifully crafted antique oak cabinet attributed to Gustav Stickle...
Oak
$1,856
H 72.45 in W 40.16 in D 17.72 in
Compact Antique Arts & Crafts Solid Oak Welsh Dresser with Plate Rack
Located in Leicester, GB
This is a beautiful compact solid oak Welsh dresser from the early 20th century. The welsh dresser has a small cupboard below and a slim and elegant plate rack above, with the most e...
Oak
Antique Gustav Stickley Arts & Crafts Oak China Cabinet, Ca. 1910
By Gustav Stickley
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique Gustav Stickley China Cabinet circa 1910, made in Eastwood, NY and signed on the label. The cabinet features quarter sawn white oak ...
Glass, Oak