Long before Liberty became one of London’s most iconic luxury department stores, shoppers of the late 19th century knew it as Liberty & Co. — purveyors of fine silverware designed in the Art Nouveau style, Arts and Crafts-style furniture and an eclectic assortment of ornaments, fabrics, fashion and other goods from around the world.
British merchant Arthur Lasenby Liberty founded Liberty & Co. in 1875. Liberty dreamed of selling an assortment of fine wares he obtained in the Far East from a ship docked in the middle of one of London’s busiest shopping thoroughfares. However, he could only manage to borrow £2,000 from his father-in-law, so he settled for a small shop on Regent Street.
What began as a modest business grew exponentially over the next few years, and, by 1890, Liberty & Co. occupied most of Regent Street. Meanwhile, Liberty forged relationships with many British Art Nouveau artists and designers who were keen to work with one of the most prestigious retailers in London.
In 1899, Liberty & Co. hosted an exhibition showcasing a collection of silver pieces designed by notable silversmiths like Oliver Barker, Albert Edward Jones and Bernard Cuzner. A line of silverware called Cymric also debuted and was produced in partnership with silversmith W. H. Haseler of Birmingham and Liberty & Co.’s chief designer, Manx artist Archibald Knox. The innovative Cymric collection featured a blend of Art Nouveau with traditional Celtic style, including such pieces as candlesticks, spoons, bowls, tableware and jewelry.
Liberty & Co. also had a furniture workshop in Archway, London, run by Lawrence Turner and which employed carpenters to produce handcrafted, Arts and Crafts-style armchairs, stools, bookcases, cabinets, side tables and other furniture. Most of these high-quality and durable pieces were made of solid wood such as oak, mahogany and walnut. In addition to their own in-house creations, Liberty & Co. also sold furniture by other designers, including chairs by German architect Richard Riemerschmid.
Liberty died in 1917, and Liberty & Co. became Liberty of London after relocating to their iconic location on Great Marlborough Street in 1924. Ironically, the imposing Tudor Revival building is constructed from the timbers of two decommissioned British Navy ships — realizing Liberty’s original “ship-store” dream.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of antique and vintage Liberty & Co. serveware, seating and decorative objects.
1890-1900 Liberty & Co "Thebes" Wood Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Brescia, IT
CIRCA 1890 Curved seat frame on four turned legs united by stretchers, with interlaced seat Excellent condition.
Wood
Liberty & Co, an Arts & Crafts Moorish Oak Stool with Embossed Leather Seat
By Liberty & Co.
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co., an Arts & Crafts oak stool with original embossed leather seat depicting flowers in bloom with stylized carved devices to all four sides and Moorish arched details.
Leather, Oak
Liberty & Co A Large Size Walnut Thebes Stool with ring turned legs & stretchers
By Liberty & Co.
Located in London, GB
Liberty and Co. A rare large Walnut Thebes stool with studded leather seat with turned stretchers uniting the turned legs.
Walnut
English Liberty & Co. Walnut Thebes Stool with Tripod Base, Turn of the Century
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Atlanta, GA
An English Liberty & Co. walnut Thebes stool from the Turn of the Century with tripod base. In-curving wooden seat resting on three delicately curving legs. This English Liberty & Co...
Walnut
Liberty & Co Thebes Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Petworth, GB
Liberty & Co Thebes Stool. Iconic stool in walnut produced by Liberty & Co from 1884. Single piece of English Walnut dished out to form the seat, set on 3 beech through ten...
Walnut
$2,750
Oak Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The "Thebes Stool" by Liberty and Co. is a remarkable example of the Aesthetic Movement from 1890s England, embodying the principle of "Art for Art's Sake." Crafted from English oak,...
Leather, Wood
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool
By Bertu Furniture
Located in Oak Harbor, OH
Bertu Counter Stools, White Oak Counter Stool, Chile Stool This White Oak Chile Counter Stool is beautifully constructed from solid wood...
Wood, Oak
Rustic Oak Milking Stool
Located in London, London
Oak milking stool This charming rustic stool is crafted from solid oak wood, showcasing a simple yet robust design. T stool features a round, flat seat with visible wood grain patte...
Oak
Small Oak Stool “Toad-Stool”
Located in Doylestown, PA
Small custom-made “toad-stool” in antique reclaimed oak, handmade. Wax finish. Can also be used as a small table.
Oak
Beachcomber Milking Stool in Oiled Walnut
By Greg Mitchell
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The beachcomber milking stool is our take on a Classic, simple form. The hand shaped seat is sculpted for comfort, and the legs are shaved wi...
Oak, Walnut
French Egyptian Revival Bamboo Faux Painted Thebes Stool 1930s
Located in Forest Grove, PA
A 1930s French saddle top bamboo Thebes stool. The temple seat is curved on all four sides, the legs are gently flared with a flat foot and the piece is wonderfully faux painted.
Bamboo
American Aesthetic Oak Thebes Stool
Located in Essex, MA
Typical form. Egyptian revival.
Oak
$1,452Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 13.78 in W 19.69 in D 7.88 in
2-Leg Mini Stool, Hand-Carved Contemporary Design, Sculptural Form by Tellurico
By Tellurico
Located in Eindhoven, NL
This series of stools is designed and handcrafted by Tellurico Design Studio in the Netherlands, using only high-quality solid woods. Rooted in the ancient art of wood carving, each ...
Wood
Rush Seat Oak Stool
Located in Greenwich, CT
A rectangular low stool of traditional form featuring a lift-out natural fibre rush seat hand-woven in a tucked pattern on an oak hardwood frame of squared ...
Rush, Oak
$6,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 15 in W 31.25 in D 14.5 in
Rare Liberty & Co. Circa 1900s Long-Form Thebes Stool.
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Extremely rare long form Thebes bench marketed by Liberty and Company, England Circa 1910. Constructed of beech wood and finely woven cane. There are many...
Cane, Beech
$680
H 14.18 in Dm 16.93 in
Mid-Century Modern Hexagon Oak Stool with Lambswool Seat & Bobbin Legs, 1950s
By Henning Kjærnulf, Viggo Boesen, Flemming Lassen
Located in Odense, DK
This elegant stool is a refined example of Danish Modern design, crafted by a skilled Danish cabinetmaker in the 1950s. The piece is distinguished by its hexagonal seat and softly sh...
Lambskin, Sheepskin, Wool, Oak
Thebes Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Sharon, CT
A highly developed and detailed period version of the Classic Thebes Stool. Turned and joined in a blond fruitwood. The surface is a very attractive original high and untouched sheen.
Wood
Jacobean Oak Joint Stool
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular original seat over a conforming frieze with chip carved detail, raised on turned legs joined by a box stretcher.
Oak
Liberty & Co. Attr. "Thebes" Oak Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Astoria, NY
Liberty & Co. Attributed "Thebes" Oak Stool, with bentwood seat on four turned wood supports conjoined by a box stretcher. 13.75" H x 17" W x 17" D. Provenance: From an Upper East Si...
Oak, Bentwood
Libertys Thebes Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Glasgow, GB
This is a very early 20th century 'Thebes Stool' by Libertys of London. In exceptional condition with no cracks or repairs . Probably Bentwood or Pine . The stool seat hss been reco...
Bentwood
Late 19th Century Liberty & Co 'Thebes' Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in London, GB
A perfectly patinated and iconic late 19th century ‘Thebes’ stool in carved solid oak, designed by Leonard Wyburd and retailed by Liberty & Co. London. Based on an ancient Egyptian s...
Oak
Liberty & Co Thebes Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Petworth, GB
Liberty & Co Thebes Stool. Iconic stool in walnut produced by Liberty & Co from 1884. Single piece of English Walnut dished out to form the seat, set on 3 beech through ten...
Walnut
Cowhide Upholstered Egyptian Thebes Stools For Liberty & Co.
By Leonard Wyburd, Liberty & Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of early 20th century, lacquered oak, Egyptian Revival Thebes stools designed by Leonard Wyburd for Liberty & Co. were inspired by the stools of ancient Egyptian royalty. The de...
Cowhide
Sold
H 14.18 in W 18.12 in D 13.19 in
Arts & Crafts Liberty & Co ‘Canford’ Oak & Leather Mission Footstool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Norwich, GB
Arts & Crafts oak & leather Mission style footstool by Liberty & Co. The base applied with retailer's plaque 'Liberty Birmingham London & Paris'. Circa 1900. Literature: Daryl Benne...
Leather, Oak
Liberty & Co Oak Thebes Stool Circa 1915.
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Norwich, GB
A Liberty & Co oak Thebes stool. Circa 1915. The stool has a dished seat raised on three splayed supports and retains the original finish, which has been lightly waxed. It is a good...
Oak
Arts & Crafts Thebes Stool by Liberty & Co
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Petworth, GB
Thebes mahogany and beech stool In the Egyptian style Designed by Leonard Wyburd Made by William Birch Original Liberty label Retailed by Liberty & Co Circa 1895 Height 36cm Width 43cm Depth 45cm Seat - Width 36 Depth 38cm This Thebes stool is based on an Egyptian stool discovered in a tomb in Thebes Egypt in the 19th Century. “These stools were among the first products to come from Leonard Wyburd’s new studios for Liberty & Co, and this designed one was sold extensively throughout Europe and was stocked by Samuel Bing in his Paris shop, La Maison d...
Beech, Mahogany
Sold
H 15 in W 15 in D 15 in
Antique Egyptian Revival Thebes Stools with Woven Cord Seats by Liberty & Co
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Centennial, CO
This charming pair of Egyptian Revival Thebes stools are attributed to Liberty & Co. of London. This style of stool was manufactured in England from 1884-1919 as part of the popular ...
Cord, Hardwood
Sold
H 17.72 in W 15.56 in D 13 in
Early 20th Century Ebonized Thebes Liberty & Co Stool Egyptian Revival
By Liberty & Co.
Located in Lowestoft, GB
An early 20th century Thebes stool designed by Leonard Wyburd, the director of Liberty's furnishing from 1884 Influenced by Egyptian furniture, with...
Mahogany
Liberty and Co An Arts and Crafts Thebes Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in London, GB
Liberty and Co An Arts and Crafts Thebes Stool
Rare Early Arts and Crafts Oak Liberty and Co Thebes Stool
By Liberty & Co.
Located in London, GB
A rare early arts and crafts oak Liberty and Co Thebes stool.
Jacob & Co. is considered expensive for a few reasons. For one thing, the watch collectors of the world know the watchmaker for its multicolored-gemstone designs as well as its oversized and innovative complications. There are substantial costs related to the design, assembly and premium materials associated with Jacob & Co.’s luxury watches, which are painstakingly crafted in Switzerland and sold all over the world. The price tag reflects the brand’s use of meticulously sourced round brilliant cut diamonds and metals such as 18-karat gold. Additionally, only a limited number of timepieces leave the watchmaker's workshops each year, so demand usually far exceeds supply. Find Jacob & Co. watches for sale on 1stDibs.