Art Nouveau Seating
ART NOUVEAU STYLE
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, bed frames 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 glass workshop-cum-laboratory of Louis Comfort Tiffany — the core of what eventually became a multimedia decorative-arts manufactory called Tiffany Studios — 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.
There are ways to tastefully integrate a touch of Art Nouveau into even the most modern interior — browse an extraordinary collection of original antique Art Nouveau furniture on 1stDibs, which includes decorative objects, seating, tables, garden elements and more.
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Style: Art Nouveau
19th Century French Bamboo Bench with Arms
Located in High Point, NC
Late 19th century tortoise bamboo bench with arms from France. The arms are made from thick bamboo and are decorated in a Chinese Chippendale pattern, along with the aprons on the fr...
Category
19th Century French Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bamboo
Art Nouveau Chairs in Carlo Bugatti Style, Italy, First Half of the 20th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Pair of dining room chairs in the style of Carlo Bugatti (1856-1940). Each chair has a curved backrest and stands on an absolutely unusual base. The chairs were reupholstered with a ...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wood
Rare French Art Nouveau / Jugendstil Hall Bench Attributed to Louis Majorelle
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Breathtaking & Mesmerizing! This French Art Nouveau hall bench with Herons Attributed to Louis Majorelle 1900s.
The design & craftsmanship just take your breath away. The solid car...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Walnut
Set of Eight French Dining Chairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These eight Art Nouveau french dining chairs are crafted out of mahogany wood and professionally restored by our team of expert craftsmen. The chairs have very sturdy frames. Their o...
Category
1910s French Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Velvet, Foam, Wood, Mahogany, Lacquer, Upholstery
Art Nouveau Bentwood Braid Desk Chair by Thonet, Austria 1900
By Thonet
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Art Nouveau Bentwood Braid Desk Chair by Thonet, Austria 1900.
documented 'Schreibfauteuil Nr.1' 1900-1914
solid and stable. braid without damages.
signed.
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bentwood, Braid
Jugendstil Black Grey Beech Vintage Bench Josef Hoffmann, circa 1905
Located in Vienna, AT
Jugendstil black beech grey suede leather bench designed by Josef Hoffmann circa 1905, Vienna.
A gorgeous bench by Josef Hoffmann with a black stained solid beechwood frame and the ...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Suede, Beech
Upholstered Piano Stool, Original Thonet No. 1, Late 19th Century
By Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Swivel stool No.1 from the traditional company Gebrüder Thonet, Vienna from the late 19th century. The piano stool is made of lacquered wood (shellac) and has a frame with a bentwood...
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wood, Braid
Adolf Loos Attr. & Thonet Original of the Time Jugendstil Seating Ensemble, 1920
Located in Vienna, AT
Four-legged structure made of solid beechwood, brown-stained; stool with applied textile added at a later date; professionally restored; signs of age and use; on the underside compan...
Category
1920s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Beech
Moonage Daydream Modular Sofa Ivory Bouclé Fabric
By Gio Pagani
Located in Ponte Enza di Gattatico, IT
Moonage daydream sofa is part of the ESPRIT NOIR Capsule collection.
Moonage daydream is a modular sofa. The configurations can be made by choosing from four elements: central modul...
Category
2010s Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Metal
Set 12 Art Nouveau Dining Chairs
Located in Hudson, NY
This is an extraordinary set of 12 Art Nouveaux dining chairs from Sweden, in solid oak, covered in hand-painted leather each one featuring a different animal in a natural setting on...
Category
1890s Swedish Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Oak, Leather
1900s Koloman Moser Pair of Armchairs for J & J Kohn No. 327
Located in Praha, CZ
-good original condition
-carefully restored and finished with shellac
-seat strings in good condition..reforced in some places
-height of seat 48 cm.
Category
19th Century Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wood
Art Nouveau Period, Three Chairs in Oak, Belgium, circa 1900
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Art Nouveau period, three chairs in oak, Belgium, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s Belgian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Oak
Two Padouk Art Nouveau Stools by K.P.C. de Bazel, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare pair of Art Nouveau stools.
Design by K.P.C. de Bazel.
Striking Dutch design from the 1900s.
Solid padouk frame and re-upholstered with black velvet.
This wo...
Category
1910s Dutch Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Velvet, Padouk
Petite French Style Settee in Noir Faux Shearling
Located in Wilton, CT
We took an elaborate Victorian piece and modernized it by reupholstering it in a noir faux shearling. The perfect size of this settee makes it usable in any space. The modern take on...
Category
1930s American Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Metal
Original Art Nouveau Josef Hoffmann Cubistic Wood Stool, Vienna 1910
Located in Vienna, AT
Stool or coffee-table attributed of Josef Hoffmann, manufactured either by the Wiener Werkstätte or Prag Rudniker.
It is almost geometric and an early example of the early cubistic ...
Category
1910s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Beech
Wrought Iron French Art Nouveau Children's Armchair, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare Art Nouveau children's armchair.
Striking French design from the 1900s.
Blue lacquered wrought iron.
This wonderful Art Nouveau children's armchair is in good co...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wrought Iron
Moonage Daydream Modular Sofa White Leather
By Gio Pagani
Located in Ponte Enza di Gattatico, IT
Moonage daydream sofa is part of the Esprit Noir Capsule collection.
Moonage daydream is a modular sofa. The configurations can be made by choosing from four elements: central modul...
Category
2010s Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Leather
Bentwood Chairs, Early 1900 Attributed to Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Herentals, BE
Set of 4 armchairs attributed at Thonet, Vienna Austria early 20th century.
Dimensions: H 77, W 43 and D 43 cm.
The seat height is 47 cm.
Width of backrest is 55 cm and diameter o...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bentwood
Viennese Footrest Josef Jaworek Nr. 2, circa 1875
By Josef Jaworek, Michael Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Manufactured in Austria by the Josef Jaworek Company, which was one of the first competitor of the Gebrüder Thonet Company. Marked with early paper label, which is used before the ye...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bentwood, Beech
Art Nouveau Salon Suite, Austria 1910-20
Located in Belmont, MA
This beautiful Art Nouveau Salon Suite dates back to around 1900-10 and comes from Vienna. The set includes a bench and two armchairs. The fruitwood frame is in very good condition a...
Category
1910s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Fruitwood
Dining Chairs No.81 by Thonet Debrecsen
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Dining chairs no.81 by Thonet Debrecsen executed in 1980s. Excellent original condition.
Category
1980s Hungarian Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Fabric, Bentwood
Original Josef Hoffmann Jugendstil Bench/Settee, Early 20th Century
Located in Vienna, AT
Attributed to either Josef Hoffmann or Otto Prutscher as both of the designers did similar objects in bentwood at this time, and both were using balls or olives for joining the legs ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Fabric, Beech, Bentwood
Medea Hand-Carved Art Nouveau Style Armchairs, Pair
By Medea
Located in Miami, FL
Medea Hand-Carved Art Nouveau Style Armchairs, Pair
Offered for sale is a pair of hand-carved high-back armchairs created in the Art Nouveau style from Medea. The chairs are gracefu...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Antoni Gaudi Calvet Chair
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Calvet chair designed by Antonio Gaudi manufactured in Barcelona by BD.
Solid varnished oak.
Measures: 52 x 54 x 94 H cm
Year: 1902
Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926) is, without d...
Category
2010s Spanish Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Oak
Sculptural Set of Six Art Nouveau Dining Chairs
Located in Helsingborg, SE
Fine and sculptural set of six Art Nouveau (Jugend) dining chairs upholstered in brown leather. Ca 1920's Sweden.
Category
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wood
Casa Batlló Bench, After a Model by Antoni Gaudí for BD Barcelona
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Bench for Casa Batllo, designed after a model by Antoni Gaudi.
Manufactured in Barcelona by BD.
Sculpted solid varnished oak.
The model by Gaudii´ was designed early 20th century...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Oak
Art Nouveau Bentwood Salonfauteuil Easy Chair / Armchair Thonet No. 1 circa 1890
Located in Lucenec, SK
Very rare antique Thonet easy chair no 1 produced by Gebruder Thonet from the late 19th century in a very good condition. New upholstery.
Last picture is from Gebruder Thonet cata...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bentwood, Upholstery
Set of Four Vintage Brown Dining Chairs Easy Chairs Style Josef Hoffmann, 1990s
Located in Vienna, AT
Josef Hoffmann style 4 vintage dining chairs or easy chairs beech bentwood in chocolate brown color 1990s in an amazing shape.
While the backrest features 12 holes for an interestin...
Category
Late 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bentwood, Plywood
Beautiful Pair of Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Carved Wood Armchairs
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful pair of early 20th century Art Nouveau carved wood armchairs
High backs with high wavy arms, fine floral and foliate carved motifs on the back, arms and bottom.
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Fabric, Wood
2 Bentwood Thonet Chairs from Around 1900 with Floral Stamping
Located in Hamburg, DE
2 Elegant Thonet chairs from around 1900. Wonderfully crafted bentwood chairs. Both have a relief embossed plywood seat. The design classic of the early 20th century can be easily co...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bentwood
Chair Thonet Nr.4, circa 1860
Located in Praha, CZ
A rare early model of famous chair "Nr.14", manufactured in Austria by the Gebrüder Thonet company. New shelack finish. Marked with early paper label, which is used, circa 1860. Comp...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Italian Liberty White Wrought Iron High Stool, 1920s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian liberty white wrought iron high stool, 1920s
Liberty stool in wrought iron with three legs, with swivel seat.
1920 ca.
Very good condition.
Measures in cm 50 x 50 x 78 H.
Category
1920s Italian Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Iron
Art Nouveau Set of Twelve Chairs in Solid Oak, Vienna, circa 1910.
Located in Vienna, AT
Hello,
These exceptional set of twelve Viennese Art Nouveau solid oak chairs from circa 1910 represent a high level of craftsmanship and elegant design.
Viennese Art Nouveau is a tr...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Leather, Oak
Art Nouveau Theatre Seats Row of Five Chairs, circa 1910
Located in Evergreen, CO
The rosewood and maple marquetry in the back rests and seats of this row of theatre seats from Belgium is exquisite. All five flip-down seats are back waited, which brings the seats ...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Maple, Rosewood, Walnut
Set of Eight Art Nouveau Style Aluminum Garden Dining Armchairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Dramatic set of eight patio and garden dining armchairs featuring aluminum frames with a black painted finish. The backs of the chairs are decorated with fern fronds in a graceful de...
Category
20th Century American Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Aluminum
Art Nouveau Walnut Pair of Chairs
Located in Darmstadt, DE
Beautiful pair of chairs from the Art Nouveau period in solid walnut wood.
The chairs are reupholstered and covered with new fabric. In very good restored condition.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Walnut
Thonet Armchair Catalog Number 28
Located in Vienna, AT
Thonet armchair walnut stained, shellack polished
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Beech, Plywood
Austrian Art Nouveau Mahogany and Wicker Corner Chair by Adolf Loos
By Adolf Loos
Located in Vienna, AT
This model was used by Adolf Loos in the Hugo Haberfeld apartement (1899) and the Grete Hentschel residental studio (1914). It is exhibited in the MAK Museum in Vienna as in other mu...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Mahogany, Wicker
Set of Seven Art Nouveau Iron Chairs with Flower Seats, France, circa 1920s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Rare and elegant set of seven high-backed iron chairs with unusual, curving, flower-shaped seats fitted with newly-made button-tufted cushions, in outdoor fabric. The structure is pa...
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Marcel Kammerer Seating Set Salon Suite, Thonet, Turquoise Green Leather, 1910
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A fantastic bentwood set seating group designed by Marcel Kammerer and manufactured by Thonet, Austria, circa 1910.
The set contains of two armchairs and one bench or seete. They ar...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Beech, Leather, Bentwood
Original Important & Rare Jugendstil Wood Chair from 1901, Josef Hoffmann School
Located in Vienna, AT
Very rare chair from the early 20th century, school Josef Hoffmann, highly influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement, beechwood stained and varnished - Original.
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Beech
Joseph Frank , Pair of Thonet Style Armchairs, circa 1950
By Thonet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Joseph Frank ( model of ) Pair of Thonet style armchairs, circa 1950
Repainted some time ago.
Good general condition, small lack of paint.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bentwood
French 1900s Design Bistro Rattan Wicker and Braided Resin Outdoor Chair
Located in Tourcoing, FR
French Bistro Design rattan and braided resin chair composed of a rattan structure, braided resin rattan effect back and seat with a red outline, famous at the beginning of the 20th ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Rattan, Resin
Austrian All Original Josef Hoffmann Wiener Werkstätte Armchairs, Wood of Walnut
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Era Art Nouveau, early 20th century modernist Wiener Werkstätte armchair by Josef Hoffmann.
Solid walnut wood structure with original patina
Measures cm: H 97/45, W 53, D 50
...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Walnut
Art Nouveau Carved Wood and Guilted Side Table
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Art nouveau side table by unknown manufacturer from Spain, circa early 20th century.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful pat...
Category
Early 20th Century Spanish Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wood, Fabric, Glass
Beautiful antique red Art Nouveau or Jugendstil 20th Century Armchair mahogany
Located in Berlin, DE
Solid mahogany wood carved backrest.
Armchair with long, curved legs.
Red upholster.
Category
20th Century German Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Armchair N ° 7601B, Edition Thonet circa 1880
By Thonet
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Armchair n ° 7601B, Edition Thonet circa 1880
Patina and fabric to redo.
Category
1880s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Bentwood
Original Thonet Piano Stool, Early 20. Century
By Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Swivel stool from the traditional company Gebrüder Thonet, Vienna from the beginning of the 20th century. The piano stool is made of brown lacquered wood and has a frame with a bentw...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wood
Antique Thonet Bentwood and Wicker Caned Children High Chair
By Thonet
Located in Tourcoing, FR
Antique thonet bentwood and wicker caned children high chair.
Category
Early 20th Century European Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
Original Josef Hoffmann/Gebrüder J&J Kohn, Early 20th Century, Jugendstil
Located in Vienna, AT
A very rare and so far undocumented armchair by Josef Hoffmann, original leather upholstery, branding iron J&J Kohn. An identical chair with a different upholstery is available as we...
Category
1910s Austrian Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Leather, Beech
Set of Twelve Luterma Bistro Wood Chairs
By Luterma
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Set of 12 bistro chairs of the Luterma manufactured in Estonia, circa 1900.
In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina.
...
Category
1890s Estonian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wood
Pair of Comfortable French Art Nouveau Industrial Wrought Iron Benches
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of comfortable French Art Nouveau industrial benches. Also sold individually. Heavy and sturdy wrought iron base. Great for dining. Would need to be reupholstered with C. O. M.
Category
Early 20th Century French Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wrought Iron
Armchair Thonet bentwood Nr 1 First Design Splitted Beech Thin Back, 1865
Located in Diest, Vlaams Brabant
Armchair Thonet nr 1 First design
1865
labeled and stamped
rare museum collectors item
see the beech splitted thin back
oak colored
fully intact and original.
Category
1860s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Beech
Set of Four Woodard Scroll Armchairs Mesh Seats, circa 1955
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Nice set of 4 armchairs with a slight curve to the back. Mesh seats with flowers on the legs. One foot repaired. Signed Woodard, metal tag remains on one chair. Seat height is 16.5.
Category
1950s American Vintage Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Iron
Set of Six French Walnut Art Nouveau Dining Chairs
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A set of six French Art Nouveau dining chairs in walnut, the backs with pierced fretwork details and square tapering front legs with flared feet. Recently-upholstered leather seats.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Walnut
Liberty Living Room Mahogany Italy XX Century
Located in Milano, IT
Liberty room consisting of a wall console, table, divider, sideboard with riser, sofa with mirror, four chairs and a pair of armchairs. In mahogany, the furniture is decorated with c...
Category
20th Century Italian Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Mahogany
Incredible Late 19th Century Wrought Iron French Settee
Located in Hastings, GB
A quite exceptional late 19th century pair of French patio/orangery Settee.
This is a beautiful wrought iron large settee, with the most intricate decorative detailing and workman...
Category
1890s French Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Wrought Iron
Pair of Thonet Bent Beech and Vienna Straw Chairs, 1890
By Thonet
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of early 20th century Art Nouveau Thonet chairs. These elegant chairs in curved and ebonized wood were produced in Vienna by the famous Thonet company around 1905. The chairs ha...
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Art Nouveau Seating
Materials
Straw, Beech
