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Aesthetic Movement Ceramics

AESTHETIC MOVEMENT

In 1880, polymath designer William Morris declared: “If you want a golden rule that will fit everybody, this is it: Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” His words encapsulated the Aesthetic Movement, which prized beauty above all and blurred the lines between fine art and the decorative arts, particularly through lavishly crafted furniture pieces.

The Aesthetic Movement, whose major proponents included author Oscar Wilde, flourished from the 1860s to the 1880s and was mostly popular in England and the United States. Design expositions like the 1876 Centennial International Exhibition in Philadelphia, as well as the publishing of how-to books for interior design, helped disseminate Aesthetic Movement bedroom furniture, serveware, coffee tables and other items, especially to the middle class.

The establishment of new art museums, art clubs and a rising passion for collecting at the time contributed to a growing appreciation for art. Morris’s founding of Morris & Co. in 1862 and the commercializing of this “cult of beauty” by the Liberty store in London, starting in the late 19th century, further disseminated the idea of a domestic space that was thoughtfully and floridly designed.

Leading Aesthetic Movement furniture designers included E.W. Godwin, who drew on Japanese influences and whose work reflected a wider enthusiasm for imported East Asian art. British designer Christopher Dresser created textiles, ceramics and more that were also inspired by Japanese decorative art but were representative of additional diverse design sources that ranged from Egypt to Mexico.

The Aesthetic Movement’s eclecticism resulted in dazzling interiors. Japanese fans were positioned on Renaissance-inspired cabinets with brass hardware, while mantels made of rich walnut or finely carved ebonized wood and adorned with painted Minton tiles mingled with cast-iron chairs against a backdrop of floral wallpaper. In 1881, in New York City, stenciled checkerboard motifs and painted floral murals could be found under an opalescent glass chandelier in a luxurious dressing room designed by German émigré cabinetmaker-decorator George Alfred Schastey. Amid the rise of the industrial age, the style’s promotion of art in everyday life would inform the Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau.

Find a collection of antique Aesthetic Movement seating, tables, decorative objects and other furniture and antiques on 1stDibs.

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Style: Aesthetic Movement
Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Imari Charger
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 19th century Aesthetic movement Imari Charger, 15 7/8" dia. Rich, deep colors. Six alternating panels of a bamboo tree in garden with "seaweed" motif & geometric motifs surrounding the central floral medallion. Reverse blue and white decoration. Whitehall Antiques...
Category

Late 19th Century Japanese Antique Aesthetic Movement Ceramics

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Imari Charger
Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Imari Charger

Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Imari Charger

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Rattan Handled Bird in Blossom Branch Japanese Pottery Biscuit Barrel, 1920s

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Aesthetic Movement ceramics for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement ceramics for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage ceramics created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, porcelain and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Aesthetic Movement ceramics made in a specific country, there are Asia, East Asia, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original ceramics, popular names associated with this style include and Minton. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for ceramics differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $595 and tops out at $750 while the average work can sell for $673.

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