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Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

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
Victorian Cast Iron Plant Stand with Three Swivel Arms
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An antique two-tier plant stand with four round platforms for the display of potted plants. The Victorian era plant holder in the style of the Aesthetic Movement is a substantial des...
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Iron

Antique Aesthetic Movement Carved Walnut Sculpture Display Pedestal Circa 1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Aesthetic Movement sculpture pedestal offers walnut construction with beveled rectangular display over turned column ha...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Walnut

Antique Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Wood Sculpture Display Pedestal, Circa 1870
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Aesthetic Movement sculpture pedestal offers ebonized wood construction with found upper display over column having car...
Category

Late 19th Century European Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Wood

Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Pedestal Torchière with Incised & Gilded Decoration
Located in London, GB
In style of Dr C Dresser for Bushloe House. An Aesthetic movement, circular ebonized pedestal torchière or stand, with close carved gilded florets alternating with leaves and lower ...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Walnut

Henry W Batley Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Pedestal Stand with Carved Sunflowers
By Collinson & Lock, Henry William Batley
Located in London, GB
Henry W Batley attributed. Probably for Collinson and Lock. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized pedestal base with a central pillar adorned on all four sides with carved sunflowers in a s...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Walnut

Related Items
Christopher Dresser Watcombe Aesthetic Movement Twin Handled Persian Taste Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual Aesthetic Movement flow glaze twin handled vase in the ‘Persian Taste’ by renowned British designer Christopher Dresser (British, 1834 – 1904) for Watcombe Torquay...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Earthenware

Antique French Pedestal Plant Stand Table Barley Twist Honey Oak 35" T 19th C
Located in Tyler, TX
OUTSTANDING Antique French Barley Twist Honey Oak Plant Stand, Pedestal or Display Table~~35.5" Tall~~c. 1930s French oak pedestal or plant stand with 4" thick twist and round top...
Category

1930s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Oak

Creel and Gow Marco Wicker Pedestal with Urn
Located in New York, NY
Creel and Gow Wicker (Rattan) pedestal with Urn. Made exclusively for Creel and Gow in Tangier Morocco.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Wicker, Rattan

Creel and Gow Marco Wicker Pedestal with Urn
Creel and Gow Marco Wicker Pedestal with Urn
H 65.75 in W 29.75 in D 19.5 in
Antique French Pedestal Plant Stand Table Barley Twist OPEN TWIST Dark Oak 36" T
Located in Tyler, TX
CHARMING Antique French Barley Twist Plant or Fern Stand, Pedestal or Display Table~~Open Twist~~c. 1930s French dark oak pedestal or plant stand with 4" thick twist and round top...
Category

1930s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Oak

Torchère Pedestal Stand of Turned Mahogany from England (H 57)
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English torchère (torchière) or column pedestal stand of mahogany - in the William IV style - featuring a moulded round top for candles or plants, turned column support, and r...
Category

19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Classical Style and Hand-Painted Antique Wooden Display Stand Column Pedestal
Located in Lisse, NL
Large, impressive and all handcrafted, 19th century wooden column. Thanks to its classical and perfectly geometrical design, this column pedestal can be used and enjoyed in all kind...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Pine

Antique Early 1900s Hand Carved Oak Pedestal Display Stand, Floral Sculptered
Located in Lisse, NL
Stunning display column with a warm and beautiful patina. If you are looking for an antique column pedestal for displaying a vase, a plant, ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Oak

Pair of Wood Pedestals
Located in Hanover, MA
Pair of stained wood display pedestals retailed by Restoration Hardware circa 1993. Decorated on four sides with square moldings. 42 inches high by 22 inches wide by 22 inches deep....
Category

1990s American Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Wood

Pair of Wood Pedestals
Pair of Wood Pedestals
H 42 in W 22 in D 22 in
Pair of Antique Swedish Neoclassical Late Empire Pedestals
Located in Atlanta, GA
Pair of antique Empire Neoclassical Swedish pedestals painted ebony with gold accents.
Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Wood

Dennis Kirchmann Ceramic Pedestal or Plant Stand with Floral Motif
By Dennis Kirchmann
Located in Chicago, IL
This two-piece floral ceramic piece by Indiana artist Dennis Kirchmann is convertible. It can be used as a pedestal with a small amount of storage with ...
Category

1970s American Vintage Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Ceramic

Art Deco Iron Pedestal Planter
Located in Atlanta, GA
Art Deco sculptural iron pedestal supporting a square wire mesh planter with decorative appliqués of metal flowers in iron bowls. The planter holds a metal liner on its interior. The...
Category

Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Iron

Art Deco Iron Pedestal Planter
Art Deco Iron Pedestal Planter
H 43.5 in W 16.5 in D 16.5 in
Teak Wood Pedestal Crafted in Java, Indonesia
Located in Jimbaran, Bali
This teak wood pedestal was crafted by moulding 4 blocks of solid teak wood together. A strong and robust pedestal that is both beautiful on its own or displaying sculptures, vases o...
Category

Early 2000s Chinese Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Teak

Teak Wood Pedestal Crafted in Java, Indonesia
Teak Wood Pedestal Crafted in Java, Indonesia
H 28.75 in W 14.97 in D 14.97 in
Previously Available Items
Antique Aesthetic Movement Carved Walnut Sculpture Pedestal, Circa 1870
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Aesthetic movement sculpture pedestal offers walnut construction with clip corner display over column having four turne...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Walnut

American Aesthetic Oak Table
Located in Essex, MA
Square top with turned finials, stick and ball frieze, turned legs and lower conforming shelf.
Category

1890s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Oak

American Aesthetic Oak Table
American Aesthetic Oak Table
H 29 in W 12 in D 12 in
Aesthetic Movement Round Walnut Pedestal Table
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Aesthetic movement round walnut pedestal. Goat foot legs with a nice marble top inset and nice carving surrounding the marble. 30" tall and 15 1/2" inch diameter top.
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Walnut

Antique Aesthetic Ebonized Wood Sculpture Display Pedestal, circa 1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique aesthetic movement sculpture display pedestal offers ebonized wood construction in Doric column form with scroll and fo...
Category

19th Century North American Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Wood

Antique Aesthetic Movement Carved Walnut Marble-Top Plant Stand, circa 1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Aesthetic Movement plant stand features marble top display having flared walnut frame with incised and ebonized repeating des...
Category

19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Marble

Pair of Antique Architectural Stone Building Tiles Mounted on Stands
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of antique architectural stone building tiles mounted on stands. Each solid wooden pedestal used to mount this ancient fleur-de-lis decorated building tile. The pair can easil...
Category

Early 19th Century Argentine Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Pair of French 19th Century Painted Pedestals with Lakeland Landscape Scene
Located in London, GB
A pair of decorated tole ware pedestals. The cylindrical columns rise above the moulded square section bases, the ridged collars have square platforms and the whole is extensively d...
Category

19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Wood, Paint

Monumental Aesthetic Movement Pedestal
Located in San Francisco, CA
An extraordinary and large Victorian/Aesthetic period ebonized wood pedestal.
Category

19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Pedestals and Columns

Materials

Wood

Monumental Aesthetic Movement Pedestal
Monumental Aesthetic Movement Pedestal
H 41.25 in W 20 in D 20 in

Aesthetic Movement pedestals and columns for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement pedestals and columns 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 pedestals and columns created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements, tables, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Aesthetic Movement pedestals and columns made in a specific country, there are Europe, England, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 pedestals and columns differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $495 and tops out at $5,286 while the average work can sell for $1,320.

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