In its sinuous lines and flamboyant curves inspired by the natural world, antique Art Nouveau furniture reflects a desire for freedom from the stuffy social and artistic strictures of the Victorian era. The Art Nouveau movement developed in the decorative arts in France and Britain in the early 1880s and quickly became a dominant aesthetic style in Western Europe and the United States.
ORIGINS OF ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGN
ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ANTIQUE ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
Art Nouveau — which spanned furniture, architecture, jewelry and graphic design — can be easily identified by its lush, flowing forms suggested by flowers and plants, as well as the lissome tendrils of sea life. Although Art Deco and Art Nouveau were both in the forefront of turn-of-the-20th-century design, they are very different styles — Art Deco is marked by bold, geometric shapes while Art Nouveau incorporates dreamlike, floral motifs. The latter’s 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. Impressionist artists were moved by the artistic tradition of Japanese woodblock printmaking, and Japonisme — a term used to describe the appetite for Japanese art and culture in Europe at the time — greatly informed Art Nouveau.
The Art Nouveau style quickly reached a wide audience in Europe via advertising posters, book covers, illustrations and other work by such artists as Aubrey Beardsley, Henri de 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.
WMF Model 131 German Jugendstil Brass and Velvet Jewelry Box, circa 1905
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
WMF Model 131 German Jugendstil Brass and Velvet Jewelry Box, circa 1905 A documented German Jugendstil brass jewelry box by WMF (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik), dating to circ...
Brass
Daum Nancy Art Nouveau Glass Bonbonnière "Violets" circa 1900-1910
By Daum
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Daum Nancy bonbonnière "Violets" circa 1900-1910 Daum Nancy French Art Nouveau Cameo and Enameled Glass Violet Covered Box / Bonbonnière Circa 1900 An exquisite and highly collectib...
Art Glass
Music Box small octagonal with Swiss Mechanism by Maison Reuge Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Renato Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Small octagonal music box in 925/1000 sterling silver, gold-plated, featuring translucent kiln-fired enamel over a guilloché pattern—applied to the sides as well—with a line on the l...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1920 English Huntley & Palmers Chinoiserie Jar on Stand Biscuit Tin Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1920 Huntley & Palmers Chinoiserie Jar on Stand Biscuit Tin Box. Faux craquelure glazed "jar" decorated with phoenix birds, rising sun, & flowering bamboo. Great handles & borders. B...
Metal, Tin
Fine Carved Wood Box with Morning Glories
By Maison de l'Art Nouveau
Located in Palm Desert, CA
This box is a real treasure! Completely had carved from walnut the detail in the flowers and leaves is quite remarkable. This box required a real master craftsman to achieve the outs...
Walnut
Erhard & Sohne Art Nouveau Jugendstil Arts and Crafts Jewelry Box Casket c. 1905
Located in London, GB
A beautiful art nouveau casket made by Erhard and Sohne in Germany in c. 1905. The casket is exquisitely executed with foliate detailing, made in th...
Brass
Snuff Box races miniature fire-enameled guilloche and engraved drawing Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Octagonal table snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with black fired enamel inserted in a hand engraved drawing and with fired enamelled miniature, hand painted by the p...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Art Nouveau Cosmic Repoussé Box by Alfred Daguet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalwork created prior to the outbreak of World War I, note...
Copper
Beautiful Lithographed Candy Cookie Tin Box Advertising Vintage Sweden, 1910s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Large antique Swedish Cookie advertising tin. Beautiful decoration piece, nice addition to your kitchen or just to display in every room. Found at an estate sale in Stockholm, Sweden...
Tin
Salimbeni Table Box Art Nouveau Painting Pre-Raphaelite School Fired Enamel
By Giorgio Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
This rectangular table box is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Crafted from 925/1000 sterling silver and gold-plated, it features a hand-painted fire-enameled miniature by Beatrice Me...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Art Nouveau Pewter Matchbox by Just Andersen, 1920s, Denmark
Located in Værløse, DK
Art Nouveau pewter matchbox made by Just Andersen in the 1920s. * Pewter matchbox with floral knop and original inner cardboard box (matches not included) * Designer: Just Andersen ...
Pewter
Art Nouveau Amalric Walter and Henri Bergé pâte-de-verre Insect Covered Box
By Henri Bergé and Amalric Walter
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite Trois Capricornes du Chêne covered box was designed by Amalric Walter and Henri Bergé for La Marquise de Sévigné, the celebrated French luxury chocolatier founded in 1...
Glass
Trio of Pewter Bonbonnières by Just Andersen, 1920s, Denmark
By GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget, Just Andersen
Located in Værløse, DK
Elegant trio of round pewter bonbonnières designed by Just Andersen in the early 1920s. * Set of three (3) round pewter boxes with fitted lids and spherical finials * Designer: Just...
Pewter
Tiffany Studios Pine Needle Pattern Hankerchief Box
Located in Bronx, NY
This vintage early 20th century Tiffany Studios, New York “handkerchief” box is designed in caramel color favrile art glass with a pine needle pattern...
Brass
Antique Art Nouveau Bronze-Finished Cast Metal Cigarette Box, circa 1910
Located in San Diego, CA
A charming early 20th-century hinged cigarette box in cast metal with a warm bronze-toned finish and richly detailed relief decoration. #5686 The rectangular case features archite...
Metal
Pair of dogs, terrier, as a lidded box, bronze, 1910, Art Nouveau, Austria
Located in Wien, AT
A charming lidded box in the shape of a pair of dogs—two terriers of different colors—crafted in Austria around 1910. The object is made of solid bronze and features cold-painted de...
Bronze
Pair of Jugendstil Hammered Brass Lidded Boxes, Germany, ca. 1910
Located in Valby, 84
Pair of Jugendstil Hammered Brass Lidded Boxes, Germany, ca. 1910 Of square form in hand-hammered patinated brass, each box with a close-fitting flat lid, the front face decorated wi...
Brass
Art Nouveau Basilisk Repoussé Box by Alfred Daguet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalwork created prior to the outbreak of World War I, note...
Brass, Enamel, Steel
Art Nouveau Guénardeau box in patinated spelter
Located in Ternay, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Art Nouveau box from the 1920s by the French artist Guénardeau. Entirely made of spelter with decoration typical of the period: flowers, a woman's bust on the lid, and arabesques. A ...
Spelter
Art Nouveau Cold Creatures Repoussé Box by Alfred Daguet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalwork created prior to the outbreak of World War I, note...
Brass, Steel
Art Nouveau Owl Repoussé Box with Moonstones by Alfred Daguet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This piece features dozens semi-precious moonstones. Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalw...
Zinc
Diskometal Vessel by Just Andersen, 1920s, Denmark
Located in Værløse, DK
Art Nouveau diskometal casket made by Just Andersen in the 1920s. * Diskometal casket / jewellery box with floral knop and inner in wood. Original cigarette box. * Designer: Just A...
Metal
Art Nouveau Casket by Niels Dam Ravn, 1930s, Denmark
By N. Dam Ravn
Located in Værløse, DK
Art Nouveau brass casket designed by Niels Dam Ravn in the 1930s. * Curvilinear bronze casket with floral motifs and fitted wooden interior box * Designer: Niels Dam Ravn * Manufact...
Brass
Cigarette Case hunting dog on point Enamel Sterling Silver Art Nouveau Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Franco Salimbeni Gold-Plated Sterling Silver and Enamel Cigarette Case with Hunting Dog Miniature by Romano Buccioni, Florence, 1976 Exquisite rectangular cigarette case with softl...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Louis Wain Cat Themed Edwardian Pill Box / Snuff Box by LS Mayer, Germany, 1900s
By Louis Wain
Located in London, GB
A fantastic and highly collectible Edwardian Art Nouveau cat-themed pill box or snuff box featuring an enchanting brass plaque of a cat with original green glass eyes, made in German...
Brass, Nickel
Daisy Makeig-Jones Wedgwood Ruby Lustre Butterfly Box
By Wedgwood Fairyland Lustre, Wedgwood, Daisy Makeig-Jones
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
A ruby lustre box with mother-of-pearl lustre interior and decorated with polychrome butterflies in gold, designed by Daisy Makeig-Jones circa 1920. This ...
Ceramic, Luster, Porcelain
Austrian Decorative Brass Box in the Style of Karl Hagenauer
Located in Chalk Hill, PA
Austrian Jugendstil / Vienna Secession Brass Box in the Style of Karl Hagenauer Stamped Austria · c. 1900–1915. Pressed-brass box with a gentl...
Brass
A R.Lalique 2 Figurines Glass Box.
By René Lalique
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
An early R.Lalique boxe which is strongly influenced by the 1900 style . The boxe is made in white glass with a green patina and is signed in molded block letters on the lid of th...
Glass
Art Nouveau Pewter Box by Just Andersen, 1910s, Denmark
Located in Værløse, DK
Art Nouveau Pewter Box designed by Just Andersen in the late 1910s. * Round hammered pewter box with lid with flower knop and floral chasings * Designer: Just Andersen * Manufactur...
Pewter
Pill Box Yellow floral miniature in Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Pill Box Yellow floral miniature in Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimbeni.Round pillbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
René Lalique (1860-1945) « Panier de Roses » Box 1919
By René Lalique
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
René Lalique (1860-1945) « Panier de Roses » Box 1919 Two parts oval glass with a frosted basket of roses motif lid covering the clear bottom of the R. Lalique Box. White and blue ...
Glass
$900Sale Price|20% Off
Loetz Biscuit Barrel Cookie Jar Art Nouveau Iridescent Glass Antique Lötz & WMF
By WMF Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik, Loetz Glass
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A lovely Art Nouveau biscuit barrel, made of iridescent art glass with a combed pattern made by Loetz Wwe. with a brass mount by WMF which w...
Silver Plate, Brass
Silverplate Art Noveau Jewelry Cache
Located in Malibu, CA
Art Nouveau jewelry cache marked 937. Stunning example of Art Nouveau design. This cachet box is decorated with lovely flowers on the top and buds on the side panels. This piece refl...
Silver Plate
Émile Gallé Marquetry "Mayfly and Ferns" Coffret
By Émile Gallé
Located in New York, NY
The motifs on this coffret by Émile Gallé depict a mayfly flitting among a bed of ferns. Hatching in summer and living only a few hours before mating and dying, the mayfly has long s...
Fruitwood
Wonderful Antique English Sterling Silver Pot Pourri Box by Walker & Hall - 1911
Located in Bath, GB
A wonderful and most unusual Pot Pourri box made from solid English sterling silver fully hallmarked for Sheffield 1911 together with the makers mark for the top notch silversmith, W...
Sterling Silver
Snuffbox with Flowers miniature Art Nouveau style Sterling Silver Salimbeni.
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table snuffbox in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent enamels fired on guilloche and hand-painted floral miniature; external blue staff. Art Nouveau sty...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Vintage Black Lacquer Box, Art Nouveau Style, Mid-20th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A Vintage Black Lacquer Box Description: Features an interior paper decorated with a botanical foliage pattern. It is designed with a hinged lid for storing small items like tea bag...
Wood
Art Nouveau Pewter Box by Just Andersen, 1910s, Denmark
Located in Værløse, DK
Art Nouveau Pewter Box designed by Just Andersen in the late 1910s. * Round hammered pewter box with lid with flower knop and floral chasings * Designer: Just Andersen * Manufactur...
Pewter
$263Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Chip Carved Wooden Box with Geometric Floral Design, 19th Century
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This antique chip-carved wooden box, from the late 19th century, features intricate geometric and floral patterns on its surface. The hand-carved details showcase a symmetrical arran...
Wood
Egg style Faberge Enamel Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large egg on smooth tripod with 8-day mechanical skeletal Swiss movement with alarm, in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guilloché and hand-paint...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Art Noveade German Silver Jewelry Box 800
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Art Noveade 800 German Silver Jewelry Box A Box with an intricate pattern engraved on its surface. The pattern consists of swirls and floral ...
Silver
Art Nouveau Repoussé Regal Reliquary by Alfred Daguet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Alfred Louis Achille DAGUET (1875 - 1942) was a metalsmith active in Paris during the first part of the 20th century. His metalwork created prior to the outbreak of World War I, note...
Copper, Enamel, Steel
Vintage Marble Trinket Box Hand-cut with Flowers in Relief
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A fine and skillfully crafted stone trinket fashioned from slaps of natural solid marble. The lid is cut in relief with a delicate flower in green, brown and earthy natural color ton...
Marble
20th century sterling silver handbag-shaped box
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
20th century sterling silver handbag-shaped box Beautiful decorative silver box, with a central design of a rose and a frame of bows on both sides. Sealed Measures: Height: 7.5 centi...
Sterling Silver
Circa 1907-1909 English Huntley & Palmer's "Iron Chest" Biscuit Tin Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1907-1909 Huntley & Palmers "Iron Chest" Biscuit Tin Box, English. Very collectible. 17th century Armada Chest form with hinged top with two "seals" - one of the Royal Coat of ...
Metal, Tin
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
Late 19th Century, Bohemian Cranberry Overlay & Gilt Bronze Hinged Casket Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
Late 19th Century, Bohemian Cranberry Overlay & Gilt Bronze Hinged Casket Box A richly ornamented Bohemian casket box, dating to the latter half of the 19th century, of ovoid rectan...
Bronze
Art Nouveau Celtic Hound Casket Repoussé Box by Alfred Daguet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, full insurance coverage, and reliable handling. While standard parcel services are an option, the defau...
Enamel, Steel, Brass
Bronze Casket by Niels Dam Ravn, 1930s, Denmark
By N. Dam Ravn
Located in Værløse, DK
Sizeable Art Noveau Brass Casket made by Niels Dam Ravn in the later 1930s. * Lidded brass casket with a viking. Inner wood box. Signed NDR lower right on the lid. * Designer: Niels...
Brass
Pill Box fired Enamel two colors on Guilloché Sterling Silver Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Renato Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Portapasticche ottagonale in argento 925/100 placcato oro con smalti traslucidi a fuoco su guillochè anche su tutti i fianchi e con rigo sul coperchio. Stile Art Nouveau Inglese prim...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
French Post Office Mailbox - Cast Iron - Delachanal Model - Late 19th Century
Located in BARSAC, FR
Public mailbox of the French Post Office Model in molded cast iron manufactured by Delachanal in Paris - Late 19th Century Good general condition - presented in its original conditi...
Iron
Rare Art Nouveau tinnen box by De Beuckerlaer, Belgium ca. 1900
Located in Meulebeke, BE
A beautiful decorated tinnen buiscuit box by De Beuckerlaer, made in Belgium around 1900. Decorated with 4 different scenes from the Arabian Nights and Alladin’s Lamp. Marked at th...
Tin
1900 Rosewood Box Art Nouveau by Erhard & Soehne
Located in Marseille, FR
Box rosewood and brass inlay cover Art Nouveau by Erhard and Soehne, circa 1900.
Copper
Albert Chezal Art Nouveau Pewter Box with Lilac Decor, France circa 1910
By Etaind'art
Located in Atlanta, GA
Albert Chezal designed this stunning Art Nouveau, distinctly illustrated, dinanderie-pewter-covered box, handcrafted in France's Etains d'Art workshop around 1910. The large, hand-wr...
Metal, Pewter
Collection of Vintage Dutch Decorative Advertising Tins, 20th century
Located in MAASTRICHT, LI
A charming and visually rich collection of antique and vintage, mostly Dutch, decorative tins, dating primarily from the mid-20th century. This curated group features a variety of or...
Metal, Tin
Table Box portrait of Natalia Nikolaevna Pushkina Lanskaja Salimbeni.
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Spectacular table box with inward corners in gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent enamel fired on guilloche, in Art Nouveau style, and in the center a fine rectangul...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Gabriel Argy-Rousseau, Covered Box “Roses or Buttercups”, Designed in 1921
Located in Bochum, NRW
Gabriel Argy-Rousseau, a covered box “roses or buttercups”, designed in 1921. Pâte-de-verre made of clear glass and coloured glass (opaque yellow, red, green and violet) with stylise...
Art Glass
Lidded Art Nouveau Pewter Box by Arent Dragsted, Denmark, 1890s.
By Nils Fougstedt, Edvin Ollers, Just Andersen, A. Dragsted, Svenskt Tenn
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful Art Nouveau lidded pewter box with amazing patina. Handmade by the renowned Danish goldsmith Arent Dragsted in Copenhagen, Denmark, late 1800s. Great original conditio...
Metal, Pewter
Favor Box handpainted flower Enamel Sterling Silver on the lid crystal Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Wedding favor or small container in cut crystal and lid in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamel on guillochè and hand-painted floral miniature. Diameter...
Crystal, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Box in Wood Art Nouveau France 1920, Signed
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This box is signed by a French artist: L.Maire. It has been made around 1920 in France. Typical of the Art nouveau style. It is in an excellent condition.
Wood
Vintage bronze mounted porcelain box hand painted butterflies and floral decor
Located in Wommelgem, VAN
Porcelain bronze mounted box, Art Nouveau style Made of hand-painted crackled, glazed high quality bronze mounted porcelain. Signed on the bottom. An all over polychrome floral deco...
Porcelain