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.
$960Sale Price|52% Off
Aesthetic Movement Trinket Box, circa 1900
Located in Spencertown, NY
The box with scenes of lilliputian figures
Wood
Furstenberg Germany Vintage Violet Flowers Round Gold Leaf Trinket Plate
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Furstenberg Germany vintage flower round gold leaf trinket plate Perfect gift for your special someone. Dimensions: Diameter 10 cm (3.93 inches) A s...
Gold Leaf
19th Century Brass Inlaid Walnut Box
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Brass inlaid walnut box. This stunning decorative box or jewelry box has beautiful brass inlay and trim with the original tufted satin interior.
Walnut
Furstenberg Germany Vintage Flower Round Gold Leaf Trinket Plate
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Furstenberg Germany vintage flower round gold leaf trinket plate Perfect gift for your special someone. Dimensions: Diameter 10 cm (3.93 inches) A s...
Gold Leaf
Ceramic Decorative Flower and Vegetation Chinese Plate Signed WL, 1896
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Ceramic decorative flower and vegetation chinese plate signed Perfect gift for your special someone. Dimensions: Diameter 20 cm (37.86 inches) A series of three make the matchin...
Ceramic
Furstenberg Germany Vintage Flower Round Gold Leaf Trinket Plate
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Furstenberg Germany vintage flower round gold leaf trinket plate Perfect gift for your special someone. Dimensions: Diameter 10 cm (3.93 inches) A s...
Gold Leaf
Antique Lacquered Paper Mache Sewing or Jewelry Box with Inlaid Carved Shell
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique paper mâché and lacquered box is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in England in circa 1870 in the period Aesthetic Movement style. The box was made as a sewing chest, but could be adapted for other purposes such as a jewelry box. The box is composed of paper mâché with a glossy black lacquered finish. The stepped top has scalloped edges and a detailed border of inlaid mother of pearl done with a floral motif. The central portion of the box's top is done with large pieces of mother of pearl or abalone shell and accented with flaked gilt details. The front and sides of the box are accented with hand-painted gilt detailing and the inside of the top is hand painted with floral accents. The inner tray of this box is divided into several compartments, some having fabric covered lids with molded handles. The inside of the box is paper lined in the same blue patterned paper as the tray. There is small brass lock on the front of the box, but there is no key. The box is finished with round squat biscuit shaped feet. Please note that due to the composition of this box, it may only be shipped within Canada.
Paper
$6,675Sale Price|25% Off
A Boucheron Paris 18k Gold Silver & Ruby Vermeil Minaudiere Circa 1940
By Boucheron
Located in Tarzana, CA
A Boucheron Paris 18k Gold, Silver & Ruby Vermeil Minaudiere Circa 1940, of rectangular form with a hinged cover the top of the cover with pierced vermeil scrolling foliage the flow...
Gold, Silver
Vintage Limoges Jmmet Seignolles plates & box Souvenir de son Vogage a Lourdes
By Limoges
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Set of Elegant vintage Limoges box and two plates. Marked on base as “Jammet Seignolles Souvenir de mon voyage á Lourdes”. -Memories of my trip ...
Enamel, Gold Leaf
$210
H 1.38 in W 2.63 in D 2.38 in
Ormolu and Glass Souvenir Trinket Jewelry Box, Nuremberg Castle, circa 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A gorgeous glass top trinket box made of ormolu and metal. The hinged top featuring a view of the castle of Nuremberg in Germany. No restoration has been carried out on this charming...
Ormolu
Early 19th Century English Walnut Box
Located in High Point, NC
Early 19th century walnut box from England. This is a lovely box with some of the most gorgeous craftsmanship we have had the pleasure to offer. The top has softly beveled edges,...
Walnut
Vintage wooden Trinket Jewelry Box
Located in Seattle, WA
This Vintage wooden box possibly oak is perfect for trinkets or Jewelry. It has slidable and removable compartments. This Piece has nice patina and character. Vintage Condition as p...
Wood
Vintage Christofle Silver Plated Decorative Box
By Christofle
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Signed Vintage Christofle Silver Plated Decorative Box. Nicely cast with beautiful design. This would have held cigarettes or trinkets. In very good...
Silver Plate
Vintage Wooden Trinket Box
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT Small Walnut trinket box lined with felt. Original felt on the bottom. Shown with life size hand model for scale. CREATOR Unknown. DATE OF MANUFACTURE c.1940-1970. ...
Felt, Wood
Limoges Paris Round Rose & Gold Vintage Trinket Box
By Limoges
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A hand painted Limoges porcelain trinket box, France, circa 1970-1980. The round box is braced with a metal frame featuring a floral clasp. Decorated with a pink rose and gilded scr...
Metal
Godinger Silver Plate Scalloped Lidded Trinket Box
By Godinger
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Lovely etched and scalloped silver plate trinket box - with a removable lid and lined in red velvet. The lid has an acorn finial. A compli...
Silver Plate
$380
H 3.25 in W 4.5 in D 4.13 in
Large Ormolu & Glass Souvenir Trinket Jewelry Box, Deauville France, circa 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique French Églomisé Casket - Souvenir from France, circa 1900 A charming French antique casket from circa 1900 with gilt brass fittings and clear glass panels. The hinged lid fe...
Crystal, Ormolu
19th Century English Inlaid Jewelry Box
Located in Tampa, FL
This 19th century English jewelry box is a stunning example of fine craftsmanship. Heavily inlaid with intricate patterns, it showcases exceptional attention to detail and artistry. ...
Textile, Wood
Aesthetic Movement Gothic Style Brass Mounted Stationery Box
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning quality British Aesthetic Movement brass mounted oak stationery box with gothic influences dating from around 1880. The box stands on a wide ...
Brass
Jasperware Wedgwood Trinket Box
By Wedgewood
Located in Worcester Park, GB
Timeless and iconic, Wedgwood’s Jasperware pieces are miniature works of art that blend classical beauty with everyday function. First developed in the 18th century by Josiah Wedgwoo...
Ceramic
$260
H 3.13 in W 3.75 in D 2.5 in
Ormolu and Glass Souvenir Trinket Jewelry Box, Lyon France, circa 1900s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Antique French Églomisé Casket - Souvenir from Lyon, circa 1900 A charming French antique casket from circa 1900 with gilt brass fittings and clear glass panels. The hinged lid feat...
Crystal, Ormolu
Sold
H 5.75 in W 11 in D 8.25 in
Antique Lacquered Paper Mache Sewing or Jewelry Box with Inlaid Abalone Shell
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique paper mâché and lacquered box is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in England in circa 1870 in the period Aesthetic Movement style. The box was made as a se...
Paper
Sold
H 32 in W 20 in D 15 in
Superb Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Majolica & Gilt-Metal Jewelry Box
By Minton
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Very Fine and Rare English Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Hand Painted Majolica and Gilt-Metal Figural Jewelry Box on Stand, probably by ...
Metal