Emerging in reaction to industrialization and mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement celebrated handcrafted design as a part of daily life. The history of Arts and Crafts furniture has roots in 1860s England with an emphasis on natural motifs and simple flourishes like mosaics and carvings. This work is characterized by plain construction that showcases the hand of the artisan.
The earliest American Arts and Crafts furniture dates back to the start of the 20th century. Designers working in this style in the United States initially looked to ideas put forth by The Craftsman, a magazine published by Wisconsin native Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker and founder of the Craftsman style. Stickley’s furniture was practical and largely free of ornament. His Craftsman style drew on French Art Nouveau as well as the work he encountered on his travels in England. There, the leading designers of the Arts and Crafts movement included William Morris, who revived historical techniques such as embroidery and printed fabrics in his furnishings, and Charles Voysey, whose minimal approach was in contrast to the ornamentation favored in the Victorian era.
American Arts and Crafts work would come to involve a range of influences unified by an elevation of traditional craftsmanship. The furniture was often built from sturdy woods like oak and mahogany while featuring details such as inlaid metal, tooled leather and ceramic tiles. The style in the United States was led by Stickley, whose clean-lined chairs and benches showcased the grain of the wood, and furniture maker Charles Rohlfs, who was informed by international influences like East Asian and French Art Nouveau design.
Hubs in America included several utopian communities such as Rose Valley in Pennsylvania and the Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony in New York, where craftspeople made furniture that prioritized function over any decoration. Their work would influence designers and architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, who built some of the most elegant and iconic structures in the United States and likewise embraced a thoughtful use of materials in his furniture.
Find antique Arts and Crafts chairs, tables, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.
Early 20th Century Tobacco Jar - Erhard & Söhne - Brass and Wood - Tug-of-War
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
An elegant early 20th century tobacco jar attributed to Erhard & Söhne, the renowned German makers celebrated for their refined Art Nouveau brasswork. The cylindrical body is made of...
Brass
$85Sale Price|41% Off
1800s Snuff Box of Ram's Horn and Wood
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
c.1800s snuff box, ram's horn with wood inset bottom. Base edge faults in the horn-top edge also. With a tag: "You God Father Eckhadt (?) snuff box" and description. 2 3/8" x 1 3/8 x...
Wood
Arts and Crafts period copper cigar or tabac box, French circa 1900
Located in Central England, GB
This handmade French box dates to circa 1900 and it has been beautifully handcrafted using the traditional arts and crafts metal working skills from cut and beaten copper riveted tog...
Copper
Early 20th Century Swedish Burled Birch Wood and Mahogany Tobacco Box
Located in Middleburg, VA
A little poem in wood, this early 20th-century Swedish tobacco box is a quiet testament to the beauty of everyday ritual. Hand-turned from golden-hued burled birch, its surface is al...
Metal, Brass
$392Sale Price|25% Off
Antique BENEDICT STUDIO Arts & C Hammered Copper Humidor Sticklea era- W7976
Located in Shamokin Dam, PA
Antique Benedict Studio Arts & Crafts Hammered Copper Humidor - W7976 This is an antique c. early 1900s Arts & Crafts Hammered Copper Humidor by Benedict Studios. Looks like it has ...
Copper
$1,800
H 2.13 in W 6.38 in D 6.13 in
Tiffany Studios Zodiac Pattern Gilt Bronze Cigar Humidor or Table Box No. 1655
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique Tiffany Studios box. In gilt Bronze. In the Zodiac pattern. Model no. 1655. This table box is often referred to as a cigar humidor. It also functions beautifully a...
Bronze
Tiffany Studios New York Bronze Doré Desk Box or Humidor
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous antique Arts & Crafts or Art Deco period gilt bronze desk box or humidor By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 6"W x ...
Bronze
$450 / item
H 32.75 in Dm 4.75 in
Hand Hammered Arts & Crafts Style Copper Candlesticks Hessel Studios California
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous and elegant hand Hammered & polished copper candlestick holders by Hessel Studios of San Rafael California. Each unique and very much a pie...
Copper
Tessellated Horn and Cedar Wood Box
Located in San Diego, CA
A very well crafted tessellated Horn cedar wood box, circa 1980s. The piece is very heavy and solid and measures 6.375"W x 4.5"D x 3.5"H. #3772
Horn, Cedar
Early 20th century French Wood and Brass Musical Cigar Boxe, 1920s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Magnificent Napoleon III style musical cigar humidor dating from the beginning of the 20th century in lacquered wood and garland of brass beads. A lyre adorns each door. By turning t...
Brass
19th Century Majolica Palissy Tobacco Jar Thomas Sergent
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica Palissy tobacco jar attributed to Thomas Sergent, circa 1880 unsigned. Naturalistic movement of the end of 19th century. The jar have the shape of a trunk with a bir...
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
$1,227
H 2.92 in W 4.3 in D 2.76 in
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
Miniature 19th Century Victorian Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Morristown, NJ
19th c. Charming antique miniature chest of drawers. The chest has a marble top. The case is figured mahogany, with four stacked drawers, the ...
Marble, Brass
$1,500
H 4.73 in W 3.75 in D 1.97 in
Mid-20th Century Tin Charity Container by Alfred Zaltsman, Jerusalem
Located in New York, NY
The front of the box is inscribed with Hebrew and German: "Rabbi Meir Baal Ha' Ness charity collecting funds for Shomrei Ha' Chomot Kolel" and decorated with two images; Hatam Sofer ...
Metal
Bauhaus Arts and Crafts Modernist Large Aluminum Box, circa 1920
By Bauhaus
Located in Atlanta, GA
This remarkable early 20th-century modernist aluminum box is a true testament to masterful craftsmanship and innovative design. The rare piece was crafted in Germany circa 1920. Its...
Metal, Aluminum
$2,300
H 4.7 in W 7.4 in D 4.3 in
Jugendstil Brass Jewelry Casket with Velvet Lining by Erhard & Söhne, Germany
Located in North Miami, FL
1900s Jugendstil golden and silver brass jewelry casket with blue velvet-lined interior by Erhard & Söhne, Germany By: Erhard & Söhne Material: brass, copper, metal, velvet, zinc Te...
Metal, Brass, Copper, Zinc
$341
H 5.12 in W 11.03 in D 7.09 in
Arts & Crafts Box with Decorative Hand made marquetry Decor, circa 1910
Located in Verviers, BE
Arts & Crafts Box with Decorative Hand made marquetry Decor, circa 1910 About: A wooden box from the Arts & Crafts period, Made in Austria. Very Small piece of marketery is missing...
Paint
Sold
H 2.76 in W 5.52 in D 3.94 in
Early 20th Century Tobacco Box - Tudric for Liberty & Co - Pewter and Turquoise
By Tudric, Liberty & Co., Archibald Knox
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Elegant and refined early 20th century tobacco box, attributed to Liberty & Co., marked by the renowned pewter workshop Tudric, a line developed for Liberty under the artistic direct...
Metal
Arts & Crafts Liberty & Co 'Tudric' Pewter Box with Enamel Plaque
Located in Petworth, GB
Arts & Crafts opening pewter box with enamel panel to lid Wood lined Panel depicting a country scene of trees and road leading to a country church Panel design attributed to Fleet...
Enamel, Pewter
Wooden Box, Jewelry , Acanthus Leave Motifs
Located in Saint Petersburg, FL
By Morris & Co ; a decorative arts and furnishings company founded by William Morris in 1861 that played a significant role in the Arts and Crafts Movement. No longer in production...
Brass
Sold
H 15 in W 12 in D 7 in
20th Century English Carved Tiger Oak Pipe Smoke Stand Cabinet Humidor Box Shelf
Located in Shreveport, LA
Direct from England, from our most recent buying trip, we have an Entire Collection of antique English “gentleman’s cabinets”!! Many have dated, engraved presentation plaques, and all of them are fabulous!~ ~Typically these boxes were used for storing pipes, tobacco and card games for men...
Wood
Arts and Crafts Electro-Plated and Enamelled Cigar Box
Located in London, GB
An Arts and Crafts electro-plated and enamelled cigar box, hammered overall, the cover applied with a cut-out 'Cigars' with enamels in blue-green, stamped 'Cambray Ware'. See Christie's sale 'Arts and Crafts with Liberty and Co' 30th June 2005, lot 107 for a copper and enamel box...
EPNS