Inspired by the Arts & Crafts style in England, which rebelled against the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution with a proud emphasis on handcrafted design, American Craftsman style similarly pushed against the lavishness of the Victorian era. Coined by Wisconsin-born Gustav Stickley, a furniture designer and publisher of The Craftsman magazine, American Craftsman furniture would influence homegrown styles that followed, such as Mission and the Prairie School.
Like the popular early 20th-century Craftsman houses — which feature meticulous woodwork on everything from built-in bookcases in the living room and cabinetry in the kitchen to earth-toned exteriors with exposed rafters — American Craftsman furniture was all about handmade storage cabinets, bedroom furniture, chairs and other pieces built with organic materials. “Simplicity and straightforwardness of construction has always been the leading characteristic of Craftsman furniture,” Stickley stated. And while he is often credited with most of the designs at the Craftsman Workshops in Eastwood, New York, others such as Harvey Ellis were influential in shaping the straight-backed chairs, beds with vertical slats and tables with exposed joinery that came to define the style.
Highly utilitarian with no unnecessary flair, American Craftsman furniture was designed to emphasize the essence of its modest construction and promote the natural beauty of the wood. Solid oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany were all favored by the movement’s principal figures. Another attribute commonly associated with the style is the integration of subtle details like tooled leather, inlaid metal and hammered iron handles.
Owing to the outbreak of World War I, the popularity of American Craftsman style waned as consumer spending dropped and furniture companies shifted to the production of wartime materials and goods specified in government contracts. Yet, by the 1960s, there was a renewed appreciation for this foundational modern American style, with Stickley and his contemporaries in demand for the clean, simple lines and sturdy construction of American Craftsman furniture.
Find a collection of antique American Craftsman chests, nightstands, seating, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Arthur Espenet Wooden Box 1961
Located in Chicago, IL
Arthur Espenet Carpenter Exotic Walnut Box, 1961 A finely crafted wooden box by celebrated California studio furniture maker Arthur Espenet Carpenter, dated 1961. Made from richly fi...
Brass
Michael Elkan Free Edge Jewelry Box in Bird's-Eye Maple, c. 1980
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Dual-compartment jewelry box with beveled sides, a free edge, and natural finger pull to lid, executed in bird's-eye maple by Michael Elkan. A part...
Birdseye Maple
Michael Elkan Box in Live Edge Maple Burl American Craft Movement 1980s
Located in Meer, VAN
Michael Elkan Box in Live Edge Maple Burl American Craft Movement 1980s This is a truly wonderful trinket or jewelry box in maple burl made by renowned American Craft Movement wood ...
Maple, Burl
Michael Elkan Hinged Burl Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful Michael Elkan Burl Box, hinged top opens to revel open space for jewelry, keepsakes etc. American Craft Studio made box, but recognized master of woodworking.
Burl
Michael Elkan Burled Wood Box
Located in Highland, IN
This lovely trinket box in Oregon bird’s-eye maple burl by Silverton, OR woodworker Michael Elkan has a beautiful, rich color and texture. Handcrafted from a single piece of wood, th...
Burl
Kalo Craftsman Hand-Hammered Sterling Silver Postage Stamp Box
Located in New York, NY
Craftsman sterling silver postage-stamp box. Made by Kalo in Chicago, ca 1930. Round with straight sides; cover top gently curved with thread-mounted stained and lobed ovoid finial w...
Sterling Silver
Arthur Espenet Carpenter Rosewood Tissue Box 1965c.
Located in Chicago, IL
Arthur Espenet Carpenter Rosewood Tissue Box (circa 1965) This elegant rectangular tissue box exemplifies Arthur Espenet Carpenter’s mid-century modern vision. Carpenter was a self-t...
Rosewood
1980s Brass and Tessellated Stone Box
By G. None
Located in Tarrytown, NY
1980s brass and tessellated stone box.
Stone
Studio Craft Turned Rosewood Box with Enamel Lid
Located in Ferndale, MI
Nicely crafted solid rosewood box with enameled lid.
Copper
Paul Evans, Phillip Lloyd Powell Style Petite Rosewood Box with Brass Inlay
By Paul Evans, Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Bainbridge, NY
American mid century rosewood and brass inlay small oval accessory box in the style of Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd, circa 1960. Featuring a handcrafted clam shaped 2-piece smooth da...
Brass
Arthur Espenet Carpenter Wood Block, Solid Alternating Walnut and Mahogany
Located in Chicago, IL
Arthur Espenet Carpenter Wood Block or Decorative Tray 1960's Handmade at the Espenet studio in Bolinas, California, this striking object is crafted from alternating strips of solid ...
Mahogany, Walnut
Bobby Reed Falwell American Studio Sculpted Jewelry Box in Walnut, 1970s
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Highly sculptural, oval-shaped box with a pair of yin-yang lids that rotate at opposing points, executed in walnut by Bobby Reed Falwell. Falwell earned his master's degree in sculpt...
Walnut
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Unusual Michael Elkan Studio Box Birdseye Burl
Located in New York, NY
Unusual tall form on arched leg base, with removable top. Fine original condition, studio made American Craft box.
Burl, Wood
Studio Box by American Craftsman Michael Elkan, US 'No 5'
Located in Berlin, DE
Studio Box by American craftsman Michael Elkan, US for your personal belongings.
Wood
$1,800
Humidor from USA
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A humidor made of warmly toned burled maple with a cedar and glass interior.
Maple, Cedar
Jewelry Box by Michael Elkan in Burl
Located in Hudson, NY
This is the grandfather of Michael Elkan boxes. Retaining it's original surface and the rarely seen or found interior boxes of which this group is intact. All made from the same bloc...
Wood, Burl
American Craftsman Hand-Hammered Sterling Silver Box
Located in New York, NY
Craftsman sterling silver box. Made by Ahrendt & Kautzman in Newark, ca 1920. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with gently curved top and molded rim. Allover spot hammer...
Sterling Silver
Intricately Inlaid Dovetailed Craftsman Built Lidded Dresser Box
Located in Ferndale, MI
Very possibly polish in origin. Finely made and assembled lidded box. Dovetail corners and intricate inlay of exotic woods and beads.
Wood
American Craftsman Gothic Sterling Silver Casket Box
Located in New York, NY
American Craftsman Gothic sterling silver casket, ca 1920. Plain rectangular with straight sides and flat hinged cover. Hand-hammered scalloped mounts folded around corners and termi...
Sterling Silver
Six-Piece Stationary Set with Pyrography Decoration
By W. H. Kistler Stationary Company
Located in NYC, NY
Set of six Colorado-made stationary boxes, the exterior of each extensively decorated with pyrographic designs. One box labeled using the same technique (shown in image 3) identifyin...
Wood
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
Wood Box
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Incredible wood box.
Wood
Jewelry Box in Exotic Tigers Eye
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Decorative jewelry box in tessellated exotic tigers eye with velvet interior.
Precious Stone
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 Maitland-Smith Burl Walnut Jewelry Box Tea Caddy
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Fantastic vintage box featuring a burl walnut inlay with a silver-tone knob on the lid as well as the ornate feet. Perfect decorative jewelry, trinket or caddy box standing alone on ...
Silver
Jewelry Box Brass Swan Bird Red Lacquer
Located in New York, NY
A '70 modern red lacquer or high-gloss 'demi-lune' box with inlayed brass swan bird design, circa 1970s. A chic decorative box for jewelry (as demonstrated)...
Brass
$172Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 3.15 in W 1.58 in D 1.97 in
Ghidini 1961 Small Knotted Cherry Box in Polished Brass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Small box available in brass and rose gold finishes.
Brass
Hollywood regency shell and burl jewelry box, Italy 1970s
Located in Firenze, IT
Hollywood regency shell and burl jewelry box Italy 1970s shell, burl H 6.5 cm - 20 x 17 cm Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Shell, Wood
Italian Murano Faceted Glass & Brass Hinged Box / Jewelry Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This beautiful hinged Murano glass box in pristine clear faceted glass and brass trim and original decorative key and tassel. It is a wonderful desk or...
Crystal, Metal
Wood Jewelry Box
Located in New York, NY
A rectangular wood box, Postmodern design period, circa late-20h century. Box has three wood hues, velvet lined, easy open/close lid. Very good condition as shown.
Velvet, Wood
Free Edge Burl Wood Jewelry Box Manner of Michael Elkans 1970's, USA
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Free Edge Burl Wood Jewelry Box Manner of Michael Elkans 1970's, USA Hand-worked, found free-edge burl wood chunk with four drawers. Felt covers bottom, but likely a Michael Elkans c...
Burl
$1,822
H 3.55 in W 2.76 in D 3.15 in
Antique Silver BOX Decorative Box, Sterling Silver Jewllery Box Home Decor
Located in Wembley, GB
Antique valuable handmade sterling silver box or Decorative jewllery box with Illustration pressed, cast and chased. Rectangular body on short, curved feet with hinged, vaulted lid. ...
Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver
Burl Wood and Leather Hexagon Decorative Box by Evert Sodergren, 1980
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Burl Wood and Leather Hexagon Decorative Storage Box by Evert Sodergren, Sodergren Atelier, Seattle, Washington. 1980 Exterior Maple Burl Wood with Mahogany Trim Interior Mahogany Lid with Leather Lined Bottom Bottom is Lined with Leather with Label and Date "Evert Sodergren - Master Woodworker "My father was only interested in traditional design and I wasn’t satisfied with that. I would like to make something that hasn’t been made before."– Evert Sodergren Born in 1920, a fourth generation furniture maker, Evert Sodergren grew up in a family of Swedish immigrants in Seattle, Washington. From the age of 15, working alongside his father, he learned both the art and economics of building fine furniture. In 1939 he went to work at the Boeing Company where for eight years he built test model aircraft...
Hardwood
Annamarie Davidson Copper Enamel Plate & Lidded Wood Bowl –
Located in San Diego, CA
A stunning Mid-Century Modern studio craft set by acclaimed California artist Annamarie Davidson, featuring a hand-enameled copper plate and matching lidded wood bowl. Known for her ...
Copper, Enamel
Unique Zebra Wood Jewelry Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Unique Zebra Wood Jewelry Box "very nice half donut design" "amazing wood grain and color" "two slide out compartments" "signed on the bottom - eligible" "felt added to the interior...
Zebra Wood
Michael Elkan Studios "Castles #14" Hand-Carved Birdseye Maple Box
Located in Sacramento, CA
Hand-carved birdseye maple burl box by Michael Elkan Studios, Silverton, Oregon. Titled “Castles #14,” this is a beautifully carved piece, showcasing the distinctive grain and qualit...
Birdseye Maple
California modernist walnut jewelry box with drawers
By Sam Maloof
Located in Ferndale, MI
Finely crafted dresser top walnut jewelry or trinket box . Two drawers below lift up top . Diminutive cabinet with nice detail . Fine condition thr...
Walnut
Antique Decorative Frank Lloyd Wright style Jewelry Box, circa 1930s
Located in View Park, CA
An American craftsman / Art Deco Frank / Lloyd Wright style jewelry box with burl patchwork motif, circa 1930s. Signs of age include minor scuffing and some nicks to the upper inside...
Wood
Tiffany American Craftsman Hand Hammered Cigar Box
Located in New York, NY
American Craftsman sterling silver cigar box, ca 1910. Retailed by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Rectangular with straight sides. Cover hinged with curved top and molded rim. Allover ha...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 15.56 in W 12.8 in D 17.72 in
Vintage Folk Art Birdhouse, American, Scratch Built, Midwestern, Garden, 1960
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a vintage folk art birdhouse. An American, scratch built pine twin bird house with a distinctly midwestern folksy taste, dating to the mid-2...
Pine
American Craftsman Walnut and Oak Jewelry Box or Desk Organizer
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Nice little jewelry box made of walnut and oak. Three solid wood pullout / pull-out drawers. Artist-signed on back, R.J. Schrader dated 1991.
Oak, Walnut
Selection of Modernist Boxes
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of modernist boxes, circa 1950s-1980s. They are, from left to right as seen in the first photo: 1) Python skin and lucite red lacquered box, E...
Brass
Early 20th Century American Painted Trunk or Blanket Chest
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Wooden trunk / storage chest in maroon and black with a hinged top that opens to reveal three, removable boxes for storage. These boxes, vintage but later additions, can be removed f...
Brass
Michael Elkan American Studio Craft Lidded Box, Signed
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Beautiful burled wood trinket box with a rather peculiar form, and a nearly invisible finish handcrafted by artist, Michael Elkan. Signed to the underside as pictured.
Wood