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.
19th Century Bronze pair of candlesticks with bears of Christophe Fratin
Located in Paris, FR
Here is a stunning pair of finely chiseled, bronze candlesticks from the mid-19th century. These bronze candelabras, with a body resembling a tree trunk adorned with oak leaves and a...
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century Galle Faience Lion Candleholder with Silver Candelabra
By Émile Gallé
Located in Essex, MA
Pair of signed Emile Galle (French, 1846-1904) rampant lion faience candleholders Heraldic lion holding a castle tower in rampart also holding silvered bronze candelabra Signed...
Bronze
Pair Late 19th Century French Tole Painted Bronze Urn & Flower Form Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This pair of candelabra made in the form of urns holding floral arrangements are French and were cast in bronze in the 1870s. It’s possible that at one time they were gilded but they...
Bronze
Aesthetic Period Antique Silver Plate Candelabrum by Hukin & Heath, Circa 1880
Located in London, London
Made circa 1880 by Hukin & Heath, this stylish, Victorian, antique silver plated candelabrum, is a fine example of the Aesthetic Movement, featuring a textured base, and will hold 6 ...
Silver Plate
Aesthetic Period, Antique Silver Plate Candelabrum, Hukin & Heath, Circa 1880
Located in London, London
Made circa 1880 by Hukin & Heath, this stylish, Victorian, antique silver plated candelabrum, is a fine example of the Aesthetic Movement, featuring a plain base, and will hold 6 can...
Silver Plate
Antique English Silver Plate Biscuit Box, circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique English SilverPlate Biscuit Box, circa 1880.
Silver Plate
Unavailable|$899 / set
H 12.75 in W 5.25 in D 5.25 in
Pair of Antique English Edwardian Silver Plated Candlesticks
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This pair of antique silver plated candlesticks are hallmarked "W.S.&Co." which we are unable to identify specifically, but believe t...
Metal
$1,750Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.13 in Dm 4.63 in
Pair of 19th Century French Brass Neoclassical Candlesticks
Located in Pembroke, MA
A pair of very finely-chased French brass candlesticks, circa 1870 in the neoclassical style (could be electrified as table lamps). Bases are decorated with rose vines.
Brass
$16,800Sale Price|30% Off
H 28.35 in Dm 13.78 in
Amazing Pair of French 19th Century Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Rome, IT
A fine pair of French 19th century bronze and gilt bronze candelabras, each with a dark bronze delicious dancing putto figures and parrots holding aloft three scrolled candle-branche...
Bronze
$19,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.35 in Dm 13.78 in
Amazing Pair of French 19th Century Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Rome, IT
A fine pair of French 19th century bronze and gilt bronze candelabras, each with a dark bronze delicious dancing putto figures and parrots holding aloft three scrolled candle-branche...
Bronze
$4,295 / set
H 26.5 in W 9 in D 9 in
Pair of 19th Century French Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 19th century French Louis XV style gilt bronze candelabras. Outstanding finely detailed pair of antique French Napoleon ...
Bronze
$380Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.5 in W 1.38 in D 4.88 in
19th Century Georgian, Sheffield Silver Plate Candlesticks, Pair
By Sheffield
Located in Soquel, CA
19th Century Georgian, Sheffield Silver Plate Candlesticks, Pair Pair of English, Georgian, George IV Sheffield silver plate candlesticks. Vintage, distressed silver finish. Silver ...
Sheffield Plate, Copper
$3,700 / set
H 10 in W 4 in D 4 in
Set of 4 Antique English Sheffield Silver Candlesticks, Circa 1860's
By Sheffield
Located in New Orleans, LA
Set of 4 antique English sheffield silver candlesticks, Circa 1860's.
Silver Plate
$9,850Sale Price / set|46% Off
H 19.5 in W 9 in D 8.5 in
19th Century Louis XVI Style Patinated and Gilt Bronze Figural Candelabra, Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine pair of French 19th century Louis XVI style patinated and gilt bronze figural two-light candelabra after a model by Claude-Michel Clodion (French, 1738-1814), one modeled...
Griotte Marble, Bronze
$3,043 / set
H 21 in Dm 6 in
19th Century Pair of French Patinated Bronze Sculptures Candelabra Candleholders
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of heavy patinated bronze sculpture candelabra, France, mid-19th century. Two female sculptures holding a candleholder raised on a b...
Bronze
$10,000 / set
H 15.25 in W 21.125 in D 4.25 in
19th Century Tiffany Studios Gilt Bronze Branch Form Candelabra
Located in Cincinnati, OH
This matched pair of Art Nouveau gilt bronze candelabra were made by Tiffany Studios of New York. The candelabra have an naturalistic form modeled after tree branches and feature six...
Bronze
$2,850
H 3.75 in W 10.4 in D 4.25 in
19th Century French Bronze Reclining Greyhound by Christopher Fratin, 1801-1864
Located in Stamford, CT
Very sensitive rendering of a greyhound at rest with a rich dark brown patina with lighter highlights showing through. The dog is shown reclining with one paw turned up, a detail I find endearing as a dog owner, my border collie does this too! Mounted on a polished black slate base, marked Fratin on the base. Also stamped with the foundry mark 'Daubree, Editeur'. A fine desk top, shelf, or mantel piece for the dog lover, Christopher Fratin (1 January 1801 – 16 August 1864), also known as Christophe Fratin, was a noted French sculptor in the animalier style, and one of the earliest French sculptors to portray animals in bronze. Fratin was born in Metz, Moselle, France the son of a taxidermist. He first studied drawing under Pioche in Metz and later worked in Paris at the studio of Théodore Géricault. He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1831 to 1842 and 1850–1862, as well as at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. Fratin never signed his bronzes but instead used a stamp showing his last name in straight block letters. Fratin received monumental commissions in France and elsewhere, including the Deux Aigles Gardant Leur Proie (Eagles and Prey, created 1850) displayed since 1863 in New York City’s Central Park. Today, Fratin’s sculpture is on permanent display in the Louvre, the city museums of Metz, Lyon, Strasbourg, Nîmes and at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. The Georg Eisler...
Slate, Bronze
Ancient Pair of Candleholders, French Manufacture 19th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Pair of candleholder is an original decorative object realized at the end of the 19th century by French manufacture. The artwork has two arms in gilded bronze with a capital base ...
Gold Plate, Brass
A pair of 19th century gilt bronze French candelabra
Located in Eindhoven, NL
A very pretty pair of gilt bronze French candelabra in the style of Louis XV. Each with two candle light. Decorated with foliate motifs and acanthus leaves.
Bronze
$25,000 / set
H 30 in Dm 14 in
Excellent Pair of Late 19th Century Parcel-Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in Long Island City, NY
An Excellent Pair of Late 19th/Early 20th Century Louis XV Style Parcel-Gilt and Patinated Bronze Seven Light Candelabra Each with openwork tripod base cast with hoof feet, the standard with three cherub busts...
Bronze, Ormolu
Large Scale Gilt Bronze 6-Light Candelabra W/ Fox & Dog Hunting Scene
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, late 19th century. Good Quality Behold the epitome of grandeur and sophistication: a truly magnificent Large Scale Gilt Bronze 6-Light Candelabra, resplendent with an enchan...
Bronze
Pair of Early-Mid 20th Century Brass Camel Candelabras
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Pair of brass camel candelabras, Egyptian, early-mid 20th century. Triple light candelabras supported by the camels. Charming with blue bead drop copper wire face "harness". 5 1/8" x...
Brass
Sold
H 14 in W 6.25 in D 5 in
Antique Aesthetic Movement Brass Candelabra with Stylized Flowers Circa 1880
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique set of Aesthetic Movement candelabra offer brass construction with pierced panel of stylized flowers and two candle sockets each, raised on co...
Brass
Sold
H 37.25 in W 17.5 in D 12.25 in
Antique Oversized Aesthetic Brass & Copper Ox Horn Candelabra Centerpiece, c1870
Located in Big Flats, NY
An Antique and large Aesthetic Movement candelabra centerpiece offers an ox horn bodice with flanking brass candle arms and raised on base having foliate relie...
Metal, Brass, Copper
Candelabra Bronze Silver-Plated, Pair, 20th Century
By A. Clement
Located in Paris, FR
The bronze carving is inspired by old candelabras from the 18th and 19th centuries, they are really good quality. Quite high they are extremely decorati...
Bronze
Rostand Judaica Ecclesiastical Brass Candelabras
By Rostand
Located in Astoria, NY
Judaica liturgical "Rostand" pair of adjustable brass candelabras, each with seven-light bases. The mechanism has hinged arms and is supported by hexagonal bases with makers marks. I...
Brass
Aesthetic Style Cast Metal Candleholders
Located in Astoria, NY
Aesthetic style pair of cast metal candleholders, probably from the 1920s, with decorative foliage candle cups, drip pans and column with floral bot...
Metal
Pair of Cast Brass and Agate Candelabra
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Elegant brass and agate candelabra with three lower arms and one center arm. Late 19th century, American.
Agate, Brass