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.
$540Sale Price|20% Off
Studio Craft, Candle Holder, 1980s
Located in South Jordan, UT
Hand carved walnut studio craft candle holder. Created using a thick slab of walnut and hand finished to hold three candles. This piece is signed "Feb 81' Thibit of St. Croix" on the...
Walnut
Memphis Style 1980s Metal Stick Person Candle Holders
Located in Fairfield, CA
A vintage 1980s memphis style stick person black metal candle holder. The stick person holds a wine glass in one hand and there is a candle holder in the other hand. Quirky wavy hair...
Metal
$320 / set
H 7.5 in W 6.5 in D 2.2 in
Pair of Sculptural Brass and Black Ring Candle Holders, Postmodern, 1980s
Located in Toronto, CA
Strikingly architectural and refined, this pair of Postmodern candleholders exemplifies the sculptural sophistication of 1980s European design. Each piece features a bold black circu...
Metal, Brass
Danish Ceramic Studio Art Ikebana Minimalist Candle Holder Vase, 1980s
By Albert Thiry, Francois Gueneau, Aage Würtz
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Large round handmade decorative chalk white glazed Danish organic modern ikebana vase by ceramic artist Aage Würtz. Hand-crafted Japanese inspired item that functions for both flower...
Ceramic, Pottery, Stoneware
$466
H 9.65 in Dm 4.34 in
Modernist Candle Holder - Stainless Steel Brutalist Candlestick - Italy 1980s
By Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Group
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Modernist Candle Holder - Stainless Steel Brutalist Candlestick - Italy 1980s Superb design for this piece, quite reminiscent of the Memphis Group style. Made of stainless steel an...
Brass, Stainless Steel
$280Sale Price|20% Off
H 8.5 in W 3.5 in D 3.5 in
Italian Green Marble Architectural Candle Holders Circa 1980s
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautifully shaped organic Green Marble candle holders Circa 1980s. Candlesticks have a great clean architectural design that is versati...
Marble
Sculptural Candle Holders in Burnished Metal, Set of 3, Italy, 1980s
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Enhance your interior decor with these incredible sculptural candle holders, a set of three exquisite pieces from Italy, crafted in the 1980s. These candle holders are a stunning exa...
Metal
Folk Art Stone Candle Holder, 1980s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Folk Art Stone Candle Holder, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1980 to 1989. Additional information: Materials: Stone Color: Beige Period: 1980s Item Type: Vintage, Antique or Pre-...
Stone
Postmodern Brass Candle Holders, Memphis Milano Style, Circa 1980s
By Michael Graves (b.1934), Aldo Londi, Memphis Milano, (After) Gio Ponti, Memphis Group
Located in Round Top, TX
This exceptional duo of brass candle holders exemplifies a refined fusion of neoclassical elegance and minimalist form. The sleek, polished brass bases anchor the design, while the a...
Brass
Oak Candle Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Oak candle holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: oak, brass Dimensions: H 55 mm x D 65 mm Colour: dark brown Notes: for dry use Since 2015, product designer ...
Brass
Pine Candle Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Pine candle holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: pine, brass Dimensions: H 55 mm x D 65 mm Colour: reddish Notes: for dry use Since 2015, product designer E...
Brass
Set of Four Swedish Folk Art Rooster Candle Holders, 1980s
Located in Frederiksberg C, DK
Set of Four Swedish Folk Art Rooster Candle Holders, 1980s Charming set of four Swedish folk art candle holders, crafted in the 1980s and shaped as stylised roosters. Made from soli...
Wood
Ash Candle Holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Ash candle holder by Evelina Kudabaite Studio Handmade Materials: ash, brass Dimensions: H 55 mm x D 65 mm Colour: yellow/light brown Notes: for dry use Since 2015, product d...
Brass
Antique Brass Sabbath Candle Holders
Located in New York, NY
This Pair of Shabbas Candle Holders, rendered in hand wrought brass with refined and classical banded detailing originate from the United States, Circa 1910. Designed to be lit prio...
Brass
Blown Glass Oil Lamp by Jon Wolfard
By Jon Wolfard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A masterfully executed blown glass oil lamp having a cylindrical form encasing a dramatic floating round oil receptacle.
Blown Glass