For some, the phrase “rustic style” suggests a house like “La Pitchoune,” the late chef Julia Child’s cottage in Provence, with its exposed wooden beams and well-worn antique furniture. For others, rustic furnishings and decor prompt images of a place like the Lake Placid Lodge in Upstate New York, with its stone fireplaces and knotty pine paneling. Indeed, rustic furniture design takes many forms: twig furniture, a plank trestle table, a hand-stitched quilt, a chandelier made of deer antlers.
The rustic style originated in the late 1800s in England, where it was heavily influenced by Romanticism. By the 20th century, it had spread to the United States, adopted by wealthy New Yorkers and the National Park Service alike. Although there are many categories of rustic furniture, one of the most popular and familiar manifestations of the style is Adirondack furniture and the low-slung 1903 Thomas Lee Adirondack chair.
Rustic design is perhaps mostly about texture and humble materials: hand-hewn reclaimed wood, woven rush seating, wrought iron, coarse stone and weathered metal. As a decor, it exudes warmth and honesty, while a single piece of countrified design adds an intriguing visual counterpoint in a sleek, modern environment.
Easily identifiable by its rough textures, earthy colors and natural materials, rustic wares help bring the beauty of the outdoors inside.
As you can see on 1stDibs, vintage rustic chairs, dining tables and other pieces of rustic furniture offer endless inspiration.
$2,995 / set
Pair of 18th Century Embossed Copper Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 18th Century Embossed Copper Sconces. Two candles each, sunflower design. Nice vintage condition.
Copper
$1,550 / set
Vintage Boho Carved Wood Candle Sconces - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Add striking, sculptural elegance to your walls with this dramatic pair of Vintage Boho Carved Wood Candle Sconces. Towering at over three feet tall, these statement sconces feature ...
Metal
Jean Touret & The Artisans of Marolles Pair of Candle Sconces, France circa 1960
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in New York, NY
Stamped: Marolles Jean Touret moved to Pezay, a rural area near Marolles, in 1946. While there, he became highly conscious of the uncertainty that Industrial development would bri...
Oak
$1,250Sale Price|47% Off
H 29 in W 40 in D 6 in
Vintage Italian Gilt Metal and Wood 7-Light Candle Sconce, 1960s
By Palladio
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
8-157 Italian gilt metal and wood 7-light candle sconce with foil details. Large size lends itself as an elaborate wall sculpture.
Metal
$3,750 / set
H 16 in W 16 in D 2 in
Pair of Italian Midcentury Giltwood Candle Sconces with Carved Feathers
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Italian giltwood candle sconces from the mid 20th century, with two arms, carved feathers and acanthus leaves. Created in Italy during the Mid...
Giltwood
A Pair of Large Italian Carved Wood Candle Holders
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
Highly ornate solid wood candle holders with a carved and painted swag detail. Perfect for conversion into electrified table lamps.
Wood
Pair of Cobra Candle Holders - France, Circa 1920s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Exotic pair of brass candlesticks with intricate etched pattern and red enamel finish.
$1,538Sale Price|20% Off
H 25.6 in W 6.3 in D 6.3 in
Spanish Colonial Carved Wood Torchere / Floor Candle Holder, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sculptural floor standing candle holder in turned wood and iron nails, Spain, 1940s. Eye-catching floor candle holder in pine wood. It ha...
Wrought Iron
Wrought iron Atelier Marolles style candelabra
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Wrought iron Atelier Marolles style candelabra
Wrought Iron
Vintage Mirrored Wall Candle Sconces
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A matching pair of vintage wall hanging candle sconces mounted on oval mirrors. Each mirror features a clear rope twist glass border with softly aged glass showing light spotting. A ...
Metal
A Pair of Queen Anne Gilt Candle Sconces
Located in Greenwich, CT
A pair of Queen Anne style gilt framed mirrored sconces of good quality having lovely water gilt and burnished molded frames with re-entrant top corners, faux mercury glass plate and...
Giltwood
Pair of 18th Century Italian Polychrome Sconces
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of 18th century Italian polychrome sconces. Tall pair of antique Italian Neoclassical style carved wood polychrome sconces from Tuscany. These ...
Wood
$490
H 14.18 in W 9.65 in D 4.14 in
Pair of Vintage French Wall Candle Sconces in Bronze in the Style of Louis XVI
Located in COLMAR, FR
A beautiful pair of vintage, wall candle sconces in a classic Louis XVI style. These sconses are made of heavy, molded, bronze/copper alloy. They are identical and none of them featu...
Bronze
Hand-forged wrought iron candlesticks, France 1950s
By Jean Touret, Atelier Marolles
Located in Antwerp, BE
Striking pair of hand-forged wrought iron candelabra from France, dating to the 1950s. These sculptural five-light candleholders strongly reflect the aesthetic associated with Jean T...
Wrought Iron
$2,950 / set
H 22.75 in W 5 in D 4 in
Pair of French Empire Brass Candle Sconces, Swan Design, Antique, 1820
Located in Austin, TX
Candle holder sconces from France from the Empire period. This finely cast pair of sconces features a solid brass structure with a swan holding two chained candle...
Bronze
Set of Two Rustic Earthenware Candle Holders, Spain, circa 1960
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of Two Rustic Earthenware Candle Holders, Spain, circa 1960 - Original Condition Illuminate your home with the warm charm of this beautiful set of two rustic earthenware candle ...
Earthenware
Sold
H 12.5 in W 2.5 in D 2.5 in
Vintage Brass & Wood Taper Candle Holder Handheld Sconce Lantern India 13"
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage wall hanging candle holder crafted to resemble an antique brass grain scoop with turned wood handle. Single taper candle cup in base of sco...
Brass
White Iron Candlestick Wall Scones Pair
Located in Malibu, CA
Whimsical oversized candle sconces, a pair featuring curlicues, leaves & twisted iron. Scalloped candle cups. Refinished in shades of white. Beautiful and unique, this iron wall ...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 6.75 in Dm 6.25 in
2 Antique Brass Candle Holders Chamber Stick Wall Hanging Frying Pan Candlestick
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of antique primitive brass chamber stick candle holders in the manner of a frying pan with tall straight handle that could be used to hang the holders as wall sconces.
Brass
Pair of Antique Hammered Brass and Iron Candle Sconces
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An unusual and very decorative Oval Back Candle Sconces, possibly Spanish. Oval hammered brass and wrought iron wall sconces measuring 13 1/2" High x 10 1/2" Wide by 10” Deep. Flow...
Brass, Iron
Sold
H 14.18 in W 10.63 in D 4.34 in
Pair of Spanish 18th Century Hand-Forged Iron Wall Candleholders / Sconces
Located in Buisson, FR
Unique pair of 18th century hand-forged iron wall candleholders. Easy to attach at your wall Spain 18th century. Weathered but very good condition. More photo's available on request.
Iron
French Wrought Iron Candleholder or Sconce
Located in Winter Park, FL
A rustic French wrought iron candleholder with spike to hold a 3" diameter pillar candle. Nice weathered patina. May be placed on a table or ...
Wrought Iron
19th Century English Tole Wall Mount Lantern
Located in Chicago, IL
A charming 19th century English painted tole wall mount lantern of tapered form with traces of original green paint, a stovepipe top and a door on...
Iron
Sold
H 26.5 in W 15.5 in D 13 in
Pair of Italian 19th Century Candle Sconces of Wood with Grey Painted Accents
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of Italian 19th century carved wooden plaque sconces. This pair of Italian candle sconces have been fashioned from 19th carved wood wall plaques with 20th century arms. The ca...
Metal
Sold
H 15.75 in W 6.25 in D 4 in
Pair of Spanish 18th Century Hand-Forged Iron Wall Candleholders / Sconces
Located in Buisson, FR
Unique pair of 18th century hand-forged iron wall candleholders. Easy to attach at your wall Spain 18th century. Weathered but very good condition.
Iron