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.
James Aitchison Aesthetic Movement mantel or bracket clock with Owls & Songbirds
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement mantel or bracket clock, Signed James Aitchison, Paris in the number 12, with finely carved floral decoration to the front and sides, a french city evening scen...
Walnut
Lewis F Day, Howell, James & Sons Aesthetic Movement Ebonised & Polychrome Clock
By Howell James & Co., Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
Lewis Foreman Day, for Howell, James and Sons. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized and polychrome painted mantle clock with a carved floret to the centre of the arched and turned gallery flanked by turned finials, with a dentil moulding below, and criss cross lattice work to the upper sides, the lower sides with hand painted Aesthetic flowers in planters...
Brass
Aesthetic Movement Oak Mantle Clock by Howell & James with Blue Tile Insets
Located in London, GB
Howell & James, in the style of Lewis Foreman Day. An Aesthetic Movement oak mantle clock with a carved cresting to the top and fan-shaped detail, framed by incised decoration and a ...
Oak
Aesthetic Movement Zodiac Black Marble Mantle Clock with Gong-Striking Movement
Located in London, GB
A rare and wonderful Aesthetic Movement black marble brass gong-striking mantel clock with brass finials and brass gallery to the top, just below with hand-painted porcelain panels o...
Belgian Black Marble, Brass
Lewis Foreman Day. Made by Howell and Sons. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized clock
By Howard & Sons, Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized clock with finely carved decoration, the clock movement is by Edwards and Sons with a pair carved devices below and a blue and white floral ceramic bor...
Ceramic, Walnut
Howell and James, A small Aesthetic Movement walnut mantle clock
Located in London, GB
Howell and James in the style of Lewis Foreman Day. A small Aesthetic Movement walnut mantle clock with brass finials and brass feet, a pierced gallery to the top centred with a fan ...
Brass
A Quality Victorian Marble Mantle Clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
A quality Victorian Marble mantle clock with black Roman numerals with a white enamel face, the bronzed figural case surmounted by an Elizabeth...
Marble, Bronze
French Clock Set Mantle Garniture Marble Antique, 1900
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Elegant antique French clock set with mantle clock and matching tazzas Love the salmon pink tone of the marble with grey flecks, great colour and fin...
Marble
Unavailable|$6,247
H 19.1 in W 10.44 in D 7.29 in
Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Mantel Clock Attributed to Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
A magnificent Aesthetic Movement mantel clock, with an ebonised mahogany case and an exquisitely painted dial. The case embodies the style of the Aesthetic Movement, with an arched a...
Mahogany
Jaeger LeCoultre Vintage Brass Table Clock, 8 Day Movement
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Jaeger LeCoultre Vintage Brass Table Clock, 8 Day Movement Round acrylic and brass table clock from Jaeger-LeCoultre, with a clean, minimalist design that fits into any environment. ...
Bronze
Spectacular Large Art Deco Walnut & Chrome Mantle Clock, c1930
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this very stylish 1930's Art Deco very rare and impressive, long walnut cased, Art Deco mantel clock, powered by a quartz battery having been converted. The...
Brass
$9,858
H 87.8 in W 19.69 in D 10.24 in
Antique Georgian 8 Day Mahogany Longcase Clock by James Field of Hempstead
Located in Suffolk, GB
A fine quality Antique George III period 8 day longcase clock by James Field of Hempstead, dating to circa 1785. The clock features a beautifully engraved silvered brass arched dial ...
Mahogany
Art Deco Stylish Walnut Mantle Clock, English, c1930
Located in Devon, England
For your consideration is this super stylish Art Deco Wood and Glass Ferranti Synchronous Mantle Clock With Working Original Movement, dating to 1938. A rare example of it's type, t...
Chrome
Art Deco Stylish Desk Clock With 8 Day Movement , English, c1930s
Located in Devon, England
A fully restored Art Deco Style desk clock in full working condition. The movement is made by Mauthe and has been fully disassembled, cleaned and reassembled back into working condit...
Brass, Chrome
$3,500
H 59 in W 14 in D 9 in
20th C English Mahogany and Walnut Grandmother Clock with Le Rose Movement
By John Thompson
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., London, a grandmother clock in a wood case with mixed veneers, with scrolled open pediment top, hinged door opens to brass and silverplate Roman numeral dial, face marked "J...
Metal, Brass
Large Quality Victorian Marble Mantle Clock
Located in Ipswich, GB
Large quality antique Victorian marble mantle clock having a quality ornate marble case with a circular brass dial, original hands with a eight...
Marble, Brass
Art Deco French Mantle Clock
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Art Deco French mantle clock consisting of marble and aluminum. Clock measures 14" wide, 2.5" deep and 9.75" high.
Marble, Chrome
$6,800
H 92 in W 22.25 in D 10.75 in
James Hansell Philadelphia Mahogany 8 Day Tall Clock with Moon Phase Dial
Located in Milford, NH
A fine mahogany case tall clock with 8-day brass works by Philadelphia clockmaker James Hansell (1791-1865), who was the proprietor of his own clock and watch shop from 1816 through ...
Metal, Brass
Edwardian Brass Carriage Clock with Swiss Movement
Located in Worcester, GB
Edwardian Brass Carriage Clock with Swiss Movement, Early 20th Century A charming Edwardian period brass carriage clock, early 20th century. The case with bevelled glass panels to ...
Brass
$1,061 / set
H 14.97 in W 13 in D 5.71 in
Wonderful Antique Victorian quality eight day movement marble clock set
Located in Ipswich, GB
Wonderful Antique Victorian quality eight day movement marble clock set, having a black marble case with four reeded columns, a dome top, round enamel brass dial with original hands ...
Marble
Antique French Brass Carriage Clock – 8 Day Movement
Located in Suffolk, GB
A charming antique French brass carriage clock of classic design with a beautifully proportioned case and elegant white enamel dial. The clock is housed in a traditional brass case w...
Brass
Sold
H 14 in W 7 in D 5.25 in L 14 in
Aesthetic Movement Black Slate and Porcelain Clock Set, Circa 1880
Located in Astoria, NY
American Aesthetic Movement Black Slate and Porcelain Three Piece Clock Set, circa 1880, each piece decorated with porcelain panels depicting robins and various birds, fish, and inse...
Slate
19th Century Aesthetic Movement Mantle Clock
Located in Ross, CA
Aesthetic movement mantle clock made in France in the late 19th century. The face is blue and white hand painted enamel centered over blue and white porcelain. The round case which i...
Porcelain
Sold
H 22.13 in W 8.86 in D 5.32 in
Lewis Foreman Day. A rare Aesthetic Movement mantel clock with floral decoration
By Howell James & Co., Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
Lewis Foreman Day for Howell James & Co. An Aesthetic Movement mantel clock with hand painted floral decoration and sunflower to the dial flanked...
Walnut
Champlevé Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in Amersham, GB
A charming enamel and brass mantel clock with champlevé enamel decoration, corinthian columns and foliate finials to the case. Housing an eight day movement, with original platform e...
Brass, Enamel
Rococo Revival Gilt Bronze & Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in Astoria, NY
Rococo Revival gilt bronze mantel clock with enamel columns and panels, marked "A. Stowell & Co. Boston" to the face with Roman and Arabic numerals to the chapter ring and two wind h...
Bronze, Enamel
French 19th Century Paris Movement Mantel Clock
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This lovely French, Paris Movement mantel clock, c. 1880, with incised and gilt decoration, is of square section on a stepped plinth base and fea...
Marble
English 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This lovely English Aesthetic Movement marble mantel clock, circa 1880, with incised and gilt decoration, is of square section on a stepped plinth base and features an enamel dial wi...
Marble
Sold
H 5.75 in W 12.75 in D 8.375 in
French 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Three-Piece Clock Garniture
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This handsome three-piece black marble clock garniture, in the Aesthetic taste, is from France, circa 1860s. Consisting of a gilt-incised and rouge-and-grey marble inset clock with g...
Marble
Sold
H 17.5 in W 12.5 in D 10 in
Lewis. F. Day, Attributed an Aesthetic Movement Ebonized and Enamel Mantle Clock
By Howell & James Ltd, Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
Lewis. F. Day, attributed, an Aesthetic movement ebonised and enamel mantle or bracket clock. Possibly retailed by Howell & James of Regent St. A French striking 8 day movement wit...
Enamel
German Aesthetic Movement Carved, Gilt and Ebonized Walnut Mantel Clock
Located in Big Flats, NY
German Aesthetic Movement carved walnut clock features ebonized gallery and flanking corner columns, door frame with ebonized and gilt border, enam...
Enamel
Aesthetic Movement Ebonised and Gilt Painted Panel Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
An aesthetic movement Ebonised and gilt painted panel mantel clock, the gong-striking movement with outside countwheel no. 1543, the dial a...
Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Mantel Clock by L Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
Lewis Foreman Day, an Aesthetic Movement ebonized mantel clock, the gong-striking eight-day movement with an Arabic numeral 6 inch dial with blue and gilt flower and sunburst painted...