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.
Solid Brass French Rams Heads Ink Well with Decorative Brass and Antlers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
An exceptional pair of French solid brass ram's head inkwells, masterfully conceived with remarkable artistry and imagination. Each ram's head is fitted with its original removable g...
Brass
19th Century Rustic Antler Inkwell Stand, Glass & Metal Holder, USA
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic desk object / inkwell holder made of a deer antler mounted on a metal armature with bullet casings along the sides creating a compartment for a square inkwell adjoining a blue...
Antler
19th Century Bronze Dore Napolean Ink Well, France.
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Encrier set with richly-veined Verde Antico marble base mounted with pair gilt-bronze inkwells flanked on either side of a Napolean bust. The marble base with pen tray rest on sh...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Giltwood Watch Holder
Located in New Orleans, LA
Beautifully carved figural giltwood pocket watch stand.
19th Century Baccarat Inkwell
Located in Tampa, FL
A Baccarat crystal inkwell with decorated bronze. Circa 19th century, France. The interior is two inches deep and the opening is one inch wide.
Crystal
Late 19th Or Early 20th Century Glass Inkwell
Located in Greven, DE
Faceted Amethyst Glass Inkwell with Brass Lid Origin: France Material: glass, brass Date: circa 1900 Dimensions: H × D: approx. 6 × 12 c...
Bronze
$1,650
H 4.5 in W 7.13 in D 6.13 in
Antique English Regency Porcelain Worcester Dragons in Compartments Ink Well
Located in Wilton, CT
Exquisite antique Worcester porcelain desk inkstand and cover in "dragons in compartments" or "bengal tiger" pattern. A stunning piece of English Regency chinoiserie in imari palette...
Porcelain
19th Century French Enameled Champlevé Inkwell
Located in Forney, TX
A stunning and rare French mid-19th century encier in Louis Revival taste with Moorish Arabesque influence. Handcrafted in Champlevé enameled gilt bronze with ornate and colorful blue, pink, red, green and white enameling over the heavily shaped and scalloped base, that borders the stunning Severes style (I have not removed it to check for a makers mark) enameled porcelain tray scene of frolicking putti. The stunning enameling continues on the raised inkwell body and hinged lid with finial. Opposite, two raised balls act as a pen rest, the inkstand raising on four ball feet. Similar to French cloisonne, each champlevé design is a one-of-a-kind work of art. A beautiful warm verdigris patina adds to its character and charm. This wonderful antique objet...
Bronze, Enamel
Antique Inkwell, Crystal Glass, Silver Plated, Late 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Inkwell made from crystal glass. The lid is silver-plated.
Crystal, Silver Plate
$2,950Sale Price|34% Off
H 6.5 in W 10 in D 9 in
Bronze Inkwell in Ram's Head Design, Late 19th Century, France
Located in Montreal, QC
There was a great appetite for things Scottish in Victorian England. Plaids, Scottish regiments, Tartan Carpets, Marmalade etc. The ram's head also makes...
Bronze
19th Century French Dore Gilt Gold Metal Double Inkwell Set
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th-century dore gold stag double ink well is an elegant and ornate piece crafted with a sense of luxury typical of the era. The glass Jars with delicate tops make this piece except...
Brass, Bronze, Gold Leaf
19th Century Victorian Cast Iron "Lion" Inkwell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Figural lion inkwell boasting original paint with hinged lion's head concealing the well, circa late 1800s Patina / paint loss consistent with age / use.
Iron
$2,200
H 8.5 in W 11 in D 6.5 in
Antique French Gilt Bronze Inkwell on Rouge Marble Stand, 19th Century
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique French gilt bronze inkwell on rouge marble stand. It is of superb quality and features a central figure of Diana The Huntress. Provenance: From the estate of Texas Oil...
Bronze
$235
H 4 in W 5 in D 6 in
Antique Victorian Thomas Hudson Barometric Ink Well Stand Pen Quill Holder 6"
By Thomas Hudson
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique 19th century library writing barometric / barometer pen holder and ink stand, Circa 1860s-1880s. Made of brass featuring pewter inkwell with glass dome reservoir and slots f...
Brass, Pewter
19th Century English Inkwell on Horn and Brass Base
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful and unique inkwell. Cut crystal inkwell with brass top cradled by two antlers.
Crystal
Sold
H 9.6 in W 7.6 in D 3.5 in
Vienna Bronze Vintage Franz Bergman Arab Warrior Riding on Camel Inkwell, 1890
Located in Vienna, AT
There is an Arab man (warrior) presented: He rides on camel / beside him there is a tall palm tree visible. - The figurine group is of STUNNING LIVELINESS (the details are...
Bronze