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
Rustic Antler Inkwell Stand with Glass and Metal Pen Holder
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
Enchanted brass and glass pen holder
Located in Firenze, FI
Add some sophistication and organization to your desk with our glass pen holder featuring a beautiful brass structure. Perfect for holding pens, penci...
Marble, Brass
$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
$1,495
H 3.75 in W 7.5 in D 3.75 in
Apollo Studios New York Arts & Crafts Grapevine Bronze Inkwell With Pen Holder
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful Arts & Crafts or Art Nouveau period "Grapevine" pattern bronze and slag glass inkwell with pen holder with verdigris green patina In the manner of Tiffany Studios By Ap...
Bronze
$164Sale Price|30% Off
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
$1,569Sale Price / set|35% Off
H 3.94 in W 9.45 in D 6.5 in
Art Deco Egyptian Revival Desk Stand, Two Cut Glass Inkwells With A Pen Tray
Located in Reading, Berkshire
An Impressive Art Deco Egyptian Revival Desk Stand With Two Cut Glass Metal Topped Inkwells With A Formed Pen Tray Base Decorated With A Rope & Key Design Will Be Supplied With ...
Chrome
Baroque Style Brass Inkwell Set and Letter Holder Stand
Located in Doylestown, PA
Baroque style solid brass double inkwell set with letter holder, c. 1900-1910. A gorgeous desktop accessory ornately adorned with cherubs, flowers and scrolling acanthus leaves. In...
Brass
Ink Bottle with Boar Head and Antlers
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique English brass and crystal inkwell with small horns and brass boar head. Diameter for bottle: 2.38".
Crystal, Brass
$2,550
H 8.5 in W 16.5 in D 7.5 in
French Charles X Large Marble and Gilded Bronze Ink Well and Candle Stand
Located in Hudson, NY
This French carved marble and gilded bronze inkwell and candlestand, circa 1830 is carved from sienna marble. The large block is set with a tray well in front and then the cast bronze sarcophagus shaped inkwell is set up on animal paw feet. Cast with 4 holes to rest the quills or pens two wells for ink and a candlestand in the center. The bronze is well cast and has the more expensive attribute of matte and burnished elements giving an extra rich quality to the objects visual drama. Condition Disclosure: While we do our best to carefully inspect and give a full report on the condition of any item we sell, pointing out any repairs or alterations that may have been done to the best of our knowledge, as is the case with any antique and vintage item, there is a possibility that at some point in the life of the piece that there may have been damaged which has been professionally repaired and as such a repair undetectable it is therefore impossible for us to disclose... we recommend that you also read and agree to the 1st dibs user agreement...
Marble, Bronze
$1,283
H 11.5 in W 3.5 in D 6 in
Paper knife, brass blade, stag horn handle with dachshund dog head. France 1890.
Located in Milan, IT
The letter opener or paper knife was originally used to cut the pages of hand-printed books, where the folding of printed sheets created closed edges that required cutting the paper ...
Brass
Enchanted brass and glass pen holder
Located in Firenze, FI
Add some sophistication and organization to your desk with our glass pen holder featuring a beautiful brass structure. Perfect for holding pens, penci...
Marble, Brass
$1,595Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.5 in W 8 in D 5.25 in
French Gilt Bronze and Marble Inkwell and Pen Holder
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
French gilt bronze and marble inkwell and pen holder.
Bronze
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