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.
Baccarat Paperweight with Millefiori and Horse Gridel Silhouette, 1973
By Baccarat
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage Baccarat paperweight features complex patterned millefiori set around a large horse silhouette cane, with smaller animal silhouette canes placed on a white lace background. ...
Glass, Art Glass, Sommerso
Aesthetic Movement Oak Pipe Rack with a Japanese Style Brass Fretwork Backplate
Located in London, GB
Aesthetic Movement. An oak pipe rack with a Japanese-style brass fretwork backplate, and a tobacco draw with brass handle.
Brass
Aesthetic Movement Sterling Silver Calling/Business Card Case by George Unite
By George Unite
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic Movement, sterling silver calling card/business card case in original, velvet lined leather box, London, year-hallmarked for 1860, George ...
Sterling Silver
Bronze Dore Blotter Holders in the Graduate Pattern signed Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
These Bronze Doré blotter holders, crafted by the legendary Tiffany & Co., embody the elegance and precision of early 20th-century American design. Rendered in the sophisticated "Gra...
Bronze
Bronze Doré Calendar Holder in the Graduate Pattern signed Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Crafted by the iconic Tiffany & Co., this Bronze Doré calendar and memorandum holder exemplifies early 20th-century elegance, crafted in the United States, circa 1910. Designed in th...
Bronze
Gilt Bronze & Glass Tiffany Studios Inkwell ca. 1900
Located in Petaluma, CA
This very handsome gilt bronze and glass inkwell will make any desk look important. Signed, Tiffany Studios guarantees quality. The design is of the metalwork is striking and the g...
Bronze
Letter Rack or Stationery Rack in Leather from the 19th Century, France
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant 19th centuryletter rack or stationery rack from France It is unusual to find them with their original key. Very nice interior beautiful pati...
Leather
$288Sale Price|20% Off
Micro Mosaic Pen Holder
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Micro mosaic Moorish pen holder: simply beautiful ! Elegant sitting on Your desk. It must not remain near heat sources because the mosaic could be damag...
Enamel
Mid-19th Century Murano "Chalcedony Glass" Paperweight
By Lorenzo Radi
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid-19th century Murano "chalcedony glass" paperweight. By Lorenzo Radi Sr. or one of his followers. Handblown. Chalcedony originated among the Romans & Egyptians, was rediscovered i...
Murano Glass
Art Deco Cut Crystal & Silver Plate Inkwell Signed Cross
Located in New York, NY
Add a touch of historical elegance to your desk with this Art Deco Cut Crystal & Silver Plate Inkwell, signed by Cross, England, from the early 20th century. This exquisite inkwell e...
Crystal, Silver Plate
French Silver Mounted Blue & White Pottery Faience Inkwell
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual French silver mounted faience pottery inkwell hand painted with blue and white designs dating from the 19th century. The domed shape inkwell stands on a rounded base with ...
Silver
19th Century Exoticism Elephant Inkwell
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A beautifully crafted polished bronze elephant inkwell that vividly captures the late 19th-century fascination with the exotic. Reflecting the Orienta...
Bronze
Tooled and Paint Embellished Versace Style Italian Leather Desk Organizer
Located in Ferndale, MI
Desk organizer highly decorated and colorful tooled leather. Cloth interior. Marked Made in Italy.
Leather
Asprey Carved Rock Crystal Gorilla Diamond Eye's and 18-Karat Gold Accents
Located in Westport, CT
Asprey one of a kind hand carved rock crystal Gorilla, with 18-karat gold accents and diamond eyes, together on the original petrified wood base, w...
Multi-gemstone, Rock Crystal, Gold, Silver
$880Sale Price|69% Off
Signed German Wooden Sculpture of a Mother And Her Child, "Muller 1943"
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Artistically significant hand carved sculpture of nude mother and child, completed during the Second World War.
Wood
Stylized Frog Sculpture / Paperweight by Baccarat
By Baccarat
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous stylized frog sculpture / paperweight by Baccarat, circa 1990s. The piece is in excellent condition with no visible imperfections and has great clarity. Signed on the unders...
Crystal
Tiffany Studios New York Bookmark Pattern Bronze Doré Inkwell
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Arts & Crafts period "Bookmark" pattern gilt bronze inkwell By Tiffany Studios (signed to the underside) New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 4.25"W x 4.25"D x 2...
Bronze
Baccarat Rare Concentric Close Pack Mushroom Glass Paperweight
By Baccarat
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare antique French glass paperweight containing a close pack mushroom design by renowned glass makers Baccarat and dating from around 1850. The large and heavily made paperweight ...
Glass
Tiffany Studios New York Zodiac Bronze Doré Notepad Holder
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Arts & Crafts period "Zodiac" pattern gilt bronze notepad holder By Tiffany Studios New York, USA, Early 20th Century Measures: 4.63"W x 7.5"D x 0.5"H. Good original v...
Bronze
Very Rare Antique Baccarat Glass Paperweight with complex Millefiori
By Baccarat
Located in Knivsta, SE
Very Rare and Elegant Antique Baccarat Glass Paperweight with complex Millefiori, made in France probably during the 1870s. (Not signed) Beauti...
Glass
$95
H 1.75 in W 2.75 in D 2.75 in
Collectible Baccarat Amber Crystal Cameo Franklin Mint Paperweight Charlemagne
By Baccarat
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Collectible Baccarat Amber Crystal Cameo Franklin Mint Paperweight King Charlemagne of France. This exquisite Franklin Mint Baccarat Crystal Cameo Paper...
Crystal
Tiffany Studios Bronze Inkwell New York Bookmark Pattern
Located in Toledo, OH
Lovely bronze inkwell from Tiffany Studios in the New York Bookmark pattern. Beautifully detailed octagonal design with round lid. Marked Tiffany Studios 1094. 3" x 3" x 2 1/2" tall.
Bronze
Neoclassical Style Metal Tissue Box Cover
Located in Sheffield, MA
Add style and the finishing touch to your countertop or nightstand with this antiqued gold toned top and grey ribbed metal body tissue box cover to pr...
Metal
Aesthetic Movement Trinket Box, circa 1900
Located in Spencertown, NY
The box with scenes of lilliputian figures
Wood
$913Sale Price|49% Off
H 6.7 in W 17.72 in D 9.06 in
19th Century French Walnut and Brass Writing Boxe
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...
Brass
Sterling Silver Repousse Bookmark
By Kirk & Son
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver bookmark by S. Kirk and Sons of Baltimore, Maryland. Inspired by their iconic Repousse pattern, it has clu...
Sterling Silver
Murano "millefiori" Art Glass Paperweight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Murano Multicolor Art Glass Paperweight unmarked, maker unknown, 1970's "Millefiori is a glasswork technique which produces distinctive decorative patterns on glassware. The term m...
Art Glass
Sold
H 5.91 in W 8.08 in D 4.34 in
Victorian Period William Tonks and Sons Sea Monsters Brass Desk Letter Holder
Located in Milan, IT
Victorian Period William Tonks and Sons Sea Monsters Brass and Oak Desk Letter Holder.
Brass
Sold
H 3.75 in W 3.06 in D 3.06 in
Rare Doulton Lambeth John Broad Stoneware Silver Mounted Mottoware Inkwell
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning and rare Doulton Lambeth stoneware silver mounted mottoware tea caddy by renowned artist John Broad assisted by Emma A Burrows and dating from 1896. The tea caddy of squar...
Stoneware
A Rectangular Copper Waste Paper Bin
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A rectangular copper waste paper bin This one has been used as a waste paper basket it has small inside handles, it has many other uses, perhaps a c...
Copper
Antique Tiffany American Aesthetic Sterling Silver Inkwell
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic sterling silver inkwell. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York. Drum-form with spread base. Cover domed with scrolled hinged and tab. Acid-etched ornament: Fluid lattice inset ...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 4.25 in W 2.5 in D 0.5 in
Sterling Silver Aesthetic Movement Calling Card/Business Card Holder by Gorham
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Sterling silver, Aesthetic Movement calling card/business card holder, Gorham Mfg. Co., Providence, Rhode Island, year hallmarked for 1...
Sterling Silver
Pair of White Jade and Brass Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A wonderful pair of carved white jade and brass bookends, the pair have accents in Orange Jade and carved bone, with frame and stand in perfectly patinated brass - a stunning pair fo...
Jade, Brass
Aesthetic Movement Brass Paganator
Located in Toronto, ON
This highly stylized and decorative letter/ page opener is a great example of the19th century Aesthetic Movement in which practical items were extensively decorated with elements f...