Inspired by the Arts & Crafts style in England, which rebelled against the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution with a proud emphasis on handcrafted design, American Craftsman style similarly pushed against the lavishness of the Victorian era. Coined by Wisconsin-born Gustav Stickley, a furniture designer and publisher of The Craftsman magazine, American Craftsman furniture would influence homegrown styles that followed, such as Mission and the Prairie School.
Like the popular early 20th-century Craftsman houses — which feature meticulous woodwork on everything from built-in bookcases in the living room and cabinetry in the kitchen to earth-toned exteriors with exposed rafters — American Craftsman furniture was all about handmade storage cabinets, bedroom furniture, chairs and other pieces built with organic materials. “Simplicity and straightforwardness of construction has always been the leading characteristic of Craftsman furniture,” Stickley stated. And while he is often credited with most of the designs at the Craftsman Workshops in Eastwood, New York, others such as Harvey Ellis were influential in shaping the straight-backed chairs, beds with vertical slats and tables with exposed joinery that came to define the style.
Highly utilitarian with no unnecessary flair, American Craftsman furniture was designed to emphasize the essence of its modest construction and promote the natural beauty of the wood. Solid oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany were all favored by the movement’s principal figures. Another attribute commonly associated with the style is the integration of subtle details like tooled leather, inlaid metal and hammered iron handles.
Owing to the outbreak of World War I, the popularity of American Craftsman style waned as consumer spending dropped and furniture companies shifted to the production of wartime materials and goods specified in government contracts. Yet, by the 1960s, there was a renewed appreciation for this foundational modern American style, with Stickley and his contemporaries in demand for the clean, simple lines and sturdy construction of American Craftsman furniture.
Find a collection of antique American Craftsman chests, nightstands, seating, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Wooden Phrenology Head Advertising Store Display Model Folk Art Americana
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Carved and painted wooden phrenology head Store display advertising model. Phrenology bust by unknown wood carver, circa 1870. Perfect to decorate a Do...
Wood
$3,800
Female Carving from USA
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Carving of a female head.
Wood
19th Century German Carved Wooden Deers Head
Located in London, GB
19th century carved wooden deer’s head We are proud to offer a delightful example of a 19th century hand carved German deer’s head. This ite...
Pine, Paint
Primitive Horse Carving
Located in Nantucket, MA
A Folk Art carved wood and gesso painted standing horse with painted cloth saddle and horse hair tail Mounted on a later made black painted platform.
Gesso, Pine, Paint
Antique Folk Art Horse Sculpture
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderfully charming hand-carved 19th Century American folk art horse sculpture on stand. Pay special attention to its face and the carved details to appreciate this fine specimen. ...
Wood
$1,880
H 26 in W 10.5 in D 14 in
Large Deer Head Shooting Lodge Sign Black Forest Folk Art Wooden Trophy 1893
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art wall decoration and shooting lodge plaque. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Wo...
Wood
$980
H 14.5 in W 10.25 in D 10.25 in
Bear Head Black Forest Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Trophy, 19th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art Bear head wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a...
Wood
Large Folk Art Driftwood Horse Head Sculpture
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large and substantial sculpture of a horse's head is unsigned, but believed to have been made in Canada in circa 1980. The sculpture is made completely of pieces of driftwood...
Driftwood
Large Swedish Hand-Carved Wooden Horse Model Sculpture, c. 1880
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A folk art sculpture of a horse from the 19th Century. This wooden horse has been scraped to original its color. This animal sculpture can nicely stand on a writing desk, a cupboard ...
Wood
Quirky American Folk Art Human Form Chair
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Have a seat! One of a kind human form chair. Wonderfully carved muscles, toes, clenched fists for support. Looks like the chair is ready to go crawling ac...
Wood
Handmade Wood Carving
Located in Seattle, WA
Handmade wood carving with nice patina and character. Vintage condition as pictured. Listing is for described item only. Box H9 Dimensions: 3.5”L ;3"W;7"H
Wood
$960
H 24 in W 13.25 in D 9.5 in
Large Deer Head primitive Black Forest Hand Carved Folk Art Wooden Trophy
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of a Hunter or Woodsman. More than likely o...
Wood
$1,200Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 22 in W 32 in D 5 in
Pari Antique Hong Bird Roof Carvings from Thailand
Located in Atlanta, GA
This near pair of wood carving presented on stand was collected from Northern Thailand, late 19th or early 20th century. Such ornaments were used originally to decorate the roof of the transitional buildings in Southeast Asia. They were carved in the lovely Silhouette of Hong bird...
Metal
Vintage 1960s Porcelain Ducks Candy Dish from the USA
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Beautiful candy dish made of porcelain of ducks back to back each other in a circle, vive details on a Snow White color yellow and green some fading in the Center due to age. Sign i...
Porcelain
Antique Hand Carved Solid Wood American Indian Sculpture Bust
Located in San Diego, CA
Well done hand-carved American Indian sculpture bust unsigned circa 1960's. Solid mahogany.
Mahogany
Male Bronze Nude by Artist Gerard Franc circa 1999
Located in Bellport, NY
A well executed sculptural bronze male nude by artist Gerard Franc.
Bronze
Wooden Phrenology Head Advertising Model Folk Art Americana
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Carved and painted wooden phrenology head model, America, the head with inset glass eyes, (minor paint wear). Phrenology bust by unknown wood carver, c...
Wood
American Studio Surrealist Sculpture
By Margery Goldberg, Pedro Friedeberg
Located in Rochester, NY
A large stack laminated finely carved mahogany sculpture of head with shoulders and hands in the exotic surrealist manner of Pedro Friedeberg by note...
Wood