In its sinuous lines and flamboyant curves inspired by the natural world, antique Art Nouveau furniture reflects a desire for freedom from the stuffy social and artistic strictures of the Victorian era. The Art Nouveau movement developed in the decorative arts in France and Britain in the early 1880s and quickly became a dominant aesthetic style in Western Europe and the United States.
ORIGINS OF ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGN
ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ANTIQUE ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
Art Nouveau — which spanned furniture, architecture, jewelry and graphic design — can be easily identified by its lush, flowing forms suggested by flowers and plants, as well as the lissome tendrils of sea life. Although Art Deco and Art Nouveau were both in the forefront of turn-of-the-20th-century design, they are very different styles — Art Deco is marked by bold, geometric shapes while Art Nouveau incorporates dreamlike, floral motifs. The latter’s signature motif is the "whiplash" curve — a deep, narrow, dynamic parabola that appears as an element in everything from chair arms to cabinetry and mirror frames.
The visual vocabulary of Art Nouveau was particularly influenced by the soft colors and abstract images of nature seen in Japanese art prints, which arrived in large numbers in the West after open trade was forced upon Japan in the 1860s. Impressionist artists were moved by the artistic tradition of Japanese woodblock printmaking, and Japonisme — a term used to describe the appetite for Japanese art and culture in Europe at the time — greatly informed Art Nouveau.
The Art Nouveau style quickly reached a wide audience in Europe via advertising posters, book covers, illustrations and other work by such artists as Aubrey Beardsley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Mucha. While all Art Nouveau designs share common formal elements, different countries and regions produced their own variants.
In Scotland, the architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh developed a singular, restrained look based on scale rather than ornament; a style best known from his narrow chairs with exceedingly tall backs, designed for Glasgow tea rooms. Meanwhile in France, Hector Guimard — whose iconic 1896 entry arches for the Paris Metro are still in use — and Louis Majorelle produced chairs, desks, bed frames and cabinets with sweeping lines and rich veneers.
The Art Nouveau movement was known as Jugendstil ("Youth Style") in Germany, and in Austria the designers of the Vienna Secession group — notably Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffmann and Joseph Maria Olbrich — produced a relatively austere iteration of the Art Nouveau style, which mixed curving and geometric elements.
Art Nouveau revitalized all of the applied arts. Ceramists such as Ernest Chaplet and Edmond Lachenal created new forms covered in novel and rediscovered glazes that produced thick, foam-like finishes. Bold vases, bowls and lighting designs in acid-etched and marquetry cameo glass by Émile Gallé and the Daum Freres appeared in France, while in New York the glass workshop-cum-laboratory of Louis Comfort Tiffany — the core of what eventually became a multimedia decorative-arts manufactory called Tiffany Studios — brought out buoyant pieces in opalescent favrile glass.
Jewelry design was revolutionized, as settings, for the first time, were emphasized as much as, or more than, gemstones. A favorite Art Nouveau jewelry motif was insects (think of Tiffany, in his famed Dragonflies glass lampshade).
Like a mayfly, Art Nouveau was short-lived. The sensuous, languorous style fell out of favor early in the 20th century, deemed perhaps too light and insubstantial for European tastes in the aftermath of World War I. But as the designs on 1stDibs demonstrate, Art Nouveau retains its power to fascinate and seduce.
There are ways to tastefully integrate a touch of Art Nouveau into even the most modern interior — browse an extraordinary collection of original antique Art Nouveau furniture on 1stDibs, which includes decorative objects, seating, tables, garden elements and more.
Set of four 20th Century Dachshund Dog Austrian Silver plate Miniatures Figurine
Located in Nuernberg, DE
This classic set of four 20th-century Vienna silver-plated figurines showcases the exceptional craftsmanship and intricate detailing associated with the tradition of Austrian bronze ...
Bronze
Diskometal Rabbit Sculpture designed by Just Andersen, 1930s, Denmark
Located in Værløse, DK
Diskometal rabbit sculpture designed by Just Andersen in the early 1930s. * Rabbit sculpture in diskometal * Designer: Just Andersen * Model: 1515 * Year: 1933 * Condition: Fair vin...
Metal
Lucio Fontana (1899-1968): Life-size reclining nude made of plaster; 1920s
Located in Purkersdorf, AT
Life-size reclining female figure made of plaster. It dates from the early period of Lucio Fontana's work (1922 to approximately 1930), when he worked in the sculpture studio "Fonta...
Plaster
Large Majolica Hand-painted in color swan jardinière Made Italy circa 1930s
Located in Verviers, BE
Large Majolica Hand-painted in color swan jardinière Made Italy circa 1930s A real treasure for the ceramics' collector. Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any further quest...
Majolica
French Art Nouveau Bronze Bust Carmen by Emmanuel Villanis, circa 1900
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
A small French Art Nouveau patinated bronze bust titled "Carmen", after a model by Emmanuel Villanis (1858–1914), circa 1900. The bust is signed "E. Villanis" in the bronze along the draped shoulder and carries the circular "Vrai Bronze Garanti Paris" foundry mark on the reverse of the socle. The sculpture The subject is a young woman with a composed, slightly downcast expression and a richly modelled upswept hairstyle, crowned by a tall decorative comb that gives the silhouette a theatrical, Spanish-inspired character fitting the name Carmen. Her shoulders are wrapped in a loose shawl with softly folded edges and tied drapery at the front. The integral tapered pedestal carries the title "Carmen" in relief. The dark brown patina shows warm bronze highlights on the face, shoulders, hair and raised details, and the contrast between the smooth skin and the textured hair, shawl and socle gives this small bronze real depth. About the artist Emmanuel Villanis was a French sculptor of Italian origin who worked in Paris and became known for his Belle Époque busts of women, often named after heroines from opera, literature and mythology. His models were cast in bronze and spelter in various sizes and remain popular with collectors of French decorative arts. Condition Good antique condition, with age-related wear, rubbing and small areas of patina loss to raised edges and drapery. No obvious restorations visible. Please see the photos for details. Dimensions: height 16 cm, width 9 cm, depth 6 cm. Display At 16 cm high, this is a charming cabinet-scale sculpture. Display it on a mantelpiece, a desk, a console or a bedside chest, on a bookshelf, or in a vitrine together with other French bronzes. It suits a Parisian apartment, a Belle Époque-inspired room, a collected interior or a contemporary setting where a single historic object provides focus. A companion bust by Villanis, "Cendrillon", is available in a separate listing in our storefront. Keywords: Emmanuel Villanis, Villanis bronze...
Bronze
French Art Nouveau Alabaster Bust of Young Lady, Marble Base, ca. 1900
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
French Art Nouveau Alabaster and Marble Bust of a Young Lady, France, ca. 1900 A beautiful French Art Nouveau sculpture dating from circa 1900, this elegant bust of a young lady is ...
Alabaster, Marble
Rare Majolica Butterfly Wall Pocket Clement Massier, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Majolica butterfly wall pocket signed Clement Massier, Golfe Juan Circa 1900. H / 7 inches. W / 9 inches.
Ceramic, Faience
Finest quality Bacchante Italian White Marble Bust with Gilt Bronze Mounts
Located in New York, NY
Finest quality 19th century Italian Grand Tour white marble bust sculpture of a beautiful Bacchante (follower of Bacchus) distinguished by its gilt bronze base and mounts. Apparently...
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century Dachshund Dog Austrian Vienna Bronze Miniature Figure
By Franz Xaver Bergman (Bergmann)
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1910s Vienna bronze figurine, expertly crafted and beautifully detailed in the tradition of Austrian cold-painted bronzes. This charming polychromed bronze sculpture sh...
Bronze
Italian Pair of Rooster Figures 20th Century Art Nouveau Animalier Sculptures
Located in Milano, MI
Pair of antique Italian rooster sculptures, hand-made in Italy in the early 20th century, in the Art Nouveau period, inspired to the Animalier style, ...
Bronze
Antique Metal Dog Sculpture, St. Bernard or Mastiff, Art Nouveau 1930s
Located in Warrenton, OR
Antique Metal Dog Sculpture, St. Bernard or Mastiff, Art Nouveau 1930s (estimated). This very handsome guardian breed or working dog breed feels to ...
Metal
Paul GASQ - Large French Art Nouveau Diane/Artemis Bronze Bust, 1900
By Paul Gasq
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Large French Art Nouveau Bronze Bust Sculpture of Diane / Artemis by Paul Gasq (1860–1944), France, circa 1900. An exceptional and large French Art Nouveau bronze bust sculpture dep...
Marble, Bronze
Aqua Turquoise Majolica Turtle Vase Clement Massier, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Aqua Turquoise Majolica Turtle vase Pique Fleur Clement Massier, circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
Majolica Stork Vase Delphin Massier, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Elegant and rare Majolica stork with a bamboo vase signed Delphin Massier, circa 1890. The Massier are known for the quality of their unique enamels an...
Majolica
Small Hans Müller Art Nouveau Bronze Cabinet Sculpture/Bust of a Half-Clad Woman
By Hans Muller
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine, small-scale antique Art Nouveau cabinet bronze. In the form of a half-naked young woman in three-quarter profile. Likely an allegory to Summer or The Harvest (or possibly a...
Bronze
Antoni Gaudí Door Knob N.3, Solid Brass, Jugendstil Design, Spain
By BD Art Editions, Antoni Gaudí, BD Barcelona Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Solid cast brass with polished finish. An exact reproduction in both form and material original metalwork fittings designed by Antoni Gaudí for various of his works of architecture....
Brass
Large Majolica Blue Butterfly Wall Pocket circa 1900
By Fives-Lille
Located in Austin, TX
Large French Majolica blue butterfly wall pocket circa 1900.
Ceramic, Faience
20th Century Cat Musician playing Cello Austrian Vienna Bronze Miniature Figure
By Franz Xaver Bergman (Bergmann)
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic 1910s Vienna bronze figurine, expertly crafted and beautifully detailed in the tradition of Austrian cold-painted bronzes. This charming polychromed bronze sculpture showcase...
Bronze
Set of two Early 20th Century Dachshund Dog Austrian Vienna Bronze Miniatures
By Franz Xaver Bergman (Bergmann)
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 1910s Vienna bronze figurine set of two, expertly crafted and beautifully detailed in the tradition of Austrian cold-painted bronzes. This charming polychromed bronze s...
Bronze
Mid 19th Century French Animalier Bronze entitled "L'Accolade" by P J Mêne
Located in London, GB
A exquisite mid 19th Century Animalier bronze study of a spirited stallion and a tetchy mare, the bronze with fabulous rich chestnut brown patina rubbed in areas to a golden hue and ...
Bronze
Patinated Antique Art Nouveau "Shy Girl" Bronze by Georges Van der Straeten
Located in San Diego, CA
Gorgeous art nouveau "Shy Girl" bronze by Georges Van der Straeten for Société des Bronzes de Paris, circa 1900s. The bust has wonderful detail and is in very good vintage condition ...
Marble, Bronze
$840Sale Price|40% Off
Edgar Brandt Style Hand Forged Iron Snake or Serpent Sculpture, Austria, 1920s
By Edgar Brandt
Located in Vienna, AT
A wrought iron Art Nouveau era model of a snake / serpent. High-quality craftsmanship, handmade of forged iron by a Viennese metalworker in the 1920s. A decorative object, which would look great in your shelf, but also suitable as a paperweight, a jewelry ring holder...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Japanese Bronze Sculpture "Standing Horse" by Kunio Itô
Located in London, GB
An excellent early 20th Century Japanese Animalier bronze study of a bridled horse standing alert. The bronze exhibits very fine hand chased surface detail and wonderful rich brown p...
Bronze
$156Sale Price|30% Off
Vintage Danish Porcelain Figurine "Girl with Cat" by Bing & Grøndahl
By Ingeborg Plockross Irminger, Bing & Grøndahl
Located in Asaa, DK
Vintage Danish Porcelain figurine "Girl with Cat" by Bing & Grøndahl. Porcelaine figurine of a young girl feeding a cat. Designed by Ingeborg...
Porcelain
$19,250Sale Price|30% Off
Italian Neoclassical 19th Century White Carrara Marble Sculpture Guglielmo Pugi
Located in Miami, FL
Important 19th century sculpture carved on white Carrara marble. The female figure is dressed in a stunning Art Nouveau costume and rests on a pyramidal-shaped pedestal. Magnificent ...
Carrara Marble
Bronze Kneeling Angel After Jean Antoine Injalbert, France, 1870
Located in Toronto, CA
Kneeling Angel after Jean Antoine Injalbert, 19th century, France. A stunning late 19th century bronze sculpture after Jean Antoine Injalbert, inscribed Injalbert 1890 on the base, ...
Bronze
Bronze Bust "Bohemian Girl", by Emmanuel Villanis, End of 19th - Beg. of 20th C.
Located in Rīga, LV
Bronze bust "Bohemian Girl", Emmanuel Villanis, France, end of 19th - beg. of 20th century Additional Information: Materials: Bronze, patina Vintage from the 19th century Artis...
Bronze
Life Size Art Nouveau Bronze Bust of a Woman Leopold Savine French (1861-1934)
By Léopold Savine
Located in Petaluma, CA
For the art nouveau lover, or anyone who loves beauty, here is a life size bronze beautifully cast young maiden finished in a warm rich patina. The young woman's countenance is so l...
Bronze
$3,115Sale Price|20% Off
F. Goldscheider - large woman bust Polychrome Terracotta - Art Nouveau signed
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful terracotta bust from the factory of Friedrich Goldscheider from the art nouveau period. Girl with flowers. Polychrome terracotta It represents a female bust with her head t...
Terracotta
20th Century Dachshund Dog Austrian Bronze Miniature Figurine Antique
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic early 20th Century figurine, expertly crafted and beautifully detailed in the tradition of Austrian bronzes. This charming figurine showcases the exceptional artistry for whi...
Metal, Bronze
Goebel Porcelain Hand Painted Bird Figurine of a Pied Wagtail
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Goebel porcelain figurine of a Pied Wagtail bird. It depicts a very well done hand painted black, brown, gray blue and white, Wagtail bird. It has the Goebel hallmark plus ...
Porcelain
Daum Art Glass Angel Sculpture Myth, Red Brown, France 1970
By Daum
Located in Rijssen, NL
Luxury at its finest, high-end glass angel myth sculpture by Daum, France. The angel - made out of art glass - is sitting, with one knee raised. A beautiful sculpture. The sculptur...
Art Glass
Majolica Frog with Mandolin Massier, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Art Nouveau green Majolica frog who playing mandolin unsigned Jerome Massier Fils, circa 1900. The Massier are known for the quality of their unique enamels and paintings. The Massi...
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
19th Century Art Nouveau Bronze Sculpture "The Spring" by Mathurin Moreau
Located in London, GB
A charming late 19th-century bronze study depicting an Art Nouveau beauty seated upon a tree stump, dressed in loosely fitted attire and drinking from a shell. The sculpture display...
Bronze
Antique Art Nouveau Iron Stove, Yugoslavia, 19th Century
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a stunning Antique Art Nouveau stove done in cast iron and blue enamel. These stoves were designed to be both function...
Cast Stone
Jugendstil Copper relief " water carrier " around 1908
Located in Wien, Au
Jugendstil Copper relief " water carrier " around 1908 Polished and stove enameled
Copper
$1,288Sale Price|20% Off
Exclusive Danish early 20th century sculpture of large green glazed goblin
Located in Ebberup, DK
Original antique large unique sculpture of goblin made by Danish artist Anders Møller. Anders Møller resided on Funen and was born in 1890. He was a member of Danish artist group “Germinalen”, a part of the art and ceramic movement in Denmark at that time. The sculpture is estimated to be from the 1930s. This mythical, grotesque creature has exaggerated features and is possibly influenced by European Gothic or Art Nouveau aesthetics. The expression also has a resemblance to the work of earlier artist such as Niels Hansen Jacobsen...
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Art Nouveau Large Bronze Sculpture Daphne by Jules Dercheu, France, circa 1900
By Jules Dercheu
Located in Bochum, NRW
A refined and expressive bronze statuette by Jules Alfred Alexandre Dercheu (1864–1912), Daphné suivie par Apollon - a dynamic interpretation of the classical myth rendered with eleg...
Marble, Bronze
$11,455Sale Price|20% Off
Art Nouveau Nymph Sculpture by Hippolyte François Moreau (1832-1927), circa 1900
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Hippolyte François Moreau (1832–1927) Large White Carrare Marble Sculpture of an Art Nouveau Nymph, circa 1890-1900 A magnificent carved white Carr...
Carrara Marble, Breccia Marble
Italian liberty roses stained-glass windows, 1910s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian liberty roses stained-glass windows, 1910s Pair of rectangular stained-glass panels with light-colored frames, made of leaded glass. Both feature the same design, with a symm...
Glass
Woman with mirror Sculpture in Marble Sign: Prof. Jory
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
Woman with mirror Sculpture in Marble Design: Prof. Jory Galleria Lapini Firenze Sold by: Casa Bellas artes Av. de Mayo 625 "Toilette" refers to a classic thematic genre that depi...
Marble
Tall stained-glass windows with roses, 1910s
Located in MIlano, IT
Tall stained-glass windows with roses, 1910s Pair of rectangular stained-glass panels with light-colored frames, made of leaded glass. Both feature the same design, with a symmetrica...
Glass
$236Sale Price|20% Off
Royal Copenhagen Porcelain Bird Figurine-Blue Tit
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Royal Copenhagen porcelain of small bright and colorful bird figurine known as a Blue Tit. At the base is the Royal Copenhagen hallmark with the num...
Porcelain
$243Sale Price|35% Off
Emmanuel Villanis Style Art Nouveau French Virgin Mary Sculpture w/ Marble Base
Located in Van Nuys, CA
A turn of the 20th century Emmanuel Villanis styled Virgin Mary bust sculpture exudes the ethereal grace reminiscent of the virgin saint in an Art Nou...
Marble, Bronze
Art Nouveau House Numbers Bronze Made after Hector Guimard Designs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Art Nouveau bronze numbers cast in bronze from the design of Hector Grimard from France. They are priced ( Each ) We have many of them . Let us know which one's you are interested ...
Bronze
20th Century Cat Musician with Sacophone Austrian Vienna Bronze Miniature Figure
By Franz Xaver Bergman (Bergmann)
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic 1910s Vienna bronze figurine, expertly crafted and beautifully detailed in the tradition of Austrian cold-painted bronzes. This charming polychromed bronze sculpture showcase...
Bronze
$320Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Finely Crafted Elephant Porcelain Figurine Art Nouveau
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
A naturalistic shaped and fine detailed elephant figurine from the Art Nouve era dating to around 1910. The elephant is marked with a green unidetified manufacturer's mark.
Porcelain
Friedrich Goldscheider (1845 - 1897). Bust of Moor. Polychrome terracotta.
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Friedrich Goldscheider (1845 - 1897). Bust of Moor. Polychrome terracotta. Marked reserved and numbered reproduction. circa 1890.
Terracotta
Sandstone Sculpture by Jens Jacob Bregnø Female Venus Figure, Illums, 1930s
By Illums Bolighus, Jens Jacob Bregnö
Located in Odense, DK
Large beautiful figurative sculpture by Danish artist Jens Jacob Bregnø in jugend style. The sculpture is made of raw sandstone and is signed by the ...
Sandstone
20th Century Cat Musician with Triangle Austrian Vienna Bronze Miniature Figure
By Franz Xaver Bergman (Bergmann)
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Classic 1910s Vienna bronze figurine, expertly crafted and beautifully detailed in the tradition of Austrian cold-painted bronzes. This charming polychromed bronze sculpture showcase...
Bronze
Door Knob N.3 by Antoni Gaudí, Solid Brass, Jugendstil Design, Spain
By BD Art Editions, Antoni Gaudí, BD Barcelona Design
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Solid cast brass with polished finish. An exact reproduction in both form and material original metalwork fittings designed by Antoni Gaudí for various of his works of architecture....
Brass
Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Bronze figure "Slave Girl" by Emmanuel Villanis
Located in London, GB
A beautiful patinated Art Nouveau bronze study of a young Art Nouveau beauty sat upon a wall wearing chains with excellent variegated rich brown patina and excellent hand chased surf...
Bronze
Art Nouveau Bronze Sculpture of Draped Nude by Henri Godet
By Henri Godet
Located in Norwood, NJ
Henri Godet Art Nouveau signed sculpture of draped nude. Late 19th century antique. Art Nouveau bronze of "Le Reveil de L'Aurore" by Henri Godet. Base has gilt plaque...
Bronze
Two Columns with Heron and Planter in the Style of Delphin Massier
Located in Antwerp, BE
This column surmounted by a vase decorated with flowers is reminiscent of the Mediterranean Majolica tradition. This piece is typical in the style of Delphin Massier’s, established i...
Ceramic
Young Girl With Cat, Ernst Waegener (1854-1919), H. Noack, Berlin, C. 1908
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Young Girl With Cat, Ernst Waegener (1854-1919), H. Noack, Berlin, Art Nouveau, 1908 A finely cast Art Nouveau figural sculpture by Ernst Waegener (German, late 19th–early 20th cent...
Bronze
Pair of Murano Blown Glass Fruit Bowl sculptures by Aristi Barovier ca.1910
Located in London, GB
Two exquisite early 20th Century Murano glass fruit bowl still life sculptures are packed with a various realistic sculpted pieces created by the tech...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Agathon Léonard Bronze Sculpture, series Jeu de l’echarpe
Located in New York, NY
Agathon Leonard's Jeu de l’echarpe recalls the poses of the legendary eighteenth-century muse, Emma Hamilton. Beloved by society artists George Romney and Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun, pai...
Bronze
Handcrafted Golden First Gramophone Model after Emil Berliner 1887, Germany
Located in Hannover, DE
A special musical design object for lovers of music and transforming technology. This is a handcrafted model of the first gramophone, elaborately crafted and true to detail despite ...
Metal, Gold Plate
Antique Italian Carved Alabaster Maiden Seated in Bronze Chair, by E. Fiaschi
Located in Petaluma, CA
This lovely young girl seated in a chair is a fine example of the work of Emilio Fiaschi, Italian b.1858-d.1941. Known mostly for his alabaster carvings, this is a nice example of hi...
Alabaster, Marble, Bronze
Art Nouveau "Mounted Amazon" bronze sculpture by Franz von Stuck
Located in Palm Beach, FL
FRANZ VON STUCK (German, 1863-1928) There is a tension between the Apollonian and Dionysian in Stuck’s work. Nietzsche’s contemporary and a kindred spirit, Stuck valiantly searched f...
Bronze