Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
AESTHETIC MOVEMENT
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.
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Style: Aesthetic Movement
English Aesthetic Oak Bucket
Located in Essex, MA
With brass handle and liner. Hexagonal form with incised carved decoration. Toupie feet.
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Oak
WMF. An Aesthetic Movement Copper Chamber Candlestick in the Dr C Dresser Style
Located in London, GB
WMF. An Aesthetic Movement Copper Chamber Candlestick and match book holder in the Dr C Dresser Style.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Copper
Art Nouveau Gouda Studio Pottery 1913 Candleholder Crokus, Holland
Located in Munich, DE
This candleholder was executed by a Dutch studio pottery Gouda in 1913.
Category
1910s Dutch Vintage Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Kjell Engman for Kosta Boda Flaired Lip Swedish Art Glass Vase
By Kosta Boda
Located in New York, NY
Bring artistry and charm to your home decor with this brightly colored Swedish Art Glass Vase, hand crafted by glass maker Kjell Engman for renowned glass house Kosta Boda. Resembl...
Category
1990s Swedish Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Art Glass
Highly Unusual French Majolica Rope Twist Vase or Jardiniere
Located in Atlanta, GA
Aubagne France, early 20th century.
A highly unusual French ceramic piece with beautiful brown glazed exterior and a polychrome glazed interior. The vase or jardiniere features a li...
Category
20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Antique Lacquered Paper Mache Sewing or Jewelry Box with Inlaid Carved Shell
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This large antique paper mâché and lacquered box is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in England in circa 1870 in the period Aesthetic Movement style. The box was made as a sewing chest, but could be adapted for other purposes such as a jewelry box. The box is composed of paper mâché with a glossy black lacquered finish. The stepped top has scalloped edges and a detailed border of inlaid mother of pearl done with a floral motif. The central portion of the box's top is done with large pieces of mother of pearl or abalone shell and accented with flaked gilt details. The front and sides of the box are accented with hand-painted gilt detailing and the inside of the top is hand painted with floral accents. The inner tray of this box is divided into several compartments, some having fabric covered lids with molded handles. The inside of the box is paper lined in the same blue patterned paper as the tray. There is small brass lock on the front of the box, but there is no key. The box is finished with round squat biscuit shaped feet.
Please note that due to the composition of this box, it may only be shipped within Canada.
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Paper
19th Century French Gilt Bronze and White Marble Three Piece Clock Garniture
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A French Gilt Bronze and White Marble Three Piece Clock Garniture, Late 19th Century. Comprising mantel clock and pair of five light candelabra. The clock with circular white enamele...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Mid Nineteenth Century Silver Plate Centerpiece by Elkington and Co.
Located in Winnetka, IL
Mid nineteenth century silver plate naturalistic centerpiece by Elkington and Co. depicting deer and flora.
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Aesthetic Movement Carriage Clock, France, 19th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
Fine aesthetic movement clock in cloisonné enamel and gilded bronze, decorated with polychromed birds and flowers, and geometric gilded ornaments on a ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Unusual 19th Century Large Eel Form Majolica Pottery Pitcher
Located in Atlanta, GA
European, 19th century.
An incredibly unusual and interesting majolica pitcher. The water pitcher features a finely detailed Eel, with scales, eyes and a wonderful tail.
Category
19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
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...
Category
19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Leather
French Aesthetic Movement Patinated Bronze Figural Bowl/Basket
Located in Norwood, NJ
French aesthetic movement patinated and gilt bronze figural center bowl/basket, third quarter 19th century, formed as a large stylized woven ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Antique Pair Aesthetic Brass & Mahogany Newell Post Candelabra Lights, C1870
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique pair of Aesthetic newel post candelabra offer brass construction with three adjustable lights, floral and stylized sunburst elements raised on balustrade mahogany bases ha...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Fine Bronze Bust of a Man in Manner of Sir Jacob Epstein (British 1880-1959)
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Fine Bronze Bust of a man in the manner of Sir Jacob Epstein (British, 1880-1959), artist unknown. This beautifully executed green-patinated bronze somewhat resembles the style of ...
Category
20th Century Unknown Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Aesthetic Movement Enameled Plate Attributed to Elkington and A. Willms, c. 1875
By W. Albert Willms, Elkington & Co.
Located in PARIS, FR
Important tray made in gilded bronze and “cloisonné” enamel attributed to Elkington and Willms. Ornamented with a centering polychrome enameled peacock plaque, made of very high standard quality, mounted on a gilt-bronze dish, decorated in relief with Japanese Nô theater masks.
The great Birmingham firm of Elkingtons, was largely the creation of George Richards Elkington (1800-1865), who worked from 1824 in Birmingham as a manufacturer of silver-mounted scent bottles. By 1829 the business had expanded sufficiently for a branch to have been established in London. In the late 1830s the Elkingtons began making experiments to apply the principles of electro-metallurgy to gilding and plating with silver and in 1840 the patent was at last taken out. Elkingtons owed their rise to a position amongst the most important silversmiths of the country to their exploitation of this new process and the two of the most famous designers then employed, both of them French, Albert Wilms (1827-1899) and Morel-Ladeuil (1820-1888), who helped to make Elkingtons’ reputation with their elaborate exhibition pieces.
Albert Willms was apprenticed as modeler and engraver to Klagman, Dieterle and Constant in Paris before working for Morel & Co. in London in 1848. On his return to Paris he was employed by the great Parisian silversmiths including Christofle and Froment-Meurice, for whom he designed pieces to be presented at the 1855 Universal Exhibition in Paris. It was during this period that he joined the firm of Elkington in London as head decorator. Elkington was soon to become one of the first to produce refined pieces in “champlevé” enamel in the Chinese and Japanese styles, which were presented with great success at the London Universal Exhibition in 1862 (see Masterpieces of Industrial Art & Sculpture at the International Exhibition 1862, J.B. Waring, London, 1863, III, pl. 211). Willms’ “champlevé” enamels could not be compared, however, with the delicate “cloisonné” enamels exhibited by Japan at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1867. This explains why Elkington adapted the ancient Japanese technique to produce pieces according to European taste and custom. Followings the 1867 Exhibition all the major European artists rivaled in ingenuity for the 1873 Universal Exhibition in Vienna. In London Albert Willms presented his luxurious vases and cups in “cloisonné” enamel for Elkington (see Illustrations of Art Manufacturers in the Precious Metals exhibited by Elkington & Co., Inventors, Patentees and Manufactures of electroplate, 1873), whilst in Paris, Ferdinand Thesmar (1843-1912) produced in the workshops of Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810-1892) a tray decorated with a golden pheasant in “cloisonné” enamel on copper...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
English Simple Epergne in Silver Plate
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Simple but nice épergne in silver plate for Your table ornament, specially for Christmas: with candles, flowers and fruits all around. Just a few flowers are enough to refine a tabl...
Category
Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
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...
Category
Late 20th Century Moroccan Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
An Elegant Pair of Antique French, Gilt and Patinated Bronze Figure Candelabra
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An elegant pair of antique French, guilt and patinated bronze figure candelabra from the 1870s the pair with two different patinated bronze bust centers with the rest in its brillian...
Category
1870s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
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...
Category
Late 20th Century British Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Rock Crystal, Multi-gemstone, Silver, Gold
1900s Cold-Painted Statue of Arab
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Hand painted figure of an Arab man. Early 1900s. European. Not sure of origin. Signed by artist: "WEEGON" Some losses to the original paint. Very handsome figure.
Category
Early 20th Century European Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
Aesthetic Gilt Metal Cockatoo & Turtle Figural Cachepot
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Aesthetic Gilt Metal Cockatoo & Turtle Figural Cachepot
USa, circa 1900s
Of large Size and scale, realistically cast and modeled of Cockatoo with in...
Category
Early 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Metal
19th Century Aesthetic Movement Doulton Burslem Figural Grape Stand Centerpiece
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This figural porcelain grape stand and holder is decorated with whimsical mushrooms encircling the "faux branch" to hold the grapes. It is embellished with...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Tiffany Aesthetic Oval Sterling Silver Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic sterling silver picture frame. Made by Tiffany & Co. in New York, ca 1909. Oval window in flat surround with acid-etched stylized ornament: Quatrefoils alternating with lea...
Category
Early 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver
Aesthetic Movement Trinket Box, circa 1900
Located in Spencertown, NY
The box with scenes of lilliputian figures
Category
Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Large Ceramic Fabric Bowl
Located in El Segundo, CA
Exquisitely crafted, our windswept bowl is a testament to artisanal excellence. Meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in our studio, it emerges from pure white clay, resulting in...
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
20th Century Terracotta Bottle Vase in the Classical Taste
Located in London, GB
A late nineteenth century terracotta bottle vase in the classical taste, the tapering neck with double green band decoration, the bulbous body with polychrome anthemion frieze.
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
Pair Late 19th Century French Tole Painted Bronze Urn & Flower Form Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This pair of candelabra made in the form of urns holding floral arrangements are French and were cast in bronze in the 1870s. It’s possible that at one time they were gilded but they...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Aesthetic style silver photograph frame
Located in London, GB
Rare and early Aesthetic style antique silver photograph frame from the late Victorian era. The border is hand hammered with a mottled effect. There is a cast central surround with a...
Category
19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver
Aesthetic Period & Design English Sterling Silver Bowl, London 1879
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1879 by Martin, Hall & Co., this stunning, Antique Sterling Silver Bowl, is in the Aesthetic taste, featuring cast and applied floral and butterfly detailing,...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver
Monumental Japanese Aesthetic Vase
Located in Litchfield, CT
This exceptional hand-painted porcelain vase by George Jones & Sons features magnificent sparrows flitting amongst lush trees and billowing clouds, circa 1880s. A superb example of the Japanese Aesthetic...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Aesthetic Design Antique Sterling Silver Chamberstick by Heath & Middleton 1891
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1891 by Heath & Middleton, this enchanting Victorian, Antique, Sterling Silver Chamberstick is a superb example of the naturalistic bark effect popularise...
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Sterling Silver
Aesthetic Period, Antique Silver Plate Candelabrum, Hukin & Heath, Circa 1880
Located in London, London
Made circa 1880 by Hukin & Heath, this stylish, Victorian, antique silver plated candelabrum, is a fine example of the Aesthetic Movement, featuring a plain base, and will hold 6 can...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Important French Orientalist Jeweled Clock for Turkish Market, YSL Collection
Located in New York, NY
An important antique French orientalist style Jeweled gilt bronze clock made for the Ottoman market. This enameled clock sits within the decorated column's supporting a tulip shaped ...
Category
19th Century Turkish Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Enamel
Small Ceramic Fabric Bowl
Located in El Segundo, CA
Exquisitely crafted, our windswept bowl is a testament to artisanal excellence. Meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in our studio, it emerges from pure white clay, resulting in...
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
19th c Old Paris Hand Painted Porcelain Planter with Portraits of Horses
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This large square hand painted porcelain planter was made in France ca. 1880's or earlier. It features two hand painted "portraits" of horses heads alternating with 2 sides of hand p...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Aesthetic Movement Tromp L'Oeil Basket
Located in Montreal, QC
An American Aesthetic Movement Basket, naturalistically modeled as a bird perched on a a leafy twig, above a shallow dish simulating cloth, decorated with gilt and silvered leaves an...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Mantel Clock Attributed to Lewis Foreman Day
Located in London, GB
A magnificent Aesthetic Movement mantel clock, with an ebonised mahogany case and an exquisitely painted dial. The case embodies the style of the Aesthetic Movement, with an arched a...
Category
1870s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Mahogany
Aesthetic Period Antique Silver Plate Candelabrum by Hukin & Heath, Circa 1880
Located in London, London
Made circa 1880 by Hukin & Heath, this stylish, Victorian, antique silver plated candelabrum, is a fine example of the Aesthetic Movement, featuring a textured base, and will hold 6 ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Decorative Objects
Materials
Silver Plate
Aesthetic Movement decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Aesthetic Movement decorative objects made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Doulton Lambeth, Royal Worcester, Delphin Massier, and Minton. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $138 and tops out at $35,000 while the average work can sell for $1,362.
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