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.
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Large Dominick & Haff Aesthetic Sterling Perfume or Flask with Dragon Fly
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large Dominick & Haff aesthetic sterling perfume or flask with dragon fly, a choice example, a tall profusely repoused with florals and leaves. Complete with locking hinged circular ...
Sterling Silver
$396Sale Price|20% Off
1885 Rookwood Aesthetic Movement High Victorian Perfume Bottle form # 61
Located in Mobile, AL
Rookwood pottery was established based upon Arts and Crafts ideals positing the celebration and elevation of pottery as an art form. Both professional and amateur decorators and potters were instrumental in the success of what became an art industry and the nations first Internationally recognized art pottery. It is marked 1885, 61 and W. Rookwood's font, Form # 61 and the use of W to indicate white clay are well known to Rookwood collectors and have been identified in most publications concerning the pottery dating back to Peck's books. Sometimes we just can't figure out who decorated them. Many of the decorators were married society ladies and some used their spouse's initials or names on pots. I have been unable to identify what appears to be M AED in under-glaze initials. Nor does the pencil notation which appears M.E. Foster (or Foote) turn up in my review of the literature, including The Ladies God Bless 'em. The quality of the decoration is high and represents the interest in Japonisme and Aesthetic Movement art. The four cobalt lined vertical panels recall vertical Japanese woodblock prints and the gold tracery and rim is surprisingly present with only modest wear to the high points and minor bleed through of the under-glaze around the lip. (shown). It is important to note that unless or until the decorator is identified, it is impossible to assert that the decoration is by a Rookwood artist. Many amateur ladies and gentlemen, particularly members of the Cincinnati Pottery...
Pottery
Antique Beaded Flower Brunch in Italian Art Glass Vase
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Antique Microbead Floral brunch in an Italian art glass vase.
Art Glass
$784
H 6.5 in W 14.18 in D 12.6 in
Hand-Crafted Antique Silver Plate Épergne, Aesthetic Movement, 1930
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Elegant antique silver plate épergne with low branches and 4 flowers holders. Discreet and delicate, it can be placed anywhere: in the m...
Silver Plate
$780Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.5 in Dm 3 in
Fratelli Toso Murano Millefiori Flowers Antique Italian Art Glass Cabinet Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful antique Murano hand blown millefiori flower mosaic Italian art glass decorative double handle cabinet vase. Documented to the Fratelli Toso Company, circa 1900-1920. The va...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Glass, Murrine
Antique Sterling Silver Scent or Perfume Bottle with Chased Decoration
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique perfume bottle is signed by an unknown English maker and dates to approximately 1898 and done in the period Victorian style. The bottle is done in sterling silver with a...
Sterling Silver
$1,075
H 5.63 in Dm 3.5 in
Fratelli Toso Murano Blue Green Millefiori Antique Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful antique Murano hand blown Millefiori Murrina flower mosaic Italian art glass decorative flower vase. The piece is documented to the Fratelli Toso company, circa 1910-1930. ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
$1,100
H 5.88 in W 3 in D 3.5 in
Fratelli Toso Murano Antique Millefiori Flowers Italian Art Glass Cabinet Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful and rare, antique Murano hand blown Millefiori Murrina flower mosaic Italian art glass decorative ornate handle cabinet vase / pitcher. The piece is documented to the Frate...
Glass, Murrine, Murano Glass, Blown Glass, Art Glass
French Aesthetic Movement bronze mounted barbotine vase circa 1890
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A large and highly decorative French Aesthetic Movement ormolu-mounted barbotine majolica vase, Choisy-le-Roi, circa 1890. The vase is richly ...
Ormolu
$901
H 2.49 in W 0.48 in D 0.99 in
Perfume Holder Handbag Silver Sterling with fired enamel on guilloché Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Parallelepiped perfume holder for handbag in 925/1000 sterling silver with screwed cap with translucent fired enamel on guilloché. English style, early 1900s. Measurements cm. 2.5 x ...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Brilliant Cut Glass Perfume Bottle with Sterling Silver Top Cap
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Nicely cut glass perfume bottle with Sterling silver top. Marked sterling and hallmarked. In excellent antique condition with minimal wear.
Sterling Silver
$1,250
H 10 in W 8.75 in D 4.5 in
Fratelli Toso Murano Opalescent Pink Bubbles Italian Art Glass Flower Vase
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown opalescent pink and controlled bubbles Italian art glass flower vase. The piece is documented to the Fratelli Toso company. The outside opal color...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
$495
H 5 in W 3.75 in D 2.5 in
Antique Brilliant Cut Glass Perfume Bottle with Sterling Silver Top Cap
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous heavy brilliant cut glass perfume bottle with sterling silver top. Has a glass stopper as well. In excellent antique condition with ...
Sterling Silver
$382Sale Price|20% Off
H 4 in W 2.63 in D 1.7 in
Crystal Glass Cologne or Perfume Bottle Sterling Silver Top Art Deco London 1919
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a very good quality crystal cut glass cologne or perfume bottle with a sterling silver screw top lid with engine turned detail, made in London and dating to the early Art Deco period, 1919. The clear glass bottle or jar has a rectilinear shape, having an oval section, with finely hand cut vertical sides and small panels cut on the shoulder. The sterling silver circular top is threaded for turning onto the neck section. It is finely engine turned to the top which is very decorative. It is marked on the side of the neck with sterling silver hall marks for London 1919...
Sterling Silver
$6,436
H 19.3 in W 9.85 in D 3.15 in
Advertising Bottle, Giant Perfume Bottle, Guerlain Perfume, Chamade, Crystal.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Advertising bottle, giant perfume bottle, Guerlain perfume, Chamade, crystal, circa 1960. Advertising bottle, giant perfume bottle, Guerlain perfume,...
Crystal
Set of 6, 19th C. French Amber Glass Apothecary Bottles J&Johnson Estate
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, 19th century. Paul Lefebure 18 rue de l'odéon in Paris. A set of 6 antique apothecary jars in amber hand blown glass. Each having an original tin lid and porcelain gilt lab...
Tin
Sold
H 7.49 in W 3.55 in D 3.55 in
John Seddon Bailey & Co Fulham Pottery Salt Glazed Stoneware Spirit Flagon
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare English Aesthetic Period salt glazed stoneware spirit flagon designed by John Seddon for Bailey & Co, Fulham and dated 29th December 1880. The flagon is of square shape with a...
Stoneware
1800s American Folk Art Pottery Turnip Form Corked Liquor Flask
Located in Philadelphia, PA
During the mid-1800s, pottery flasks were made in the form of the root vegetables that the liquor was distilled from. Home distillers used potatoes, carr...
Ceramic
Pair of Bohemian Engraved Glass Bottle Decanters
Located in London, by appointment only
Wonderful pair of a ruby red bohemian engraved glass decanter with wheel engraved scenes of a deer hunt.
Blown Glass, Glass
Sold
H 8.5 in Dm 5.5 in
19th Century Thomas Forester English Majolica Bird Finial Wine Decanters, a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A scarce pair of unusual, Aesthetic movement, bulbous Majolica wine decanter bottles with bird finials on domed lids, Thomas Forester & Sons, Longton,...
Ceramic
Antique French Majolica Figural Pig Bottle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An antique French majolica figural bottle, a pig with the original painted cork hat, circa 1895-1910. A charming and rarer piece, the pig shows great...
Ceramic
Pair of Blue Theodore Deck Porcelain and Ormolu-Mounted Vases/Lamps
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of signed French blue color Theodore Deck porcelain and doré bronze mounted vases mounted as lamps, Theodore Deck, 1823-1891 (France). With silk shades, both vases signed...
Bronze