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.
Late 1960s pottery / ceramic Vase with Cat by Henry Varnum Poor
Located in Southampton, NJ
A wonderful, late career pottery vase by noted painter, ceramicist and architect Henry Varnum Poor. This vase features Poors signature sgrafitto work with a jaunty cat surrounded by ...
Ceramic, Clay, Pottery
Antique Americana Toleware Water Cooler Handled Bucket Wastebask Umbrella Stand
Located in Hyattsville, MD
We believe this is a Toleware Water Cooler Tank. Total height is 20 with added handle is 27 inches. Has small hole in bottom, but does not really effect use as trash can or umbrella ...
Metal
Rookwood American Art Pottery Aerial Blue Bellflower Design Bud Vase c1928
Located in Savannah, GA
This lovely American Art Pottery bud vase features a charming bellflower motif and is in a striking Aerial blue, a "soft, pure, breezy bay blue with a twilight blue undertone color."...
Ceramic
15" Burlwood Root Vase
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a hand turned vase made of the root of a burlwood tree. It stands 15"h and is 7"d.
Burl
Laura Zindel Handcrafted Earthenware Vase with Chickadee Design
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
This exquisite cylinder-shaped vase from Laura Zindel Design features a finely detailed graphite pencil illustration of a Black-Capped Chickadee. A perfect blend of art and functiona...
Earthenware
Salt Glaze Cobalt Stoneware Pottery Jar Double Wreath Banner Decorated Crock
Located in Hyattsville, MD
About the size of a cookie jar, we have an unmarked salt glaze stoneware jar with double wreath banners. This creates an empty frame, perhaps where an advertisement, or producers de...
Clay
Poul Soldner Raku-Fired Crazed Pedestal Piece
By Paul Soldner
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Soldner Raku-Fired Crazed Pedestal Piece, Exhibited and published in Paul Soldner "A Retrospective" 1991 Page 97, Pedestal Piece (84-49) 1984, c...
Ceramic
Iridescent Favrile Art Glass Gord Form Vase Signed Louis Comfort Tiffany
Located in New York, NY
This highly rare and innovative Iridescent Favrile Art Glass Gord Form Vase is by Louis Comfort Tiffany and originates from the United States Circa 1916. This vase is a true gem, wit...
Art Glass
Vintage T.C. Wheaton Co Glass Embossed Apothecary Bottles Set of 4
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful set of 4 vintage apothecary bottles with stoppers and embossed. Classic and unique, these beautiful bottles sparkle in vintage gl...
Glass
Large Hammered Copper Planter in a Fitted Wrought Iron Scrolled Base
Located in Hixson, TN
American craftsman large hammered copper planter which is fitted in a wrought iron scrolled base.
Copper, Wrought Iron
Ray Allen American Studio Segmented Wood Turned Vessel, 345 Pieces, Arizona 1997
By Finn Juhl, Edward Moulthrop
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Exceptional one-of-a-kind segmented woodturning vessel by renowned American studio artist Ray Allen (1930–2000) of Yuma, Arizona, signed and dated November 10, 1997. This sculptural...
Wood
Stratum Pot by David Ellsworth, 1997
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Larger than images may reveal, this 1997 Spalted sugar Maple pot is indicative of Ellsworth's post-1990 shift to focus on pure forms with a direct design approach. His stratum series...
Maple
1980s Van Briggle Southwestern Style Ceramic Vase, American Craftsman
Located in Savannah, GA
Classic Van Briggle vase circa 1980's or thereabouts. It' has a chic presence with a dreamy glaze with a lovely variation in coloring from dusty cobalt to teal turquoise. The surfac...
Ceramic
$716Sale Price|20% Off
1930s Ozark Roadside Tourist Swirl Missionware Pottery Vase Arkansas Missouri
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Ozark Pottery Company vase in blue and light blue swirled glaze. When demand for utilitarian ware waned, many potteries introduced their art line. Artifi...
Pottery
Beak Cup by Clayton Bailey, 1970
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A wonderful example of California Funk pottery: a hand thrown salt-glazed cup utilizing an expressive nose as a handle. Signed and dated BC 70.
Ceramic
Pair Weller Pottery Woodcraft Line Baby Foxes Planters Arts and Crafts Period
Located in Cooperstown, NY
We have an incredible pair of original, unrestored, excellent condition Weller pottery WoodCraft line Arts and Crafts planters. These two are a...
Ceramic
$63,000
Albert Paley Monumental Vase
By Albert Paley
Located in Chicago, IL
Albert Paley Studio, sculptural vase formed, forged, and fabricated of steel with a stainless steel insert. The work has been published in The Art of Albert Paley and in numerous cat...
Stainless Steel, Steel
$10,500
Hollow by David Ellsworth
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An outstanding turned hollow form vessel, with a squat spherical shape. Signed 'Ellsworth 1981 English Walnut'.
Walnut
$120Sale Price|20% Off
Handblown Glass Vase by Polish Artisans, American Style, 1970
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Unique blown glass made by Poland glassmakers vase with flowers.
Blown Glass
Turned Wood Bottle in Rosewood Assembled in Three Pieces
Located in Ferndale, MI
Fine example of wood turning. Three sections of turned rosewood put together to form a wine bottle. I believe this to be early 20th century.
Rosewood
$440Sale Price|20% Off
1930s Ozark Swirl Pottery Early Touring Souvenir Cactus Bowl Dish Roadside Gift
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Wonderful pattern, one of the best I have seen. Rare in Small size. No drain hole. Sold as a shelf prop, would not use, does not ring true, has cracks.
Concrete
Monumental Lucy Leuppe McKelvey Vase Navajo "Echos of the Anasazi"
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large and important pottery vase by Native American Artist Lucy Leuppe McKelvey. Beautifully executed depicting traditional cliff dwellings and other ancient symbols of the Native Am...
Studio Ceramic Vessel by Brother Thomas Bezanson
Located in Atlanta, GA
A ceramic vessel in the form of a footed bowl or chalice, studio crafted by Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007) circa 1970s. Covered in a brill...
Ceramic
Wilmer W Ramirez, Set of 2 earthenware vases, South america 1990s
Located in Firenze, IT
Set of 2 earthenware vase Wilmer W Ramirez, South america 1990s H 17.5 cm - 16 cm diam. Signed under the base Conditions: excellent consistent with age and use.
Ceramic
Studio Ceramic Vase Brother Thomas Bezanson
Located in Atlanta, GA
A ceramic vase crafted by Brother Thomas Bezanson (1929-2007) circa 1970s. The vase takes a classic Chinese "Mei Ping" form but with a modern s...
Ceramic
Roman Bronze Works, a Pair of Bronze Vases with Nymph and Satyr Relief, 1900s
Located in New York, NY
American Renaissance period. A Pair of Patinated Bronze Vases with Nymph and Satyr Bas-Reliefs by Roman Bronze Works, New York City, circa 1900. Dimensions: Height: 16 inches ...
Bronze
"Vintage Red Oval Art Glass Vase by Ivan Baj, Hand Blown, 12 Inch"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Large oval art glass hand blown Vessel Vase signed by Artist. Ivan Baj of Arcade of Murano
Blown Glass, Glass, Murano Glass
Turned Claro Walnut Vessel from USA
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A beautifully grained and masterfully turned spherical vase turned from a single piece of Clao walnut and having an expressive free-formed opening.
Walnut
$2,250
Galen Carpenter Vase
Located in Richmond, VA
Fantastic exotic wood bud vase by Galen Carpenter (1946-2017) Hand signed on the bottom, this incredible vase made of exotic woods & bone with intricate inlaid bands.
Bone, Palmwood
Vintage Coastal Faux Coral Plaster Urn
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Coastal large urn. Chic faux coral in a heavy plaster composition. Great indoors or outside. You decide! Acquired from a Palm Beach estate
Coral