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.
Royal Crown Derby Imari Pattern Twin Handled Porcelain Urn & Cover
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine antique English porcelain pedestal twin handled urn and cover decorated in the desirable Imari pattern by renowned makers Royal Crown Derby and dated 1904. The urn is of wide ...
Porcelain
$2,610 / set
French Aesthetic Movement Bronze Champleve Urns
Located in Downingtown, PA
Pair of French Aesthetic Movement Bronze and Champlevé Enamel Urns (Jardinières) This elegant pair of footed urns, sometimes referred to as jardinières, is a stunning embodiment of ...
Metal
Gérald Vatrin "Providence – Mali Tribal series" blown glass sculpture
Located in Paris, FR
Providence – Mali Tribal series is an exceptional unique piece from the Flacon collection. Its structure is composed of two elements of hand-blown white translucent glass, forming a ...
Glass, Blown Glass
Gérald Vatrin "Pria" Blown Glass Sculpture, Hand-Crafted, France, 2022
Located in Paris, FR
Pria is an exceptional unique piece from the Flacon collection. Its structure is composed of two elements of hand-blown white translucent glass, forming a precious, oversized bottle....
Glass, Blown Glass
Gérald Vatrin Bota Blown Glass Sculpture, Hand-Crafted, France, 2023
Located in Paris, FR
Bota is an exceptional unique piece from the Flacon collection. Its structure is composed of two elements of hand-blown white translucent glass, forming a precious, oversized bottle....
Glass, Blown Glass
Gérald Vatrin 'Madjo' Hand-Crafted Blown Glass Sculpture, France 2020
Located in Paris, FR
Madjo is an exceptional unique piece from the Flacon collection. Its structure is composed of two elements of hand-blown white translucent glass, forming a precious, oversized bottle...
Glass, Blown Glass
Gérald Vatrin "Mojo" Blown Glass Sculpture, Hand-Crafted, France, 2020
Located in Paris, FR
Mojo is an exceptional unique piece from the Flacon collection. Its structure is composed of two elements of hand-blown white translucent glass, forming a precious, oversized bottle....
Glass, Blown Glass
$3,850
H 12 in Dm 8.5 in
Single Hand Blown Faceted Smoke Citrine Murano Glass Vase, Signed, Italy, 2022
By Alberto Donà
Located in New York, NY
Single hand blown faceted smoke citrine murano glass vase, handcrafted in Italy by the Murano glass master, Alberto Dona, and signed. This vase is heavy...
Murano Glass
WMF Myra series iridescent blown glass vase. Germany, 1920s/30s
By WMF Ikora
Located in Torino, IT
Vase made of glass blown iridescent WMF Myra series. ORIGIN Germany PERIOD Years 20/30 MARK WMF MODEL Myra Series MATERIALS Iridescent blown glass DIMENSIONS Height- 18cm Ø 10 ...
Glass, Blown Glass
$3,950 / set
H 10.75 in W 5.25 in D 5.25 in
Pair of Royal Crown Derby Olde Avesbury Pattern Candlesticks & 8 Dinner Plates
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
These tall candlesticks and dinner plates were made by the renowned English porcelain maker, Royal Crown Derby. The candlesticks and plates are done in their 'Olde Avesbury...
Porcelain
$799
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
Antique Japanese Bronze Cloisonné/Champleve Vase Urn
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Japanese Bronze Cloisonné/Champleve Vase Urn This Antique Japanese Bronze Cloisonné/Champleve Vase Urn showcases the timeless artistry of traditional Japanese craftsmanship...
Enamel
$550
H 11.75 in Dm 8.5 in
Antique Japanese Bronze Champleve Cloisonne Enamel Dragon Mantel Vase Urn 12"
Located in Dayton, OH
Exquisite antique Japanese bronze champlevé and cloisonné enamel vase with dragon handles. It features decorative patterns of lotus and chrysanthemum flowers, vines, and dragons. Mad...
Bronze
$1,182
H 9.26 in W 8.27 in D 1.58 in
Aesthetic Movement Moon Flask, Franz Anton Mehlem, Japonisme, Germany, 1865
Located in Glasgow, GB
A striking Aesthetic Movement moon flask by Franz Anton Mehlem, made in Germany in 1865, its flattened earthenware form richly decorated with Japonisme motifs. The broad circular bo...
Enamel
Vintage Blown Glass Wine Jars
Located in Napa, CA
Vintage blown glass demijohn wine jars in varying shades of green. Approximate available sizing: Large: 20 in. height with 15 in. diameter $...
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
Set of 2 French Hand-Blown Glass Apothecary Jars, Mid-Century
Located in Winter Park, FL
A set of two French hand-blown clear glass lidded apothecary or candy jars. Smooth canister form, domed lid with knob. Perfect for use as bathroom canisters or for decorative display...
Glass
$350Sale Price|30% Off
H 19.5 in W 12 in D 12 in
Antique Japanese Champleve Bronze Flower Vase Urn Pegasus Butterfly Cloisonné
Located in Dayton, OH
Early 20th century Japanese Bronze Champleve Flower Vase or Urn. Features a colorful champleve design of Pegasus's and butterflies between engraved bronze motifs. Marked Made in Japa...
Bronze, Enamel
Pair of Hand-Pained Royal Crown Derby Vases, Circa 1880
By Royal Crown Derby Porcelain
Located in Houston, TX
These highly decorative pair of English, late 19th-century reticulated porcelain vases by Royal Crown Derby, date to approximately 1880. Each vase is beautifully hand-painted with v...
Porcelain
Mid-late 19th Century Bohemian Small Blown & Cut Vaseline Glass Covered Urn
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Mid to late 19th century Bohemian small blown & cut vaseline glass (also called Uraline or Ouraline glass) covered urn. A rare & exquisite example with enamel & gilt decoration, shap...
Glass, Blown Glass
Gilt Tole Grape Vines in Stoneware Urns, Pair
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of European, possibly French, gilt tole vining branches with silvered grape bunches in green-painted stoneware urns mounted atop green-painted metal square bases, formerly lamps...
Metal
Sold
H 5 in W 3 in D 5.5 in
Antique Victorian Aesthetic Pairpoint Quadruple Silver Plate Handled Vase Urn
Located in Dayton, OH
Aesthetic period Pairpoint Manufacturing Company, quadruple silver plate footed and handled vase or urn, number 817.
Silver Plate
Sold
H 13.25 in W 7.75 in D 6.5 in
Antique Aesthetic Royal Worcester Reticulated Porcelain Urn 'as found', c1890
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Aesthetic Movement covered urn by Royal Worcester offers porcelain construction with Moorish foliate reticulated neck and collar over bulbous vessel with hand painted foli...
Porcelain
Sold
H 17.25 in W 8.5 in D 7 in
Pair of Aesthetic Movement Majolica Vases Signed Wilhelm Schiller, Bohemia
Located in Banner Elk, NC
Impressive pair of aesthetic movement Majolica vases or urns signed Wilhelm Schiller and Son, Bohemia, circa 1880, measures: Height 17.25 i...
Majolica
Antique English Aesthetic Movement Silver Plated Tea or Hot Water Urn
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique silver plated tea or hot water urn is unsigned, but presumed to have been made in England in circa 1880 in the style of the Aesthetic Movement. The tapered cylindrical shape of the lid and bulbous shaped body are accented by the bold geometrically shaped handles. The spout handle is done with ornate scroll work and the body is tastefully engraved. There is an engraved rearing lion on the front and a small capital "B" monogram on the back. This urn is complete with its original insert and sits on a claw foot pedestal...
Silver Plate, Brass
Sold
H 25.6 in W 13.78 in D 11.82 in
Pair of 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Majolica Urns, German, Attrib. Hanke
By Reinhold Hanke
Located in Madrid, ES
A matched pair of late 19th century Bohemian / German majolica porcelain urns. With a contrasting mix of Christian, mythological, grotesque and neoclassical elements, they exemplify the highly decorative, "art for art's sake" ideology of the Aesthetic Movement (1860-1900). Colorful and engaging, the style was a direct and confrontational answer to the rise of mass-produced and industrial culture. With impressed marks "R.H. 35" on their bases, the urns were most probably manufactured by Reinhold...
Bronze
Pair of Late 19th Century Hand-Painted and Gilt Urns
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of hand-painted and gilt lidded urns with an Austrian beehive mark on bottom. The unusual robins egg blue background with hand-painted allegorical panels on the fronts. The de...
Porcelain
Sold
H 13.25 in W 5 in D 4 in
19th Century French Aesthetic Movement Bronze and Gilt Bronze Urn on Marble Base
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Standing 13.25 inches tall this rare urn combines classical and naturalistic designs typical for the aesthetic movement. The urn bears the hallmarks of French manufacture and would l...
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Pair of Bronze Garniture Urns with Lids
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of Aesthetic movement patinated bronze garniture urns. Each with double handle and flame finial on the lids. Classic tapered shape with stylized leaf on the main part of the...
Bronze