For some, the phrase “rustic style” suggests a house like “La Pitchoune,” the late chef Julia Child’s cottage in Provence, with its exposed wooden beams and well-worn antique furniture. For others, rustic furnishings and decor prompt images of a place like the Lake Placid Lodge in Upstate New York, with its stone fireplaces and knotty pine paneling. Indeed, rustic furniture design takes many forms: twig furniture, a plank trestle table, a hand-stitched quilt, a chandelier made of deer antlers.
The rustic style originated in the late 1800s in England, where it was heavily influenced by Romanticism. By the 20th century, it had spread to the United States, adopted by wealthy New Yorkers and the National Park Service alike. Although there are many categories of rustic furniture, one of the most popular and familiar manifestations of the style is Adirondack furniture and the low-slung 1903 Thomas Lee Adirondack chair.
Rustic design is perhaps mostly about texture and humble materials: hand-hewn reclaimed wood, woven rush seating, wrought iron, coarse stone and weathered metal. As a decor, it exudes warmth and honesty, while a single piece of countrified design adds an intriguing visual counterpoint in a sleek, modern environment.
Easily identifiable by its rough textures, earthy colors and natural materials, rustic wares help bring the beauty of the outdoors inside.
As you can see on 1stDibs, vintage rustic chairs, dining tables and other pieces of rustic furniture offer endless inspiration.
Rustic Continental Style Horn and Metal Desk Lighter
Located in Queens, NY
Rustic Continental-style (19/20th Century) desk lighter with metal rotating gravity-oriented ball lighter with curved metal rest, and horn handle ending in a curled metal cap.
Horn
$450 / item
Italian Grotto Style Onyx Shell Ashtrays
Located in Queens, NY
6 Italian Grotto-style (20th Century) brown onyx shell form ashtray/soap dish with a fluted and scalloped design (PRICED EACH)
Ash
Majolica Boot Match Striker, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica boot match striker circa 1890.
Ceramic
Vintage Glazed Studio Pottery Catchall
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This rustic yellow ceramic bowl bursts with Mediterranean charm. The bright glaze is sunshine-rich, with flecks of green that look almost like olive leaves drifting across its sides....
Pottery
$260Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.25 in Dm 9.75 in
1964 Robert Maxwell California Design Studio Art Pottery Ashtray w/Crackle Glass
By Robert Maxwell and David Cressey, Robert Maxwell
Located in San Diego, CA
Great California studio pottery ashtray by Robert Maxwell, circa 1965. The ashtray has red crackle glass in the center. Signed on the bottom by the artist. Very unique design and for...
Pottery
Italian Cigar Ashtray, circa 1965
By Bitossi
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Cigar Ashtray attributed to Bitossi marked Italy on the bottom, circa 1965 great color, glaze and patina some loss of glaze through out which just more Bohemiam character
Pottery
$711
H 2.56 in W 5.32 in D 5.32 in
Large Murano Glass "Yellow" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass bowl element, ash tray was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Ital...
Murano Glass
Wonderful Vintage DUNHILL Rollagas Lighter Diamond-Cut Gold Plated
Located in Roslyn, NY
A Wonderful Vintage Dunhill Rollagas Gold Plated Lighter This Lighter Is Being Sold As Is, Not Sure Of It's Working Condition... Please Look A...
Gold Plate
$1,195
H 7.5 in Dm 6.25 in
Early 20th Century Bell Metal and Brass Monkey Cigar Cutter w/Match Box Holder
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Early twentieth century cigar cutter in the form of a monkey holding a lamp post which holds a match box, on a circular ashtray base. The body of the monkey is bell metal (brass with high copper content, giving it a pinker color)), the rest is brass. The monkeys tail moves up and down to operate the cutter. Included is a box of Vintage...
Brass, Copper
Space Age Ashtray, Chrome, Italy, circa 1970
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Very nice ashtray Space Age produced in italy in the 70s. Structure in chromed metal. Unique object that will bring a real design touch to your interior. Time marks consiste...
Metal
Hermes Silver Cube Lighter, 1960s France
By Hermès
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Magnificent cube lighter by Hermes, Paris. In cast metal with silver plating, this piece is meticulously handcrafted. The letter 'H' emerges from the structural silhouettes, echoing ...
Metal, Silver
Red alabaster lighter by Romano Bianchi, Italy, 1970
Located in BARCELONA, ES
Very beautiful red alabaster lighter designed and produced by Romano Bianchi in Italy in the 1970s. Handcrafted. Very well preserved. Decorative object that will bring a real designe...
Stone
Raul Coronel Signed Mid-Century Modern California Studio Pottery Bowl, 1960s
By Raul Coronel
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderfully made and colored ashtray/ bowl by Mexican born ceramic master Raul Coronel who played an important role in the American (he became a naturalized citizen) / California d...
Stoneware
Ashtray Match Box Case Set Cloisonné Enamel
Located in New York, NY
An enamel Cloisonné match box case and ashtray set, circa early-20th century, Asia. Set includes 1 matchbox holder, and 1 ashtray/dish/plate (for used matche...
Brass, Enamel
$495
H 2 in Dm 8.4 in
Monumental Vintage Italian Pink and Black Checkered Marble Ashtray Catchall Bowl
Located in Toronto, CA
A rare and monumental Mid-Century Modern Italian marble bowl, circa 1960, showcasing a bold checkerboard design in rose-pink and deep black marble. The striking contrast and polished...
Breccia Marble, Belgian Black Marble, Marble
$663
H 2.56 in W 4.73 in D 4.73 in
unique Murano Glass "Yellow" Bowl Element Shell Ashtray Murano, Italy, 1970
By Flavio Poli, Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Murano glass bowl, ashtray element Origin: Murano, Italy Decade: 1970s This original vintage glass bowl element, ash tray was produced in the 1970s in Murano, Ital...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 1 in W 4 in D 4 in
Tonquin Red Pink by ROYAL STAFFORDSHIRE by Clarice Cliff made in England Ashtray
By Royal Staffordshire Ceramics 1
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Tonquin Red Pink by ROYAL STAFFORDSHIRE by Clarice Cliff made in England Ashtray.Royal Staffordshire Tonquin Red Pink Clarice Cliff Transferware Dish.Vintage Square dish with a lovely scene of large house by river, bridge, swans & flowers.Use it as a catchall, vide poche, ring jewelry dish or just as a beautiful vintage country design dish.Dimensions: Square 4 x 4 inches x 1 inch height.Crafted In England Discontinued Piece collectible Dish...
Ceramic