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.
19th Century Marescaux et Hahn Belgian Asparagus & Artichoke Majolica Plate
By J. Hahn Marescaux
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An earthenware asparagus and artichoke plate, marked P. Marescaux et J. Hahn, Belgium, circa 1880. Unusual for the coloring, and with mold work similar to Luneville or Saint-Amand...
Earthenware
Sarreguemines French Majolica Trompe L’Oeil Greek Key Border Napkin Bread Tray
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From the Sarreguemines Majolica line, a trompe l’oeil napkin bread tray, France, circa 1885-1890. An earthenware, faïence bread tray modeled as a cloth napkin with a floral and chec...
Earthenware
Christopher Dresser Old Hall Aesthetic Vases c.1885
By Old Hall Earthenware Co., Christopher Dresser
Located in Paris, FR
Paire of Japanese style Old Hall Earthenware vases decorated with gilt elephants. Design attributed to Christopher Dresser (a similar model in C.W Dress...
Earthenware
"Folded" Fruit Bowl of service Bracquemond-Rousseau / Faience Montereau
By Félix Bracquemond, Creil et Montereau
Located in Greenwich, CT
Rare Japonism "Folded" Fruit Bowl from service "Bracquemond-Rousseau" of Faience Manufacture Creil et Montereau. This French earthenware Faience piece is part of the world-renowned...
Faience
French Fives-Lille De Bruyn Purple Trumpet Vine Posy Vases, circa 1890, a Pair
By Fives-Lille
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From the French faiencerie Five-Lille de Bruyn, a pair of Art Nouveau floral form posy vases, circa 1890. The majolica glazed barbotine vases are modeled as a blooming trumpet vine flower. The body of the vase is a yellow and purple flower...
Earthenware
George Jones English Majolica Albino Strawberry Spoon
By George Jones
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A George Jones Majolica Strawberry spoon, England, circa 1870. In the Aesthetic taste and glazed on the white ground known as ‘Albino.’ The green l...
Earthenware
Sarreguemines Majolica Trompe L’Oeil Greek Key Napkin Egg Box Pâté Terrine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From the Sarreguemines Majolica Napkin line, a trompe l’oeil egg box or Pâté Terrine, France, circa 1885- 1890. An earthenware, faïence lidded egg box modeled as fresh eggs wrappe...
Earthenware
Keller & Guérin Luneville French Trompe L’Oeil Napkin Burgundy Asparagus Server
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An Aesthetic Movement French Faïence trompe l’oeil asparagus server, Keller & Guerin, Luneville – circa 1890-1900. A scarce example – a fluted edge burgundy colored plate with a “...
Earthenware
Aesthetic Movement Faience Marine Life Plater by Schutz Cilli 19Th c.
By Schütz Cilli
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a wonderful example of Shutz Cilli manufacture in the late 19Th, century. This Faience Marine Life Plater by Schutz Cilli is from the Aesthetic Movement late 19Th c. This i...
Faience
19th Century Majolica Oyster Plate Wasmuel
Located in Austin, TX
19th-Century Majolica oyster plate Wasmuel (Belgium) decorated with flowers.
Ceramic
$200 / item
H 1.5 in Dm 9 in
Creil et Montereau Faïence Flora Muguet Lily of the Valley Rimmed Soup Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Creil et Montereau, a Provencal faïence rimmed soup plate in the Flora Muguet pattern, circa 1840-1876. Muguet or muguet-du-bois translates fro...
Earthenware
Italian Baroque Castelli Albarello, Hand-Crafted Ceramic, Circa 1700
Located in Stamford, CT
An Italian Baroque Castelli albarllo, also known as a pharmacy or drug jar. It held 'Benedict Laxat' listed as far back as Aristotle as a medication used in by midwives. Beautifully decorated with buildings in landscapes in the free, almost impressionistic style typical of Castelli Maiolica...
Ceramic
19th Century Victorian Majolica Sardine Georges Jones
By George Jones
Located in Austin, TX
Victorian Majolica Sardine Georges Jones dated august 1873. Decorated on the lid with sardines and seaweeds.
Ceramic
$2,990 / set
H 3.55 in Dm 12.8 in
Unmatching Pair of Majolica Ceramic Trompe L'oeil Crab Lobster Large Wall Plates
Located in Barcelona, ES
Extra large spider crab and lobster seafood plates wall decoration, Majolica, glazed ceramic. Portugal, 1950s Rare find. A colorful pair of fine Majolica glazed ceramic plates with s...
Majolica, Ceramic
$4,187 / set
H 11.82 in W 4.73 in D 3.15 in
18th Century Dutch Delft Earthenware Vases Pieter van den Briel’t Fortuyn
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Two 18th century delft earthenware vases signed VB (Pieter van den Briel 't Fortuyn, 1753-1759) In original condition, no restorations as you can see on the photo's. VB mark : Van ...
Earthenware
19th Century Majolica Turquoise Asparagus Plate Luneville
By Luneville
Located in Austin, TX
19th century rare Majolica turquoise asparagus plate, Luneville unsigned. Every important French manufactures produced at the end of the 19th century asparagus and artichoke sets. Re...
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
Set of 5 Circa 1900 Blue and White Delft Vases from Holland
Located in Dallas, TX
A beautiful set of five blue and white Delft vases, this faience collection was hand-painted in Holland, circa 1900. The three bulbous vases are lidded, each with a finial depicting a rampant lion with a ball in its forepaws. Beneath the lion is a mottled background (on the front side only), with a foliate and floral margent. Each vase has the same scene painted on the front of the main body: a couple walking through a field surrounded by flowers. The opposite side has a floral rinceaux above a foliate branch. Painted in a similar fashion, the two concave vases are without lids. The side opposite from the cartouche of the couple has floral margents. All five vases have canted corners on the base. Inspired by Italian majolica, the faience produced in 16th century Holland...
Delft, Paint
Large Antique Italian Majolica Platter, Bacchus and Ariadne
Located in Dallas, TX
At over two feet in diameter, this stunning majolica platter or charger, is particularly large. The painted scene painted was taken from a ceiling fresco known as the Triumph of Bacchus and Ariadne...
Majolica
French Majolica Oyster Plate Fives Lille, circa 1890
By Fives-Lille
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica blue, pink and grey oyster plate unsigned from Fives Lille, circa 1890.
Ceramic
19th Century French Faience Floral Plate
Located in Pearland, TX
A lovely antique late 18th-century to early 19th-century French faience plate with beautiful hand painted flowers and a scalloped rim. It would look fabulous displayed on a wall or s...
Faience
$311
H 1.38 in W 21.46 in D 10.24 in
huge French Majolica Fish Platter Sarreguemines 1950s in very good condition
Located in Landshut, BY
huge French Majolica Fish Platter Sarreguemines 1950s in very good condition German : Saargemünd / French Sarreguemines) is situated in the north-east of France, on the border wi...
Maiolica
Circa 1780 Pair of Delft Blue & White Beaker Vases
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1780 pair of Delft blue & white beaker vases. Extensive floral & Asian lattice fence cartouche decoration. Likely once part of a larger garniture s...
Delft
Late 18th Century Delft Blue & White Pair of Plates
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 18th century Delft blue & white pair of plates, Dutch. Elegant floral decoration with central floret & alternating border. 8.75" dia. Whitehall Antiques is a family business th...
Delft
Late 18th Century Delft Blue & White Plate
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 18th century Delft blue & white plate, Dutch. Chinoiserie decoration of various flowers from chrysanthemums to cattails. Typical rim frits for the material. 8 7/8" dia., 1" h. ...
Delft
Wedgwood Argenta Majolica Lemon Fruit Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood and in the color way known as Argenta, a fruit plate, England, circa 1875. Showing a central yellow lemon and leaves along with a branch of pears and walnuts, all on a...
Earthenware
Wedgwood Argenta Majolica Apple Fruit Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood and in the color way known as Argenta, a fruit plate, England, circa 1875. Showing a central red and greenish apple and leaves along with a branch of apricots and haze...
Earthenware
Wedgwood Argenta Majolica Pear Fruit Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood and in the color way known as Argenta, a fruit plate, England, circa 1875. Showing a central red and orange pear and leaves along with a branch of purple plums and red...
Earthenware
Wedgwood Argenta Majolica Melon Fruit Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood and in the color way known as Argenta, a fruit plate, England, circa 1875. Showing a central green and orange melon and leaves along with a branch of plums and strawbe...
Earthenware
Wedgwood Argenta Majolica Orange Fruit Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood and in the color way known as Argenta, a fruit plate, England, date marked 1880. Showing a central orange and leaves along with a branch of persimmons and a green appl...
Earthenware
Wedgwood Argenta Majolica Pineapple Fruit Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood and in the color way known as Argenta, a fruit plate, England, date marked 1880. Showing a central pineapple and leaves along with a branch of cherries and a pair of...
Earthenware
Wedgwood Argenta Majolica Fig Fruit Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood and in the color way known as Argenta, a fruit plate, England, date marked 1880. Showing a central twigged fig and leaves along with cherries and a berry cluster, al...
Earthenware
Wedgwood Argenta Majolica Pear Fruit Plate
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood and in the color way known as Argenta, a fruit plate, England, date marked 1880. Showing a central twigged pear and leaves along with gooseberries and plums, all on ...
Earthenware
George Jones English Majolica Albino Strawberry Spoon
By George Jones
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A George Jones Majolica Strawberry spoon, England, circa 1870. In the Aesthetic taste and glazed in the white ground known as 'Albino.' The green l...
Earthenware