Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
AESTHETIC MOVEMENT
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.
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Style: Aesthetic Movement
Austrian Majolica Oyster Plate, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Large unusual Austrian Majolica oyster plate, circa 1880.
Category
1880s Austrian Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic, Faience
Porcelain Half Moon Pink Shell on White and Gilded Oyster Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A late 19th century, French porcelain, crescent or half-moon shaped oyster plate, five pink blush oyster wells on a white colored ground hand-painted with blades of sea grass and a g...
Category
19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
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...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
Set of Nine Minton 19th Century Hand-Painted Dessert Plates, Antonin Boullemier
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This amazing set of nine Mintons, 19th century cabinet plates depicting young nymphs in fanciful, bucolic settings are beautifully and realistically painted on a soft aqua background...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 8 Antique Worcester Porcelain Cabinet Plates with Enamel Flowers
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredibly fine set of 8 Worcester porcelain plates.
With raised, enameled flowers to the borders on a custard colored ground.
Each flower is layered. The bottom layer has ...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 12 Aesthetic Movement Handpainted Fruit Raised Gold 19th c Cabinet Plates
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 dessert plates is a fabulous example of the artistry of the Aesthetic Movement. Each plate is hand-painted in shades of raised paste gold, silver, green and apricot gi...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
French Set Of 12 Faience Blue & White Architectural Dinner Plates, Gien, C.1900
By Gien
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just arrived!
This beautiful and rare French Set of 12 Faience Blue & White Architectural design Dinner Plates.
There are three different designs of Architectural ruins in Blue on a ...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Faience
S. Fielding & Co. English Majolica Cream/Turquoise Seaweed Oyster Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A six-well majolica glazed oyster plate by S. Fielding & Co. Ltd., Stoke-on-Trent, England, circa 1878. Turquoise oyster wells surround a center condim...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
Wedgwood English Majolica Basketweave and Tortoiseshell Plate, Date Marked 1874
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood, an earthenware majolica glazed plate, signed and date marked 1874.
A green, brown and yellow tortoiseshell glazed center is bordered by eight yellow basketweave inn...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
8 Spode Aesthetic Movement Hand Painted Blue & Ivory Floral Dessert Plates
By Spode
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 8 Spode Copelands dessert plates are perfect for a dessert course at an intimate dinner and also likely to be used as display or cabinet p...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 12 Cauldon Hand-Painted "Flower Arrangement" Dessert Plates, Cobalt Blue
Located in Great Barrington, MA
A decorative and beautifully hand-painted set of 12 Cauldon dessert plates with shaped rims trimmed in gold with central floral decoration. Each plate depicts a unique flower arrange...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
English Majolica Green Rimmed Round Begonia Leaf Plate, circa 1870-80
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An English majolica Begonia plate, Adams & Bromley, circa 1870-1880.
Beautiful, bold glazing with bright green rims. The centers show a pattern of raised mold work, mimicking the c...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
11 Piece Set of Sarreguemines French Faience Majolica Dessert Plates
Located in Pasadena, TX
Set of Sarreguemines French Faience Majolica dessert plates, with a variety of fruit on a background of overlapping leaves.
Glazed by hand, ea...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Clay
Davenport Aesthetic Movement Cobalt Blue Hand-Painted Chrysanthemum Dessert Set
Located in Great Barrington, MA
Made by the renown English porcelain firm of Davenport, this set of ten dessert plates and five serving pieces are all hand painted with a variety of chrysanthemums and foliage. What...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 12 Cauldon Aesthetic Movement Hand-Painted Aquatic Plates, Artist Signed
By Cauldon
Located in Great Barrington, MA
There are fish plates and then there are these plates! The sea-foam green ground is the perfect foil for the hand-painted borders which are divided into five reserves featuring vario...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 15 Aesthetic Movement Hand Painted Dessert Plates Plates w/ Botanicals
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of hand painted botanical dessert plates feature a vibrant floral subject in a varied palette and each is framed by an unusual Impres...
Category
1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 12 Doulton Burslem Hand-Painted Artist Signed Fish Plates, 19th Century
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 Doulton Burslem plates dates from the 1890s and are decorated in the Aesthetic Movement style. Each plate is uniquely hand painted...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic
French Majolica Oyster Plate Russian Imperial Eagle, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica oyster plate called Russian imperial eagle, circa 1890.
Reference / page 132 "Oyster Plates" of Jeffrey B. Snyder.
Category
1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
French Majolica Oyster Plate Russian Imperial Eagle, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica oyster plate called Russian imperial eagle, circa 1890.
Reference / page 132 "Oyster Plates" of Jeffrey B. Snyder.
Category
1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
19th Century Majolica Snail Platter Luneville
By Luneville
Located in Austin, TX
Unusual 19th century Majolica Snail Platter attributed to Luneville.
Decorated with grapes.
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
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...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
German Majolica Bird Plate, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
German Majolica Bird Plate, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic
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...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Rare c.1900 Grecian Pattern Historical Blue Royal Staffordshire Pottery Plate
Located in Louisville, KY
This rare Royal Staffordshire Pottery piece was part of the Aesthetic Movement, which started in England in the late 19th century. This plate has the historic Staffordshire markings ...
Category
Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
German Majolica Bird Plate, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
German Majolica Bird Plate, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic
Wedgwood Majolica Japonisme Cobalt Blue Pickle and Fork Plate, Dated 1879
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Wedgwood, a scarce Cobalt blue majolica glazed Pickle Plate, date marked 1879.
From the English Aesthetic Movement Era, and in the Japonisme taste, six teardrop shaped wells,...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
French Majolica Bird Plate Keller & Guerin Saint Clement circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica bird plate Keller & Guerin Saint Clement circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic
William Adderley English Staffordshire Shell and Floral Asparagus Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A shell form asparagus plate, William Adderley, Longton, Staffordshire, England, circa 1880, for the French market.
A transfer printed pattern of floral sprays dot an open clam sh...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
French Faïence Sarreguemines Barbotine Turquoise Hand Painted Asparagus Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Faïence asparagus plate, showing a group of five asparagus spears spread across a turquoise ground. A hand painted border line and a faint basketweave pattern on the rim. Gr...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
4 Old Hall 'Excelsior' plates Aesthetic Movement Christopher Dresser Attributed.
Located in Sharon, CT
Four classic old hall plates with Aesthetic Movement Decoration ('Excelsior' design), the design attributed to Christopher Dresser.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic
Keller & Guerin Saint Clément French Faïence Cyclamen Floral Asparagus Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An Aesthetic Movement French Faïence asparagus plate, Keller & Guerin St. Clément, circa 1880 in the Art Nouveau style.
A border of Cyclamen flowers and leaves encircle three asp...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
Set of 12 KPM Dessert Plates with Hand Painted Fruit Pierced & Gilt Borders
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of KPM porcelain dessert plates are exceptional as they feature interesting and more unusual fruit subjects. The plates have the name of the fruit subject painted on the rev...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Keller & Guerin Saint Clément Faïence Bleeding Heart Asparagus Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An aesthetic movement French faïence asparagus plate, Keller & Guerin Saint Clément, circa 1880. A border of bleeding hearts flower heads, or as they are called in France. Coeurs de ...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
19th Century French Faïence Hand Painted Floral Asparagus Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A scarce barbotine Majolica glazed oval Asparagus plate, France, circa 1880-1890, maker unknown.
This unusual plate shows six raised asparagus spears...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
Samuel Alcock & Co. Strawberry and Grape Leaf Plate, England, circa 1850
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A strawberry and grape leaf plate, from Samuel Alcock & Co, Burslem, Staffordshire, England, circa 1850.
A central grape leaf is shown with a vine border, along with purple bunche...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
19th Century Rustic French Faïence Majolica Square Asparagus Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rustic country French barbotine Majolica glazed Asparagus plate, circa 1890-1900, maker unknown.
A natural colored square plate, heavily potted, showing bound and arching aspara...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
French Faïence Majolica Glazed Pastel Asparagus Plate, circa 1890-1910
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A scarce French barbotine Majolica pastel glazed Asparagus plate, circa 1890-1910, maker unknown.
The mint green plate is of high quality ceramic, showing arching asparagus spears...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Ceramic
Set of 8 Royal Worcester Aesthetic Period Plates, 19th Century, England
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Set of 8 Royal Worcester Aesthetic Period Plates, 19th Century, England. A striking design in a blue and white pattern, banded with center medallion. Royal Worcester and date marks, ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Porcelain
Wedgwood Green Majolica Earthenware Sunflower Plates Set (15)
By Wedgwood
Located in Downingtown, PA
Wedgwood Pottery Green Majolica Sunflower Plates,
Aesthetic Movement,
Fifteen plates,
Circa 1860s
The Wedgwood majolica set of fifteen plates have a molded sunflower design within a...
Category
Mid-19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware, Majolica, Pottery
English Fence & Ivy Majolica Crescent Plate, TC Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A rarer English Majolica crescent shaped plate from Thomas C. Brown-Westhead, Moore & Co., Cauldron Place, Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, England, circa 1865.
A rustic pattern ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Dinner Plates
Materials
Earthenware
Aesthetic Movement dinner plates for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement dinner plates for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage dinner plates created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, wall decorations and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, earthenware and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Aesthetic Movement dinner plates made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original dinner plates, popular names associated with this style include Wedgwood, Saint Clément, Wasmuel Majolica, and Minton. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for dinner plates differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $115 and tops out at $9,500 while the average work can sell for $600.