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.
A RUSTIC MODERN Ceramic BRITTANY WOMAN PORTRAIT, France 1970
Located in PARIS, FR
A beautiful figurative relief work, Modernist, Rustic-Modern, stylized representation of a woman wearing a stylized Breton headdress with large flowers, created in relief on a thick ...
Ceramic
French Majolica Oranges Wall Pocket Perret Gentil Menton circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French majolica oranges wall pocket signed Perret Gentil Menton circa 1890.
Ceramic
French Faience Heart Secouette Flask / Hand Warmer HB Quimper, Circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
French Faience Heart Secouette Flask / Hand Warmer HB Quimper, Circa 1900. Douardenez.
Faience
Antique Antique Terracotta Incense Burner
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique terracotta insensario, incense burner, with three legs. Older repair, stunning patina.
Terracotta
$223Sale Price|20% Off
Chalkware Peasant Pair if Figurines
By Borghese
Located in Malibu, CA
Vintage Niepold Borghese chalkware figurines of a peasant man & woman traveling pair.
Ceramic
Antique English Doulton Burslem Glen Urquart Highland Whiskey Dispenser
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A rare and large glazed ceramic whiskey dispenser with strong form and color. Mark on the base dates to 1882-1891. Urquart owner's inscription also i...
Ceramic
Mexican Vessel Rustic Natural Clay Folk Art Handmade Ceramic Terracotta Oaxaca
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Silvia creates her own representation of the Mixe Blouse, very traditional garment of the Mixe Region, in Mexico. In the heart of the Sierra Norte Mountains in the state of Oaxac...
Ceramic, Clay
$901
H 7.29 in W 9.06 in D 4.73 in
Early 19th Century English Demilune Lusterware Bough Pot With Cover
By Hackwood & Co.
Located in Roma, RM
This demilune flower pot or bough pot for forcing springtime bulbs, is adorned with three landscape panels. Each panel, painted in pink lustre, depicts the same cottage in a pastoral setting from three different vantage points. Moulded into the top and bottom rims are acanthus leaves. Pieces in this shape, color and style have been attributed to the Hackwood company, and usually pieces like these, are not marked. William Hackwood & Son was an earthenware factory in Shelton, England, from 1818 until 1853. In addition to lustre ware...
Ceramic, Faience, Luster
$220Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 5.75 in W 5 in D 3 in
Pair of Mid Century 1950s Howard Pierce Ceramic Quail Bird Sculpture Figurine
Located in San Diego, CA
Iconic pair of Howard Pierce ceramic quail bird figurines/sculptures dating from the 1950s. These are an iconic design. Great color and form. The larger ...
Ceramic
$550
H 23.5 in W 14 in D 10 in
Mexican Vessel Rustic Natural Clay Folk Art Handmade Ceramic Terracotta Oaxaca
Located in Queretaro, Queretaro
Silvia creates her own representation of the Mixe Blouse, very traditional garment of the Mixe Region, in Mexico. In the heart of the Sierra Norte Mountains in the state of Oaxac...
Ceramic, Clay
Antoni Gaudi Decorative Ceramic Spanish Tile of Casa Vicens
By Antoni Gaudí
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Decorative ceramic tiles by Antoni Gaudi, inspired by the marigold and dianthus motifs on the decorative ceramic tiles he designed for the fac...
Ceramic
Antique Terra Cotta Federal Eagles 'Pair'
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Early antique federal eagles [pair] beautiful glaze. ca 1900, came from an antique collectors personal collection, you can see a repair on one of the eag...
Terracotta
$625
H 2.25 in Dm 9 in
Antique Portuguese Pottery Palissy Style Majolica Lobster Wall Dish Plate, 1900
By Bernard Palissy
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique Palissy Ware style Portuguese majolica wall plate, circa 1900. The plate decorated with a large lobster to the center resting on a textu...
Pottery
$363Sale Price|25% Off
H 4.5 in W 7 in D 4 in
Early 20th-Century Antique Chinese Erotic Porcelain Figurine
Located in Pomona, CA
These "spring palace paintings" (春宫畫), Chinese erotic porcelain figurine were historically given to brides and young couples, sometimes as a form of "sex education" in a culture wher...
Porcelain
Sold|$37,500
H 10 in W 6 in D 6 in
Rare Meissen Marcolini Porcelain Chinoiserie Incense Burner Vase and Cover
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
A rare Meissen Marcolini Porcelain Chinoiserie incense burner vase and cover, made for the Chinese market, circa 1800, blue cross swords and star mark, Pressnummer 58 A Museum Quality Piece. Painted in the sought after famille rose palette with sprigs of indianische Blumen and enriched in gilding, the simulated pierced body supported by four feet painted with stylized dragons, the pierced cover with a Buddhist lion finial. 10" high x 6" wide x 6" deep The shape of this piece, which appears to be unrecorded in the literature, is inspired by similar Chinese porcelain censers from the Qing Dynasty, Kangxi Period (1654-1722). An example in the Palace Museum, Beijing, is illustrated by Li Yi-hua in Qing Porcelain of Kangxi, Yongzheng and Qianlong Periods from the Palace Museum Collection, Hong Kong, 1989, pl. 65. Another in the British Museum, London (museum no. PDF, A.812) is catalogued as a perfume-holder. These porcelain examples are in turn inspired by ancient Chinese bronzes from both the Shang (1600-1046 BC) and the Zhou (1046-246 BCE) dynasties, an example of which was sold anonymously by Christie's New York, 22 March 2019, lot 1601. This chain of inspiration tracking backwards from the 19th century to antiquity provides a clear example of how ceramics, and indeed other mediums, are able to influence and motivate the works of later generations. For a Meissen porcelain snuff...
Porcelain
$250
H 10 in W 10 in D 1 in
Tonala Folk Art Pottery Plate Hand Painted with Birds, Mexico, circa 1960's
By Ken Edwards
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Handcrafted Ken Edwards ceramic plate Tonala Mexico Folk Art Pottery. Vintage Ken Edwards Mexican ceramic birds and flowers from Tonala Pottery. ...
Ceramic
19th Century French Rustic Pottery Pitcher
Located in Austin, TX
19th Century French pottery pitcher. Pottery from Normandy.
Pottery
$537Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 7.88 in W 5.52 in D 9.85 in
Sheep Moneybox Pop Art, Set of 2 Pieces, Made in Italy, 2022, Black, Red
Located in San Miniato PI, IT
These splendid ceramic creations are born from the artistic laboratory of Mosche Bianche. The piggy bank, a means that has always been used to remind us of the importance of savi...
Ceramic
$1,500
H 5.5 in Dm 5.38 in
Folk Art Pottery Pitcher - Hand Painted Birds & Flowers - Mexico - Circa 1920's
Located in Chatham, ON
Exceptional Mexican folk art terra cotta pitcher or vase - medium size - fine, thin potted vessel - hand made and hand painted with birds and flowers in red, yellow and black enamels...
Terracotta
19th Century Rustic Popular Traditional Ceramic
Located in Barcelona, ES
19th Century rustic popular traditional ceramic. By unknown artisan, France. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with age and use, preserving a beautiful patina. M...
Ceramic
French Faience Secouette Flask / Hand Warmer HB Quimper, Circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
French Faience Secouette Flask / Hand Warmer HB Quimper, Circa 1900. In a shape of a barrel.
Faience
Chinese Glazed Kitchen Jar, C. 1900
Located in Chicago, IL
A dark brown glaze clings to the tapered form of this 19th-century jar, once used daily in a Qing-dynasty kitchen as evidenced by the glazed interior. The wide-mouth jar is shaped wi...
Ceramic
2 Antique Salt Glaze Earthenware Stoneware Jugs Bottles Crocks Charlestown
Located in Dayton, OH
Two primitive 19th century antique salt glaze earthenware or stoneware crocks / jugs featuring a two gallon Charlestown, Massachusetts jug and a one...
Stoneware
Early 20th Century Terracotta Water Vessel From Yucatan, Mexico
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Terracotta water vessel from Central Yucatan, circa 1900 - 1930. The jar shows heavy rustic patina and wear. This vessel was collected from the...
Ceramic, Terracotta
Highly Distressed Water Jar From Central Yucatan, Circa Early 20th Century
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Highly distressed water jar from Central Yucatan, circa early 20th century. Bits of cement are evident on the vessel.
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
Yucatan Water Jar, circa Early 20th Century
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Ceramic water jar from Mayan region of Central Yucatan, Mexico, circa 1900 - 1920´s. Nice form, marking and weight to the piece.
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
Set of Ceramic Hand-Painted Bowls from Mexico, Circa 1980´s
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Set of 3 ceramic hand painted bowls from San Agustin Oapan, Guerrero, Mexico. These bowls were typically used for condiments.
Ceramic, Terracotta
Set of Two Black Clay Ceramic Animal Figures from Mexico, circa 1980's
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Set of two black clay ceramic animal figures from Coyotepec, Oaxaca, circa 1980. These animal whistles were sold as folk art souvenirs to tourists in the 80's. The whistles function ...
Ceramic, Clay
Rustic Terracotta Water Pot from Mexico, circa 1950's
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Terracotta water pot from Mexico, circa 1950's. The vessel is from the border states of Veracruz and Puebla. Its imperfect nature invokes a rustic, wabi-sabi style.
Clay, Terracotta
Double Handle Terracotta Vessel from Mexico, Circa Mid 20th Century
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Terracotta water vessel with a double handles from the northern Sierra of Puebla, circa mid 20th century. This vessel was primarily used as a ladle before the introduction of plastic...
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta
Terracotta Water Vessel from Mexico, Mid 20th Century
Located in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato
Terracotta water vessel with handle from the northern Sierra of Puebla, circa mid 20th century. This vessel was primarily used as a ladle befor...
Ceramic, Clay, Terracotta