Gustav Stickley was one of the principal figures in the American Arts and Crafts movement and the creator of the Craftsman style. In 1883, Stickley established a furniture company called Stickley Brothers with two of his brothers, Albert and Charles. Gustav’s other siblings, Leopold and John George, would later form L & J.G. Stickley Inc. in Fayetteville, New York, in 1905.
As a furniture designer and publisher of the magazine The Craftsman, Gustav adopted many of the ideals of the British design reform movement and popularized both its philosophy and its aesthetics in the United States.
Born in Wisconsin, Stickley moved with his family to Pennsylvania when he was a teenager and began working in his uncle’s chair factory in the town of Brandt. There, he learned the techniques of late-19th-century furniture making at a time when the vogue was for Victorian revival furniture, which was characterized by extensive ornamentation.
When Stickley Brothers foundered, Gustav partnered five years later with salesman Elgin Simonds to form a new firm, Stickley & Simonds, which produced traditional furniture that appealed to the burgeoning American middle class. The success of this venture enabled Stickley to travel to Europe, where he discovered the writings of John Ruskin and William Morris, the two preeminent thinkers of the British Arts and Crafts movement. Stickley also traveled to France, where the Art Nouveau movement impressed him with its imaginative designs and skilled craftsmanship.
Stickley parted ways with Simonds at the turn of the 20th century and decided to focus his creative energies on producing furniture in what became known as the Craftsman style, incorporating some of the elements of the designs and movements he had encountered in Europe.
The pieces Stickley created, which he stamped with the logo of a joiner’s compass, were rectilinear, largely free of ornament, made of oak, and built in such a way that the nature of their construction was plainly visible — all reflections of the tenets of the Arts and Crafts movement. While some people referred to Stickley’s furniture as Mission furniture — a term that references the furnishings of the Spanish missions in California — Gustav commonly called his work “Craftsman” owing to the inspiration he found in the British Arts and Crafts movement.
Stickley benches and rocking chairs were popular, and his leather-upholstered armchairs combine practicality, comfort and an understated silhouette. In 1901, Stickley launched The Craftsman magazine, which contained articles on all manner of domestic topics, from gardening and cooking to art and design, as well as poetry and fiction. In addition to popularizing Stickely’s own designs, the magazine acquainted Americans with the Arts and Crafts style in all its forms through its graphic design and the bungalows, art pottery, and hammered-copper lamps pictured in its pages. When Gustav Stickley died, in 1942, Arts and Crafts had been replaced by modernism as the favored aesthetic.
The work of L & J.G. Stickley flourished even as the Arts and Crafts style fell out of fashion because Leopold and John George adapted to the changing times.
L & J.G. Stickley changed their brand name and maker’s mark to Handcraft in 1906, and rather than continue to produce Arts & Crafts-inspired designs, their bedroom furnishings, dining room chairs and other items of the era reflected the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School style as well as the work of the Wiener Werkstätte. Later, Leopold’s Cherry Valley collection appealed to enthusiasts of American Colonial furniture.
Find antique L & J.G. Stickley tables, seating, case pieces and more on 1stDibs.
H 59 in W 43 in D 80 in
Antique Solid Carved Mahogany Twin Size Poster Complete Bed Mint!
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Antique solid carved mahogany twin size poster complete bed mint!
Mahogany
H 76 in W 56 in D 80.5 in
1930s Vintage Mahogany Full Size Poster Bedstead
Located in Germantown, MD
A 1930s pure Mahogany full size Poster Bedstead with urn finials. Measures 80.5" in length, 56" in width and 76" in height to the top of the finials. 46.5" in Height to the top of t...
Mahogany
H 86 in W 85.5 in D 74 in
Antique American 4 Poster Acanthus Carved Southern Bed in Mahogany, c. 1820
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
Period Antique Federal American 4 poster bed in West Indies mahogany, c. 1820. A fine example of a Southern bed featuring carved tobacco and acanthus leaves in a fine tight grained C...
Mahogany
H 56 in W 58 in D 82.5 in
20th Century George III Style Carved Mahogany Semi-Poster Full Size Bed
Located in Germantown, MD
20th Century George III Style Carved Mahogany Semi-Poster Full Size Bed. Measures 58" in width, 82.5" in length, 56" in height at the tip of the finials. Headboard is 42" in height ...
Cherry
H 44 in W 57 in D 85 in
Mid-20th Century Conant Ball Solid Wild Cherry Full Size Semi Post Bed Frame
By Conant Ball
Located in Germantown, MD
Mid-20th Century Conant Ball Solid Wild Cherry Full Size Semi Post Bed Frame. Measures 57" in width, 85" in depth and 44" in height. 57"W x 85"D x 44"...
Cherry
H 42.5 in W 57 in D 81 in
Dixie Furniture Mid Century Provincial Style Cherry Full Size Bedframe
By Dixie Furniture Co.
Located in Germantown, MD
Dixie French Provincial Cherry full size bed frame. Measures Measures 57" in width, 82" in depth and 42.5" in height at the headboard, 21" in ...
Cherry
H 67.5 in W 57.5 in D 81.5 in
Mid 20th Century Solid Cherry Semi Poster Full Size Bed Frame
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid 20th Century Solid Cherry Semi Poster Full Size Bed Frame. Overall measurements with 57.5" in with, 81.5" in depth and 67.5" in height at the tip of the candle form finials. h...
Hardwood, Mahogany
H 49.81 in W 59.85 in D 85.44 in
EXQUISITELY CARVED ANTIQUE ViCTORIAN CIRCA 1880 FLAMED HARDWOOD DOUBLE BED FRAME
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely sublime quality, hand carved Honduras Mahogany double bed frame Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price This is one of the finest beds of this type I have ever seen, it is ornately hand carved all over, made with solid panels of flamed mahogany, it is stunning! The bed is a current UK double so takes a 137cm wide mattress Condition wise we have deep cleaned, hand condition waxed and hand polished the frame from top to bottom, it may have some very light patina marks here from transport, to my eyes and hands it looks exquisite Dimensions of the complete bed frame Height:- 126.5cm headboard, 66cm footboard Width:- 152cm Depth:- 217cm Dimensions inside for the mattress Height:- Side rails 30cm Width:- 137cm Depth:- 199cm Please note all measurements are taken at the widest point, if you would like any additional or specific measurements please ask Any questions please feel free to ask before you bid This item is available for collection from our Pulborough warehouses RH20 1DF. We can have it delivered nationwide to include Scotland Wales and Ireland. Please contact me via email or my contact information is under the business seller section of the listing with your postcode for a delivery quotation. Please be sure to include which item you would like to buy as the price is determined on size and distance, if you would like more than one piece of furniture we offer a substantial discount on the second and third item, for international shipping please view the below information. ABOUT US Royal House Antiques is a privately owned family ran business founded in Wimbledon SW19 and now based in Pulborough RH20. We specialise in finding, restoring very fine luxury antique leather seating, along with every single other type of antique ranging from the 16th century to the 20th century. We also stock a number of designer brands such as Fritz Hansen, Ralph Lauren, Cavalli, Charles & Ray Eames, Vitra, David Linley, Rolex, Tiffany, Jager Le Coulter and so on. CONDITION Please view the very detailed pictures as they form part of the description pertaining to the condition. Please also ask any questions before you bid and not after, all of our items are sold as seen and as listed. Royal House Antiques cannot be held liable for any independent assumptions made regarding the items we sell, if you are unsure on any point, please feel free to ask for clarity. Please note vintage period and original items such as leather seating will always have natural patina in the form of creasing and wear, we recommend annual waxing to ensure no moisture is lost, also hand dyed leather is not recommended to sit in direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time as it will dry out and fade. COURIER, LARGE ITEMS ONLY THAT CAN’T BE POSTED We can arrange delivery nationwide, mostly with our nominated couriers, for Europe we use one reasonably priced professional company that we trust, for the rest of the world we use international shippers that can send any size item crated via air freight within 7-14 days after crating or soft packed and container shipped via sea freight within 30-60 days. The time frames outlined are guides only, non-domestic shipping is almost entirely governed by the airlines, sea freight loading times and custom clearances. Whomever delivers will always require help on the larger items to unload, the price you will be quoted will always be based on this assumption, if this is not possible, please let us know as it will affect the price to send a two-person team. Delivery is to the ground floor only, again if you need help upstairs or in flats etc that's absolutely not a problem, the couriers...
Hardwood
H 42.25 in W 61.5 in D 3 in
Stickley Solid Dark Cherry Panels Full Size Headboard
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in Germantown, MD
A federal style, solid dark cherry full size Headboard in very good condition by Stickley. Measures 61.5" in width and stands 42.25 inches tall.
Cherry
H 54.5 in W 58 in D 88 in
American Colonial Style Walnut Semi-Poster Full Size Bedframe
Located in Germantown, MD
American Colonial Style Walnut Semi-Poster Full Size Bedframe. Measures 58 " in width, 54.5" in height and 88" in depth. Floor to top of headboard is 50" in height and 54.5" to top ...
Walnut
L. & J. G. Stickley Georgian Carved Solid Cherry Wood Full Size Poster Bed, 1957
By L. & J.G. Stickley Inc.
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Federal or Georgian style four poster full size bed By L. & J. G. Stickley USA, 1957 Carved solid cherry wood, with brass accents. Measures: 56.75"W x 81.25"D x 75"H. ...
Brass
American Colonial Carved Mahogany Full Size Spindle Bed
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful American Colonial style carved solid mahogany full size spindle bed frame USA, Circa 1960s Measures: 56.75"W x 81"D x 44.75"H. Good original vintage condition.
Mahogany
Georgian Carved Solid Cherry Wood Queen Size Poster Bed
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style four poster queen size bed USA, Late 20th Century Beautiful carved solid cherry wood, with brass accents. Measures: 65.5"W x 88.25"D x 68....
Brass
Baker Furniture Style Federal Carved Mahogany King Size Poster Bed
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Federal or Georgian style carved mahogany king size poster bed In the manner of Baker Furniture Early 21st Century Carved mahogany, ...
Brass
Henkel Harris Georgian Carved Mahogany Queen Size Poster Bed
By Henkel Harris
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Federal style four poster queen size bed By Henkel Harris USA, 1979 Carved solid mahogany, with brass accents. Measures: 64.25"W x 88.5"D x 65.75"H. Very...
Brass
Baker Furniture Georgian Carved Mahogany Queen Size Poster Bed
By Baker Furniture Company
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Georgian or Chippendale style four poster queen size bed By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1980s Carved solid mahogany, with brass accents. Measures: 66.25"W x 87"D x 80.5...
Brass
