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.
Phillip Webb A large Aesthetic Movement bobbin turned Satinwood chaise lounge
Located in London, GB
Phillip Webb for Morris and Co attributed. A larger than usual Aesthetic Movement bobbin turned Satinwood chaise lounge or day bed, the upper turned armrests with typical Morris and ...
Satinwood
Charles Bevan. Marsh & Jones. Aesthetic Movement button back chaise lounge
By Charles Bevan, Marsh, Jones & Cribb
Located in London, GB
Charles Bevan for Marsh and Jones of Leeds Late Kendal works. A good Aesthetic Movement walnut ebonized button back chaise lounge with carved rosettes to the front upright and subtle...
Walnut
Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Chaise Lounge
Located in New York, NY
A lovely chaise lounge crafted in the late 19th century. The design comes out of the Aesthetic Movement which began in the 1860s in England. Ebonized wood with gilt embellishment is ...
Ultrasuede, Burl, Mahogany
Contemporary Upholstered Chaise Lounge
Located in Astoria, NY
Contemporary Upholstered Chaise Lounge, with green and cream colored abstract upholstery. 27" H x 61.5" W x 31" D. Provenance: From a Westchester County Estate.
Upholstery
$81,900
H 33.08 in W 30.12 in D 39.38 in
Mid-Century Modern Chaise Lounge by Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler, 1954
By Martin Eisler, Carlo Hauner, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in New York, NY
This chaise lounge is one of the designs by Martin Eisler and Carlo Hauner, produced by Forma S.A. Móveis e Objetos de Arte. The traditional chaise is a lounge chair characterized by...
Iron
Post Modern Chaise Lounge Newly Upholstered in Ivory White Bouclé
By Directional, Weiman Preview Furniture, Preview
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Float away from the worries of the day in this luxurious post modern chaise lounge newly professionally upholstered in super soft ivory white bouclé. Sculptural form exudes a sophisticated look that's gentle and inviting. Ivory white bouclé fabric's texture is breathable and ventilates well. Cozy in winter and cool in summer. Enveloping padded comfort with a thick seat cushion layered over a descending pedestal base. So sexy from all sides, this chaise lounge is beautiful enough to float in a room. Modern. Fresh. Reminiscent of Vladimir Kagan, Milo Baughman and Adrian Pearsall's iconic amorphous designs. Nestle in with your favorite blanket and read for hours, nap, binge watch your favorite series, or shop 1stDibs on your electronic device...
Bouclé, Upholstery
$2,743
H 41 in W 59 in D 23 in
Thonet, a Bentwood Chaise Lounge with Wonderful Scroll Work Details & Cane Work
By Thonet
Located in London, GB
Thonet. A bentwood chaise lounge with an adjustable back with a flowing scrollwork frame with a cane work bed. Stamped to the base with serial number and ??? - Paris retailer. Dimen...
Cane, Bentwood
Charles Zublena Fiberglass Pool Chaise Lounges, France
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Charles Zublena designed, mod, fiberglass, poolside, chaise lounges manufactured by Les Plastiques de Bourgogne, France, 1960, marked underside “LP/Club 41 Salbris.” Depending on how...
Fiberglass
Midcentury Metal Chaise Lounge
Located in Sheffield, MA
Reclining outdoor chaise lounge with painted black metal frame, flexible straps for added comfort. Two wheels on the chaise for easy movability.
Iron
Swedish Chaise Lounge, Circa 1900’s
By Adolf Loos
Located in Turners Falls, MA
Swedish Chaise Lounge, circa 1900’s. Stained wood. Saber legs and carved bolster details.
Upholstery, Mahogany
Colima Steel and Upholstery Chaise Lounge
Located in Mexico City, MX
The Chaise Longue Colima is a versatile piece as it provides transparency to space with its electrostatic painted steel structure. The twisted paper cord weave and upholstery add hum...
Steel
Large Milo Baughman Style 'Satellite' Chaise Lounge
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Large Milo Baughman Style 'Satellite' Chaise Lounge
Upholstery
Harvey Probber Chaise Lounge
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Upholstery
Adjustable Chaise Lounge Chair
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Long leather chaise lounge with adjustable headrest. Black leather on metal frame gives a comfortable lounging chair. Headrest: 24-30.75" in height Please confirm location.
Leather
Hans Hartl "Soloform 5008" Chaise Lounge
By Hans Hartl, Eugen Schmidt
Located in Hanover, MA
Rare Soloform model 5008 chaise lounge designed by Hans Hartl (1899-1980) for Eugen Schmidt, Darmstadt, Germany, 1953. Measures: 72 1/2" W x 35 3/4" D x 30 1/4" H Known as the Shell Couch (Schalencouch) channel tufted white leather upholstered hardwood frame with elastic straps and foam on tubular chrome base. Very rare and beautiful Avant Garde freeform chaise longue produced in very few numbers. This is one of the few post WWII designs produced by Hartl and exemplifies the link between art and design during this progressive period. Hartl was a high profile architect, decorator and furniture designer during the late 1920s-1930s period whose works were published alongside those of greats such as Josef Hoffmann, Le Corbusier, Mendelsson, Pier Luigi Nervi...
Chrome
Sold
H 32.68 in W 70.87 in D 26.38 in
Late 19th Century Buttoned Burgundy Leather & Walnut Day Bed Chaise Lounge
Located in Lowestoft, GB
A beautifully worn late 19th century burgundy leather chaise longue, decoratively carved scroll end and spindle gallery arm rail walnut frame with a nod to the aesthetic movement. ...
Leather, Walnut
English Daybed with Turned Wood Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
English daybed with beautiful turned wood frame upholstered in a gold foil Naugahyde. The piece shows well and is in vintage condition, no labels that we can see. Measurements:...
Naugahyde, Wood
Sold
H 36.5 in W 72 in D 24 in
In the Style of E W Godwin, An Anglo-Japanese Ebonized Chaise Lounge or Day Bed
Located in London, GB
In the style of E W Godwin. Anglo-Japanese / Aesthetic Movement ebonized chaise lounge. With turned finials and turned uprights flanked by stylized floral fretwork devises to the ba...
Beech, Walnut
19th Century Aesthetic Movement Carved Mahogany Chaise Longue Recamier
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Late 19th century, aesthetic movement, chaise longue or recamier features a beautifully carved mahogany frame with newly constructed upholstery in white muslin. The chaise can be use...
Fabric, Mahogany
Sold
H 29.5 in W 72 in D 25.5 in
Good Quality Aesthetic Movement Ebonized and Parcel-Gilt Chaise Longue
Located in London, GB
A good quality Aesthetic movement ebonised and parcel-gilt chaise longue, with nice fluid understated detailing in the style of Collinson and Lock.
Gold Leaf
Sold
H 29 in W 68 in D 26 in
Good Quality Aesthetic Movement Mahogany Chaise Lounge Attributed to Morris & Co
By Morris & Co.
Located in London, GB
A good quality Aesthetic Movement Mahogany chaise longue attributed to Morris and Co. with stylised carved florets to the upper resting supports and spiral turned details to the uppe...
Mahogany
Sold
H 31 in W 67 in D 27.5 in
Thomas Collcutt attributed An Aesthetic Movement Walnut & Ebonized Chaise Lounge
Located in London, GB
Thomas Collcutt (attributed) for Collinson and Lock. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut and ebonised chaise longue, with triangular 'A' frame to one end, ebonised tramlines throughout, with a lower turned gallery and turned feet, the semi upholstered back with open turned gallery and incised zig-zag and dot details. These details point towards the Dr C Dresser studios where Moyr Smith...
Walnut
Rare 19th Century American Chaise Lounge
Located in Bellport, NY
An extremely rare 19thc chaise lounge or gout chair. The lever on the side is used to heighten the lower part of the seat,( designed to elevate your feet if suffering from gout. ) ...
Leather, Wood