Inspired by the Arts & Crafts style in England, which rebelled against the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution with a proud emphasis on handcrafted design, American Craftsman style similarly pushed against the lavishness of the Victorian era. Coined by Wisconsin-born Gustav Stickley, a furniture designer and publisher of The Craftsman magazine, American Craftsman furniture would influence homegrown styles that followed, such as Mission and the Prairie School.
Like the popular early 20th-century Craftsman houses — which feature meticulous woodwork on everything from built-in bookcases in the living room and cabinetry in the kitchen to earth-toned exteriors with exposed rafters — American Craftsman furniture was all about handmade storage cabinets, bedroom furniture, chairs and other pieces built with organic materials. “Simplicity and straightforwardness of construction has always been the leading characteristic of Craftsman furniture,” Stickley stated. And while he is often credited with most of the designs at the Craftsman Workshops in Eastwood, New York, others such as Harvey Ellis were influential in shaping the straight-backed chairs, beds with vertical slats and tables with exposed joinery that came to define the style.
Highly utilitarian with no unnecessary flair, American Craftsman furniture was designed to emphasize the essence of its modest construction and promote the natural beauty of the wood. Solid oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany were all favored by the movement’s principal figures. Another attribute commonly associated with the style is the integration of subtle details like tooled leather, inlaid metal and hammered iron handles.
Owing to the outbreak of World War I, the popularity of American Craftsman style waned as consumer spending dropped and furniture companies shifted to the production of wartime materials and goods specified in government contracts. Yet, by the 1960s, there was a renewed appreciation for this foundational modern American style, with Stickley and his contemporaries in demand for the clean, simple lines and sturdy construction of American Craftsman furniture.
Find a collection of antique American Craftsman chests, nightstands, seating, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Antique Painted Craftsman Artist Stool
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Wooden artist/painters stool circa 1920's. Knob handle with steel rods. Lots of old paint and crazing. 12" wide X 18" tall.
Steel
$2,100 / item
Solid Wood Bar or Counter Stool, Walnut Oak Ash
Located in Calgary, AB
A classic design that will beautifully suit any home interior. Crafted from solid American black walnut, wood is hand-selected for color uniformity and quality. Our stools feature generously sized seats and ergonomically sculpted back / arm rests. Joinery is accented with Gabon ebony...
Wood
Horace B. Hartshaw Walnut Stools/ handcrafted 3 Available!
By Wharton Esherick, Horace B. Hartshaw
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Horace B. Hartshaw Walnut and Birch Stools. Two sizes available, 2 that are 30" tall and 1 that is 22" tall. All stools are signed and dated, made between 1984-1994. Mr. Hartshaw ...
Birch, Walnut
Solid Ash & Cow Hide Karve Counter Stools, Set of Four
Located in Calgary, AB
Karve counter stools in blackened Ash with black & white cowhide upholstery. A classic design, elegant and lightweight in form, handcrafted to last generations. This set of four counter stools...
Hardwood, Cowhide, Ash
Handcrafted Solid Wood Bar or Counter Stools, Walnut - (Set of 2) Ready to Ship
Located in Calgary, AB
A Classic design that will beautifully suit any home interior. Crafted from solid American black walnut, wood is hand-selected for color uniformity and quality. Our counter stools fe...
Wood, Walnut
$2,100 / item
Solid Wood Bar or Counter Stool, Blackened Ash
Located in Calgary, AB
A classic design that will beautifully suit any home interior. Crafted from solid American Ash with a grain-popping jet-Black stain. Our stools feature generously sized seats and erg...
Wood, Ash
$1,850 / item
T-Back Krāne Stool in Solid Black Ash
Located in Calgary, AB
Comfortable, elegant and Classic, a design that will beautifully suit any home interior. Crafted from solid American Ash, hand-selected for colour uniformity and quality. The Krane s...
Wood
1950's Vintage Set of 4 Colonial American Oak Swivel Bar Stools by Ethan Allen
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Set of 4 1950's Vintage American Colonial Solid Oak Swivel Bar Stools by Ethan Allen. Rare swivel set in very good condition.
Wood
Karl Seemuller Studio Craft Stool, USA, 1973
By Karl Seemuller
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
Sculpted freeform American Craft stool by Karl Seemuller, USA, 1973. Fast shipping worldwide.
Wood
American Studio Live Edge Stool in Walnut and Maple Burl by Michael Elkan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A counter-height stool executed in American black walnut and with a sculptural, free edge seat in maple burl by Oregon-based craftsman, Michael Elkan. Walnut has a warm, reddish hue ...
Maple, Walnut
1960s Bar Stool by Arthur Espenet Carpenter, American Craftsman
Located in Berlin, DE
Bar stool in Rawhide by Arthur Espenet Carpenter, 1960s. Arthur Espenet Carpenter (1920-2006) was an American furniture designer and craftsman. He was born in San Francisco, Californ...
Leather, Wood
Contemporary Low Wooden Stool with Traditional Danish Cord Woven Seat, Beech
Located in Pompton Plains, NJ
Mary's Low Stool Alessandro & Maria Design — Northern New Jersey Mary's Low Stool is a small piece with a lot of character. Its tapered legs and square Danish cord seat bring tog...
Beech, Oak, Maple
Contemporary White Oak Counter Stool with Rush Weave Seat
Located in Pompton Plains, NJ
Heidi's Counter Stool Alessandro & Maria Design — Northern New Jersey Heidi's Counter Stool brings together two distinct crafts in a single piece: the precision of solid hardwood...
Rush, Oak
Signed Arthur Espenet Carpenter Rawhide Stool
Located in New York, NY
Signed, Arthur Espenet carpenter (American, 1920-2006) Rare, Rawhide stool, circa 1972. Rawhide stool was made through a process known as bent lamination,” in which the seat frame an...
Leather, Wood
Sassafras Stick Foot Stool by Artist and Craftsman, David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Stick foot stool by renowned artist and craftsman David N. Ebner. Sassafras wood and natural rush seat. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Studio Furniture" by Nanc...
$4,800 / item
David N. Ebner, Studio Craft Artist, Black Stool #1
Located in Bellport, NY
Ebner's stool #1 is made of pigmented walnut wood; simple and beautiful. Also available in other woods. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Studio Furniture" by Nanc...
Walnut
Karve Counter Stool, Bespoke Counter Stool in Solid Oak & Leather
Located in Calgary, AB
Karve counter stool shown in a dark Wenge Stained White Oak & natural grain, smooth finish leather upholstery. A classic design, elegant yet sturdy in form, handcrafted to last gener...
Hardwood, Ash, Leather, Oak
Vintage Maple Stool or Small Bench by Cushman Colonial Creations
By H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Company
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Gorgeous original Cushman Colonial Creations maple stool or small bench. Soft edges and corners, warm wood stain and beautiful patina. Original engraved tag under the seat.
Maple
Handcrafted Solid Wood Bar or Counter Stool, Walnut Oak Ash
Located in Calgary, AB
A Classic design that will beautifully suit any home interior. Crafted from solid American black walnut, wood is hand-selected for color uniformity and quality. Our bar stools featur...
Wood
Handcrafted Solid Wood Bar or Counter Stool, White Oak
Located in Calgary, AB
A classic design that will beautifully suit any home interior. Crafted from solid white oak, wood is hand-selected for colour uniformity and quality. Our bar stools feature generousl...
Wood
American Studio Craft Architectural Bench or Stool by David N Ebner 1992
By David N. Ebner, David Ebner
Located in Troy, MI
A distinctive stool by American studio artist David N. Ebner USA 1992 Curved saddle seat on an arched oak base, hand painted in dark green with carved sawtooth edges The riveted ham...
Metal
$8,000 / set
T-Back Krāne Stool - 4-Legged Version - Set of 4
Located in Calgary, AB
Comfortable, elegant and Classic, a design that will beautifully suit any home interior. Handcrafted from solid American Ash, made in Canada. The Krane stool features a generously si...
Wood
Three-Legged Stool by Studio Woodworker John W Los
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This beautifully crafted stool is a fine example of American woodworker John W Los.
Mahogany
Robert and Joanne Herzog Studio Craft Guitar Stool
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Walnut studio craft stool by California design couple Robert and Joanne Herzog c.1984. The stool features a curved rectangular seat and four sculpted legs. Underside is stamped HERZO...
Walnut
Barstool by George Nakashima for George Nakashima Studio
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A walnut barstool designed by American Craftsman Master George Nakashima with hand-hewn spindles supporting a thin backrest, a shaped seat on four spl...
Walnut
Studio Craft Wooden Stool by Ron Curtis, US, 1960s
By Ron Curtis
Located in Berlin, DE
Sculptural handcrafted three legged stool by noted studio furniture maker Ron Curtis.
Wood
The David Ebner Free Edge Spalted Maple Bench
Located in Bellport, NY
Fine works by David N Ebner the spalted maple free edge bench. Other woods available on request.
Maple
'The Renwick Stool" by David N Ebner, USA, 1990
Located in Bellport, NY
The Renwick stool named after The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Arts Museum in Washington DC. This stool was originally purchased by the Sm...
Maple
Bentwood Leather Swivel Bench/Stool
Located in Oakville, ON
The base of this stool/ bench is a Bentwood production made around 1929- 1930. The base has the swivel mechanism. The upholstery has been newly done using a distressed style new lea...
Leather, Wood
Stool #1 by American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Stool #1 by American studio Craft artist David N. Ebner. Beautifully crafted in a pigmented bronze finish. David will be selecting a few pieces from his co...
Bronze
Pair of Vintage Studio Craft Windsor-Style Three Legged Low Stools in Cherrywood
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of cherry wood studio craft low stools executed in a Windsor-Style (ca. 1970s, USA). Designed by a woodworker out of Syracuse, New York "WHP" about whom little is known. Compose...
Cherry
$4,000 / item
David N. Ebner, Artist Craftsman, Bamboo High Stool
Located in Bellport, NY
Bamboo high stool by David N. Ebner, Classic simplicity and beauty, available in amber or natural finish. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Studio Furniture" by Na...
Bamboo
Treble Stool of Welded and Powder Coated Steel and Carved Black Walnut Hardwood
By Joseph Cauvel of CAUV Design
Located in North Branch, NY
The Treble stool is Named for its simple yet stable three leg design. A welded tube steel frame is finished with your choice of powder coating color (shown in Satin White). The seat ...
Steel