Aesthetic Movement Furniture
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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Item type: New and Made To Order
Style: Aesthetic Movement
Handwoven Telephone Wire Accent, Moutarde
Located in Jersey City, NJ
With a vibrant mix of modern touches, our handwoven telephone wire accent is the ultimate piece for an elegant yet creative design. The curated collecti...
Category
2010s South African Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wire
Plaster light, Giacometti style with four branches
Located in Nice, FR
Plaster lamp in the style of Giacometti
Composed of four branches.
The luminaire is electrified in working order.
Base E 27
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Plaster
Ceiba Table Lamp
Located in Mérida, MX
The Ceiba Lamp embodies the essence of artisanal craftsmanship, meticulously crafted entirely by hand. Inspired by the sacred Tree of Life in the Yucatan Peninsula, renowned as the C...
Category
2010s Mexican Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Clay, Linen
Round Walnut Extension Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Round walnut extension dining table. The tabletop features a beautiful star design constructed of walnut and white oak veneer, and it sits upon a base...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Giacometti Style Plaster Light Fixture, 6 Lights, France
Located in Nice, FR
Plaster luminaire with 6 branches (E27 base) in the style of Giacometti. Elegant and sober. The luminaire is electrified.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Plaster
VM-Martini Table
Located in BOGOTÁ, CO
Beatiful and delicate Martini side table, hammered solid black metal oiled finished 8"dia x 26"H
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
VM-Plaster Mirror
By L. P.
Located in BOGOTÁ, CO
Plaster mirror with solid oak wood structure and finished in smooth plaster, dimensions 36"x 70" or 24"x 20"
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Colombian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Plaster
Bench ceramic contemporary glaze
Located in Rubi, Catalunya
Handmade earthanware Bench manufactured at the workshop of Apparatu in Barcelona. Different clay bodys are mixed with natural fibers like corn, straw, or heather straw. The pieces ar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
Bench ceramic contemporary glaze green black square organic
Located in Rubi, Catalunya
Handmade stoneware Bench manufactured at the workshop of Apparatu in Barcelona. Different clay bodys are mixed with natural fibers like corn, straw, or heather straw. The pieces are ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Stoneware
fractals
By John Brevard
Located in Coral Gables, FL
John Brevard's new silk tufted rug collection is a masterful interplay of fractals and sacred geometries, each piece a testament to the elegance of mathematical symmetry in design. H...
Category
2010s Spanish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silk
Black and White Toile Print Pillows with Black Velvet Backing - a pair
Located in Munster, IN
Classic and whimsical, these stylish pillows are the perfect way to enliven to home. Bucolic-inspired scenes represented in high-contrast black on white, create a romantic feel that ...
Category
2010s Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Down, Feathers, Velvet
Floral Linen Throw Pillows with Purple Chenille Backing - a pair
Located in Munster, IN
Whimsical and bright, these botanical lumbar pillows are the perfect way to add lush color and a beautiful floral-scape pattern to your living spaces. Soft flowers in full bloom feat...
Category
2010s Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Cotton, Polyester, Down, Feathers
Antique Style Brass Wall Lamp Large Art Deco Tradition Gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Immerse yourself in the elegance of bygone times with our exclusive antique-style brass wall lamp. This wall lamp is not only a stunning lighting object, but also a real work of art ...
Category
2010s German Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Style Brass Wall Lamp Large Art Deco Tradition Gold Circle Whirl
Located in Berlin, DE
Immerse yourself in the elegance of bygone times with our exclusive antique-style brass wall lamp. This wall lamp is not only a stunning lighting object, but also a real work of art ...
Category
2010s German Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Style Brass Wall Lamp Large Art Deco Tradition Gold Circle Whirl
Located in Berlin, DE
Immerse yourself in the elegance of bygone times with our exclusive antique-style brass wall lamp. This wall lamp is not only a stunning lighting object, but also a real work of art ...
Category
2010s German Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Peacock Bird French Brass Empire Chandelier Lustre Lamp Antique Gold Art Deco
Located in Berlin, DE
Introducing a stunning brass baroque empire chandelier reminiscent of the classic style of the empire era. This is a new reproduction and there are several available to ensure you ca...
Category
2010s German Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique Style Brass Wall Lamp Large Art Deco Tradition Gold
Located in Berlin, DE
Immerse yourself in the elegance of bygone times with our exclusive antique-style brass wall lamp. This wall lamp is not only a stunning lighting object, but also a real work of art ...
Category
2010s German Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Small Ceramic Fabric Bowl
Located in Fullerton, CA
Exquisitely crafted, our windswept bowl is a testament to artisanal excellence. Meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in our studio, it emerges from pure white clay, resulting in...
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Medium Ceramic Fabric Bowl
Located in Fullerton, CA
Exquisitely crafted, our windswept bowl is a testament to artisanal excellence. Meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in our studio, it emerges from pure white clay, resulting in...
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
RAIN- Gray throw pillow in imported fabrics that resemble rain by Mar de Doce
By Mar de Doce
Located in Dallas, TX
Introducing our exclusive "Rain" pillow, a masterpiece that brings the beauty of rainfall into your home with unparalleled sophistication. Meticulously crafted using fabrics designed...
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Polyester
Large Ceramic Fabric Bowl
Located in Fullerton, CA
Exquisitely crafted, our windswept bowl is a testament to artisanal excellence. Meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in our studio, it emerges from pure white clay, resulting in...
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Johnson Hartig Libertine Le Grand Tour Floral Screen
By Schumacher
Located in Houston, TX
Custom six panel screen with Johnson Hartig of Libertine Le Grand Tour Floral Wallpaper (reverse side Architecture Teal Wallpaper) by Schumacher. Each p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paper
Decastro Bookcase — Handmade Solid Wood Contemporary Brazilian Design
Located in Curitiba, PR
Ideal furniture for storing books and decorative pieces.
It also works as a sideboard and can be used in kitchens or dining rooms to store crockery and cutlery.
Built using tradi...
Category
2010s Brazilian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Noviembre VII Sideboard in Walnut Wood and Marble Top, Console by Joel Escalona
Located in Estado de Mexico CP, Estado de Mexico
Noviembre VII Console Table in Oak Wood, Marble Top, Sideboard by Joel Escalona
The Noviembre collection is inspired by the creative values of Constantin Brancusi, a Romanian scul...
Category
2010s Mexican Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal
Pair of Plaster Lamps, Cubist , moderniste
Located in Nice, FR
Pair of plaster lamps, cubist, XX th, work done at home, artist's creation. They sold with the lampshade. Base E 27.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Plaster
Elegant Italian Murano Mirror, and Stick
Located in Nice, FR
Elegant Italian Murano mirror, Golden brass structure, turquoise blue murano glass plates. It can be placed on the vertical or horizontal wall.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
African bead pendants with mouth blown milk glass shades
By Csaba Markus
Located in Berkeley, CA
We have created three new pendants using rolled African ash beads, earth and stone mixed.
They can be a symbol and celebration of womanhood, sexuality, femininity, fertility, healing, spirituality, protection, seduction, and wealth,
The milk glass was blown by our Bay Area super star Alex Abajian at Glow studios.
We value these unique lights...
Category
2010s Botswanan Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Coade Stone, Art Glass
Midnight Morris
Located in Kuala Lumpur, MY
Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire. I do wander everywhere.
Category
2010s Thai Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool, Bamboo
Pair of Asymmetric Plaster Lamps, French
Located in Nice, FR
Pair of asymmetric shaped plaster lamps.
White cotton shade. an E 27 base bulb.
This pair is made entirely by hand. Neat finish. The lampshade is included in the price.
To be p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Plaster
Fun Outdoor Swing Chair
Located in Johannesburg, ZA
The Nest Egg hanging chair swing seat is inspired from the organic forms in birds' nests and has a natural egg shape. The chair has been designe...
Category
2010s South African Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Stainless Steel, Steel
Handwoven Telephone Wire Accent, Chameleon
Located in Jersey City, NJ
It is said that this stunning art form started with the African night shift security workers being bored on duty. They brought these weaving skills back to their villages and shared them with their wives, who have mastered them into today's sought-after pieces.
The weavers behind these objects started by applying traditional skills in creating baskets for household usage. Time has passed, and remarkable innovative methods were applied, giving the lampshades a contemporary edge. Today, these beautiful telephone...
Category
2010s South African Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wire
Mid-Century Modern, Murano Glass & Brass Floor Lamps
Located in Nice, FR
Pair of floor lamps, Murano, gray blue color, Modern, Brass structure. It is possible to dismantle the luminaire for transport. Base E 27 light bulb each. Each lamp has an incandesce...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Handwoven Telephone Wire Accent, Pink
Located in Jersey City, NJ
It is said that this stunning art form started with the African night shift security workers being bored on duty. They brought these weaving skills back to their villages and shared them with their wives, who have mastered them into today's sought-after pieces.
The weavers behind these objects started by applying traditional skills in creating baskets for household usage. Time has passed, and remarkable innovative methods were applied, giving the lampshades a contemporary edge. Today, these beautiful telephone...
Category
2010s South African Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wire
All Geometric Coffee Table
Located in Lakeville, CT
This piece was created as a challenge to the Studio to see if all common aspects of geometry (circle, square, triangle, rectangle) could be integrated in one unified piece. Once the ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Carô Table
Located in São Paulo, SP
Following the direction of the Studio's work, the Carô table was developed only working with solid wood and its possibilities of fitting and locking, without the use of screws or nai...
Category
2010s Brazilian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
Carved Rock Crystal Quartz Cockatoo Bird on Citrine
Located in Houston, TX
An intricately carved rock crystal cockatoo with amethyst tail, garnet eyes, agate beak and gilt bronze feet perched on a citrine druzy specimen. Superior workmanship and semi-precio...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Amethyst, Quartz, Agate, Rock Crystal, Marble
Schumacher Pattee & Luna 20" Pillow
By Schumacher
Located in New York, NY
This pillow features Pattee on the front with Luna on the back by Molly Mahon for Schumacher with a knife edge finish. Fabric is hand-block printed in Indi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary North American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Linen
Mirrored Tulips
Located in Kuala Lumpur, MY
Reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, Omar Khan composes symmetrical flowers in swathes of ombre periwinkle tones that rhythmically dance across the face of the...
Category
2010s Thai Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
Noviembre VII Console Table in Oak Wood, Marble Top, Sideboard by Joel Escalona
Located in Estado de Mexico CP, Estado de Mexico
Noviembre VII Console Table in Oak Wood, Marble Top, Sideboard by Joel Escalona
The Noviembre collection is inspired by the creative values of Constantin Brancusi, a Romanian sculpt...
Category
2010s Mexican Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal
Pair Lamps, Modernist, Metal, Geometric
Located in Nice, FR
Pair of lamps, modernist, composed of a lampshade of a gray metal sphere and a fabric lampshade. Palm style beech wood. The pair of Lamps is a creation, it is not mass-produced. Ampo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Beech
Gilded Grapes Candleholder 3 lights, gilted handcrafted
By Aude Clément
Located in Paris, FR
Decorative handmade candelabra for unique centerpiece decoration or even more.
Great effect as a pair on a table and matches with many other pieces of this collection.
Handcrafted tin and nice gilded color hand painted patina. with applied sheet gold looking as it used to be done in old time.
Au Bain...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Tin
Stanford White Style Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th century American style frame in the Stanford White design. Cast and gilded, 29" x 25". Available in other sizes, please inquire.
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Fabri Sculptural Table
By John Brevard
Located in Coral Gables, FL
This unique piece combines iron (a product of our tectonic era) and petrified wood (a timeless material with memory of the past). This series was created by John Brevard in 2010.
...
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Iron
Aesthetic Movement furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Aesthetic Movement furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Minton, Doulton Lambeth, Christopher Dresser, and Wedgwood. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $65 and tops out at $86,402 while the average work can sell for $1,820.
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