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 Ships From: Europe
Style: Aesthetic Movement
An Aesthetic Movement Satin Birch bedside cabinet with a central Walnut handle.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Satin Birch bedside cabinet with a contrasting turned Walnut handle to the door. Circa 1870.
SALW.
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Birch
An Aesthetic Movement low side chair with fretwork to the lower back rest
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement low side chair with fretwork to the lower back rest, this has shrunk and cracked a little but still quite useable. With unusual high, turned stretcher supports ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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
Brown Wedgewood Transferware wall plates England, 1880s
By Wedgewood
Located in Milan, IT
Set of Three Brown Wedgewood Transferware wall plates England, 1880s
The smaller wall plates measure 16.8 x 16.8 x H 3 cm
Category
1880s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Antique Ebonised Aesthetic Movement Side Chairs, 19th Century
Located in Bristol, GB
Antique Victorian Upholstered Parlour Chairs
Ebonised frames with turned and carved details very much in the Aesthetic style.
c.1880s in date.
Unsigned but very much in the style of designs by Bruce Talbot for March, Jones & Cribb or Gillows.
Upholstered in faded Liberty ‘Ianthe...
Category
1880s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Doulton Lambeth Frank Butler Stylized Pattern Candlestick
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual Doulton Lambeth saucer shape stylized leaf design candlestick with brass fittings by Frank Butler and dating from around 1890. The candle stick...
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Christopher Dresser Watcombe Aesthetic Movement Twin Handled Persian Taste Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual Aesthetic Movement flow glaze twin handled vase in the ‘Persian Taste’ by renowned British designer Christopher Dresser (British, 1834 – 1904) for Watcombe Torquay...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
Louise J Davis Large Doulton Lambeth Floral Design Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and very impressive Doulton Lambeth Aesthetic Movement Art Pottery vase decorated with large flowering buds by renowned designer and decorator Louisa J Davis...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Falkirk, an Aesthetic Movement Cast Iron Stick Stand with Mythical Dragons
By Falkirk
Located in London, GB
Falkirk. An aesthetic movement cast iron stick stand with flowing finial, a semi-circular stick retainer flanked by coronets with a wonderful pai...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Iron
Charles Bevan, Marsh, Jones & Cribb An Aesthetic Movement D End Centre Table
Located in London, GB
Charles Bevan attributed, made by Marsh, Jones and Cribb.
An Aesthetic Movement walnut centre table with ebony line inlaid details.
The rectangular top with D ends, turned legs wit...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
A Library Terrestrial Globe With Wrought Iron Base
Located in Brussels, Brussels
a fine library terrestrial globe from the 60s made in Italy
Very beautiful wrought iron base of good quality resting on a tripod base
The globe is removable on its cradle for trans...
Category
20th Century Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
George Tinworth Doulton Lambeth Aesthetic Movement Pottery Bowl, 1879
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine and decorative Aesthetic Movement Doulton Lambeth early stoneware bowl decorated with scrolling seaweed and rosette designs by renowned artist George Tinworth and dated 1...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
Tea Set, 3 pieces silver plated, 19th Century Japanese-style
Located in Paris, FR
An exquisite 19th-century Japanese Silver-Plated Tea Set, a true embodiment of the enchanting charm of the Meiji era, which greatly influenced English designers. This three-piece ens...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Black Leather Chesterfield Sofa
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb chesterfield sofa in anthracite black leather from the 60s, made in England
Very beautiful sofa from the 60s made in England in Nothingham
Beautiful quality leather Sofa call...
Category
20th Century British Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Leather
Windsor Armchair In Chestnut Early 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant English Windsor armchair from the beginning of the 19th century in chestnut
Very beautiful patina and in superb condition.
Very elegant armchair which stands out by its bac...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Chestnut
Aesthetic Movement Scissor Action Drop Leaf Side Table Made from Hungarian Ash
Located in London, GB
A Continental Aesthetic Movement scissor action drop leaf side table with a wild grain Hungarian Ash top. A secret drawer that has a button underneath to...
Category
1890s European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ash
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
Store Showcase Cabinet Or Bookcase In Mahogany Early 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Lovely little mahogany display cabinet or bookcase from the early 19th century circa 1820.
Small model with cut corners which is unusual. It must certainly have been in a store as a...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
PAIR OF BURR WALNUT AESTHETIC MOVEMENT LIBRARY ARMCHAIRS WITH GRAND TOUR PLAQUEs
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale pair of very rare, highly collectable Burr Walnut & Ebony framed Victorian Aesthetic Movement armchairs wit...
Category
19th Century European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
FOUR FINE BURR WALNUT AESTHETIC MOVEMENT DINING CHAIRS WITH GRAND TOUR PLAQUEs
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this suite of four very rare, highly collectable Burr Walnut & Ebony framed Victorian Aesthetic Movement di...
Category
19th Century European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
EXQUISITE ANTIQUE BURR WALNUT AESTHETiC MOVEMENT SALON SOFA GRAND TOUR PLAQUE
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale very rare, highly collectable Burr Walnut & Ebony framed Victorian Aesthetic Movement Salon sofa with a inse...
Category
19th Century European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
Secretary/davenport In Bamboo And Lacquer With Asian Decor - 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
superb and unique secretary called davenport in bamboo and Chinese lacquer with Asian decoration from the 19th century from England
Very beautiful little secretary, the first we ha...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
French Faience Tureen Creil et Montereau, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Faience Saint Cloud Tureen signed Creil et Montereau Circa 1890.
Painted roses and wild roses , shell handle.
Saint-Cloud is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France,...
Category
1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Faience
French Oyster Plate Porcelain with Turkey Pattern Haviland Limoges
By Limoges
Located in Austin, TX
Antique 19th-century French porcelain oyster plate with turkey pattern signed Limoges Haviland.
Category
1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
French Faience Sunflower Tureen Creil et Montereau, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Elegant and Rare French Faience sunflower Tureen Creil et Montereau Circa 1890.
Signed C&M Le Soleil.
Lemon handle.
Category
1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Faience
Pair Of Globe Wernicke Bookcases In Oak -19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant pair of large Globe Wernicke London bookcases in oak from the end of the 19th century - Early 20th century from England
The two bookcases are made up of 5 elements
The book...
Category
Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
A large, shallow ceramic vase from France 1970s
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A large, shallow ceramic vase from France, dating back to the 1970s, reminiscent of the work of Yves Mohy and the workshops of Virebent. It features abstract designs and exquisite en...
Category
1970s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Small Terrestrial Globe From J.forest - Paris
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Very beautiful little Terrestrial Globe from the beginning of the 20th century circa 1910 by J. Forest Paris Rue de Bucci
The Terrestrial Globe has a very beautiful blackened wooden...
Category
Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paper
Glass and mirror pedestal table, asymmetrical, Fontana Arte style, 1970
Located in Nice, FR
Round glass and mirror pedestal table with asymmetrical glass legs, mirrored top in the style of Fontana Arte from the 70s
Italian work, design
This pedestal table can be placed at t...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Glass, Mirror
Mirror 1970, style, Willy Rizzo
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Nice, FR
Rectangular mirror in speckled maple from the 1970s in the style of Willy Rizzo. In the center a mirror. Four in brass.
Beautiful workmanship. Very good above a chest of drawers or ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mirror
Old Hand Painted "Fish" Tiles
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
nr. 1647 - Pair of antique "fish " tiles, hand painted under plaze. They were glued to the wall to embelish houses and gardens: I did it too at the seaside.
I have other ones, that ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Azerbaijani Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Liberty & Co Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Corner Chair Style of Ford Maddox Brown
By Ford Madox Brown 1, Liberty & Co.
Located in London, GB
Liberty and Co. Regent St. London.
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized corner armchair from the Argyll suite designed in 1884, after a Sussex chair design by Ford Maddox Brown...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Beech
A Set Of 4 Globe Wernicke Bookcases In Mahogany-19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant set of four large Globe Wernicke London mahogany bookcases from the end of the 19th century - Early 20th century from England which have two lower advanced part (the two lowe...
Category
19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Dutch Refectory Table From The 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
superb 19th century extending table in colonial wood from the 19th century from the Netherlands
Very elegant table with straight legs which has very beautiful proportions with a bea...
Category
19th Century Dutch Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Gillow and Co. Oak Octagonal Table, England, circa 1860
Located in Oxford, GB
Description
Stamped and numbered oak octagonal drum Gillow and Co. pedestal table, circa 1860. Untouched and 100% authentic with just shy of 160 years of...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Big Lustre A Cage Antique Chandelier Crystal Brass
Located in Berlin, DE
Elegant Antique Chandelier: A Testament to Craftsmanship and Grace
Behold the splendor of the past revitalized in our meticulously restored old chandelier, a true masterpiece that e...
Category
1880s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Brass
Early Victorian Ebonised Inlay Pier Cabinet Glazed Bookcase Velvet Lined
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A well proportioned Victorian peer cabinet, ebonised with fruitwood inlay and standing on four turned bobbin feet.
Two opening glazed doors, retaining its original lock and key, ope...
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood, Mahogany
Globe Wernicke Bookcase In Mahogany Of 3 Elements With Small Cabinet
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant Globe Wernicke London mahogany bookcase from the end of the 19th century - Early 20th century from England which has 3 elements with the upper element composed of a small ca...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
Antique Aesthetic Style Oak and Brass Umbrella Stand. C.1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A lovely oak and brass umbrella or stick stand.
Original patina
Nice colour of oak with brass hardware
Sturdy construction. Copper tray in the base is in good condition
Walking s...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Bruce Talbert, stamped Gillows. An Aesthetic Movement upholstered oak armchair.
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert attributed, stamped Gillows. An Aesthetic Movement oak armchair. It was professionally re-upholstered in a light blue Damask.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Bentwood Office Chair Model Number 704 J J Kohn For Thonet 1900s Jacob Joseph
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Wonderful bentwood chair, designed by Jacob and Joseph Kohn, Austria and produced by Thonet, dates from the early 1900s. Model Number 704
Retains the original embossed seat with won...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bentwood
Heath & Middleton - Lotus Bowl - Antique Sterling Silver - London 1902
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1902 by Heath & Middleton, this wonderfully designed Antique Sterling Silver Sugar Bowl, takes the form of a blossoming lotus flower, supported on the stems o...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Large Gateleg Table In Oak
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely oak table called Gateleg
Very beautiful table which has a very beautiful turned base
Beautiful top with a thickness of 3cm
the table can be used as a dining room table, as ...
Category
20th Century British Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Globe Wernicke Bookcase In Fruit Wood Of 5 Elements With Drawer
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant Globe Wernicke London bookcase in fruit wood from the end of the 19th century-early 20th century from England which has 5 elements and a drawer at the bottom.
The bookcase ...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
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
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized walnut two tier side table with a pierced gallery
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Walnut ebonized two-tier side table with turned legs, the lower shelf with raised pierced circular details.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Bentwood Chair with arms Model No 14 Art Nouveau Chair Thonet Austria 1890
By Thonet
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Wonderful bentwood chair, produced by Thonet, this design originally dates from 1859. Made from bent solid and laminated Beech construction with moulded plywood seat.
This chair date...
Category
1890s Austrian Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Just Andersen large alloyed bronze bowl
Located in London, GB
A large alloyed bronze patinated dish bowl stamped Just Andersen Denmark and numbered 1736 X. Some wear to the patination which should be visible in the photos but otherwise a larger...
Category
1910s Danish Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Russian Icon with Processional Cross 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Very beautiful Russian icon with a processional cross in its center from the 17th century
We can see that the icon was created to accommodate the processional cross with the Chris...
Category
19th Century Belarusian Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Liberty &Co Aesthetic Movement Thebes Corner Chair by Liberty & Co
Located in Petworth, GB
Aesthetic Movement rare ‘Thebes’ walnut corner chair
Red velvet seat
By Liberty & Co
Circa 1885
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
An Arts & Crafts Semi-Circular Wrought Fire Basket with Heart-Shaped finials
Located in London, GB
An Arts & Crafts semi-circular wrought-iron fire basket with heart-shaped finials. The railed basket with cone and heart-shaped finials that flank the arched fireback...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Iron
Pair Of Globe Wernicke Bookcases In Mahogany-19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant pair of large Globe Wernicke London mahogany bookcases from the end of the 19th century-early 20th century from England which has two adva...
Category
19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
E W Godwin Attr, . Aesthetic Movement Oak Armchair With Serpentine Shaped Back
Located in London, GB
Attributed to E W Godwin;
An Aesthetic Movement oak armchair made by James Peddle.
With shaped arms, turned front legs and saber back legs united by high stretchers.
A comfortable ...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Stevens & Williams Aesthetic Movement Jewel Pattern Glass Bowl
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A fine quality aesthetic movement English glass bowl decorated in a Jewel pattern by renowned Stourbridge glass makers Stevens & Williams and dated 1886. The crystal glass bowl is of...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Eclectic 19th century carved walnut desk and chair
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century carved walnut desk and chair circa 1880.
Superb quality desk with original chair made by anders svensson of malmo. Svensson was a ...
Category
Late 19th Century Swedish Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Thomas Jeckyll Brass Fireplace Register
Located in London, GB
A beautiful polished brass Thomas Jeckyll register front with black-iron reeded fire bars and guillotine drafting mechanism. From the foundry of Barnard, Bishop and Barnards, this Th...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass, 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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