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
Gillows of Lancaster An Aesthetic Movement ebonized circular side table
Located in London, GB
Gillows attributed. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized circular side table with carved sunflower floret to the top with three turned, carved and incised gilt decoration to the legs and t...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
E W Godwin for William Watt. An oak Shakespeare armchair. One of only four known
Located in London, GB
E.W. Godwin made by William Watt. An oak Shakespeare armchair. This armchair was part of the Shakespeare dining room suite in the Elizabethan-Revival style that Godwin designed for William Watt, which was illustrated in the Building News on 11 November 1881 Fig. 176.1. Four are currently known in existence, this one with an upholstered seat, two with solid seats in private collections, and the fourth is in a National Trust house. See The Secular Furniture of EW Godwin...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Whytock & Reid. A pair of Aesthetic Movement ebonized & parcel gilt side chairs.
Located in London, GB
Whytock & Reid of Edinburgh. A rare pair of high Aesthetic Movement ebonized and parcel gilt side chairs.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Jas Shoolbred. A set of four Aesthetic Movement lattice back oak dining chairs.
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred attributed. A nice quality set of four Aesthetic Movement oak dining chairs with lattice designs to the backs and tramline details throughout, professionally reupholste...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Thomas Edward Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. Aesthetic Movement high back chair.
Located in London, GB
Thomas Edward Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. A fine Aesthetic Movement Walnut high back chair with later maroon upholstery. Illustrated in the Collinson and Lock catalog.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
E W Godwin An Aesthetic Movement six leg walnut circular centre table
Located in London, GB
E W Godwin attributed. Made by Collinson & Lock. An Aesthetic Movement six leg walnut circular centre table with shaped radiating under supports and subtle shaped details to the ends...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
E W Godwin for Collinson & Lock An ebonised & parcel gilt side table chess table
Located in London, GB
E.W. Godwin attributed for Collinson & Lock. An ebonized and parcel gilt side table chess table with hand painted scenes on silk under an octagonal glass top. The silk has a little w...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Aesthetic Movement Walnut centre table with incised circular details to the legs
Located in London, GB
Collinson and Lock, attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut centre table with incised circular details to the legs, united by double cross stretchers.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Maple & Co London Bruce Talbert attr. Aesthetic Movement chest of five drawers.
By Maple & Co.
Located in London, GB
Maple and Co London, in the style of Bruce Talbert. A good quality Aesthetic Movement chest of drawers made from Walnut with a wonderful wild figure to the grain. Molded decoration t...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
An Aesthetic Movement wrought iron and copper fire bucket with sunflower finials
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement wrought writhen iron and copper fire bucket, with sunflowers that form a part of the main iron frame coming down to form the r...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Lambs of Manchester An Aesthetic Movement ebonized Walnut eight leg centre table
Located in London, GB
Lambs of Manchester. A rare Aesthetic Movement ebonized walnut octagonal eight-leg centre table with a veneered macassar ebony top and a molded edge and shaped aprons below united by...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Macassar
Bruce Talbert Gillows, Aesthetic Movement rosewood armchair with pink upholstery
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert for Gillows. An Aesthetic Movement Rosewood armchair with a pink button back upholstered back and seat.
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
Hat For Table Lamp
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/425 - Lamp hat embroidered in silver tinsel: unique piece. It is suitable for a high floor or table lamp.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silk
James Dixon, Dr C Dresser style of. A silver plated sugar bowl and milk jug
Located in London, GB
James Dixon, Dr C Dresser style of. An Aesthetic Movement silver-plated sugar bowl and milk jug, the jug with a trumpet style flower to the handle. H 5 x W 11 x D 11.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Orientalist Chandelier, France, Circa 1870
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare chandelier in gilded and patinated bronze with eighteen lights, finely decorated with stylized oriental motifs in polychrome red and blue cold enamel. Surmounted by an elegant c...
Category
1870s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bronze
E W Godwin attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut octagonal centre table
Located in London, GB
E W Godwin attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut octagonal center table with tramline molded edges with fine turnings to the legs united by a high stretcher and standing on Thebes...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Gillows attr An Aesthetic Movement ebonized & fold over floral inlaid card table
Located in London, GB
Gillows attributed. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized fold over and swivel top card table with the original red baize to the playing area. The recta...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Aesthetic Movement walnut metamorphic oak coal box with Herons in a river scene.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Walnut metamorphic oak coalbox. The handle when pulled back mechanically opens the two doors to the front, which has brass panels depicting Herons eating fish i...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Aesthetic Movement oak oblong side table with ring turned legs, and splayed feet
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement oak oblong side table with staggered ring turnings to the legs and stood on splayed-out feet united by a fine ring-turned centr...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
R. W. Edis, probably made by Jackson & Graham A fine pair of Walnut side chairs
By Robert William Edis, Jackson & Graham
Located in London, GB
R. W. Edis, probably made by Jackson and Graham. A fine pair of Aesthetic Movement Walnut side chairs with fine ring turned and incised tramline details, and sweeping side supports. ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Bruce Talbert for Gillows and Co. Aesthetic Movement scissor style side chair
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert for Gillows and Co. An Aesthetic Movement scissor style side chair with ebonized dot details and chip carved details to the fra...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
T E Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. An Aesthetic Movement walnut high back chair.
Located in London, GB
Thomas Edward Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. A fine quality Aesthetic Movement Walnut high back chair with later blue upholstery.
Illustrated in the Collinson and Lock catalogue.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Chinese Console From The 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely Chinese console from the 19th century
It is made up of two drawers and two small doors.
Ideal as a console, as a bar or occasional table
Very beautiful patina and in superb co...
Category
19th Century Chinese Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Collinson and Lock. An Aesthetic Movement Satin walnut breakfront wall cupboard
Located in London, GB
Collinson and Lock. An Aesthetic Movement Satin walnut breakfront wall cupboard with a dentil cornice, and Japanese basket weave detailing to the brass handle.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Lewis Foreman Day. A rare Aesthetic Movement mantel clock with floral decoration
Located in London, GB
Lewis Foreman Day for Howell James & Co. An Aesthetic Movement mantel clock with hand painted floral decoration and sunflower to the dial flanked...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
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
An Aesthetic Movement heavy cast brass peacock trivet with fine detailing
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement heavy cast brass peacock trivet with fine detailing throughout.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Bruce Talbert An Aesthetic Movement Gothic Revival oak needlework table and box
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert attributed. An Aesthetic Movement/Gothic Revival oak needlework table and box with carved lunettes, florets and incised turned details to the legs united with turnings ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Lamp Hat Embroidered in Silver Tinsel
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/423 - Unique piece : lamp hat embroidered in silver tinsel - It is suitable for a high floor or table lamp.
The price is very interesting because I want to close my activities.
...
Category
1990s Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silk
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 ...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Satinwood
Jas Shoolbred. An Aesthetic Movement adjustable height piano stool
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred. An Aesthetic Movement adjustable height piano stool with carved florettes and line scribed decoration to the seat and to the shaped legs, united by a double stretcher. This has a BSA motor bike company mechanical height adjusting mechanism with gear cogs...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Thomas Jeckyll A rare Aesthetic Movement Walnut fire surround with butterfly's
Located in London, GB
Thomas Jeckyll for Barnard Bishop and Barnard. A rare Aesthetic Movement Walnut fire surround, the mantel with molded edges and four ebonized panels incised with butterfly and bamboo stems and leaf...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Aesthetic Movement Walnut side table wot-not-stand with half triangle shelves.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Walnut tall side table wot-not-stand with a molded square top and a further full shelf below followed by staggered tri-angular shelves, from to bottom with fine...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized & upholstered armchair with sweeping side rails.
Located in London, GB
A stylish Aesthetic Movement ebonized armchair with sweeping side rail incorporating the upholstered armrests which are set back to accommodate those wonderful hoop dresses of the Vi...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Danier Cottier (style of). An Aesthetic Movement dark oak coal box
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement dark oak coal box in the style of Daniel Cottier. With all over shallow carved floral decoration.
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
A pair of small Aesthetic Movement oak sets of drawers with lockable side flaps.
Located in London, GB
A pair of small Aesthetic Movement oak sets of drawers, with carved alternating fern leaf decoration to the drawer fronts and ring pull brass handles. The hinged sides with lockable ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Morris & Co. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut tallboy with internal sliding drawers.
By Morris & Co.
Located in London, GB
Morris and Co. A Superior Quality Aesthetic Movement Walnut tallboy, with a polished top and dentil molding below with fielded diamond shaped panels to the upper doors opening to rev...
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Liberty & Co armchair with a shaped back & mashrabiya turnings to the head rest.
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co An Aesthetic Movement ebonized Moorish low armchair with a shaped back with mashrabiya turnings to the head rest and tapestry seat
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Morris and Co. A superior quality Aesthetic Movement two tier walnut side table
Located in London, GB
Morris and Co. Designed by George Jack.
A superior quality Aesthetic Movement two tier walnut side table, with a shaped apron below the top and f...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Morris & Co. A fine quality Aesthetic Movement walnut side table.
By Morris & Co.
Located in London, GB
Morris & Co. A fine quality Aesthetic Movement walnut side table with herringbone inlay to the top edge, stood on hexagonal shaped legs with a lower shelf
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Single Large Gilt Bronze Curtain Tie-Back
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Elegant single bronze (gilded with galvanic process) large tie-back for a large curtain, collected on one side, or for belt or scarf.
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bronze
An Aesthetic Movement walnut armchair with a curvaceous back leather upholstery.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Walnut Library armchair with a curvaceous back and nicely worn button back leather upholstery. The arms with double curves to the end of the armrests and floret...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
J P Hewitt. Aesthetic Movement circular plaque with a Pre-Raphaelite girls head.
Located in London, GB
J P Hewitt. An Aesthetic Movement circular plaque painted with a Pre-Raphaelite female head set in the original incised and ebonized period frame. Signed to the back.
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Baccarat Aesthetic movement intaglio cut glass vase c 1880
Located in Worcester Park, GB
Fabulous, intaglio carved, Baccarat vase in the Aesthetic style dating around 1880. Depicting two classically dressed women arranging fruit and plants on a pedestal with a landscape ...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Crystal
Late 19th Century Unusual Aesthetic Movement Painted Clerks Desk
Located in Lowestoft, GB
Just the most wonderful little painted compact desk and bank of drawers, the half-hinged top opening back to reveal a compartmentalised interior with pigeonholes, the front faux-draw...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Pine
Aesthetic Movement Ash & fiddle back Ash wall cabinet inlaid with floral panels.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Ash and fiddle back Ash wall cabinet with a shaped and inlaid cornice and polychrome painted floral panels to the doors. The Ash wood has been stained to show d...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ash
Burne Jones for Morris & Co Hand painted tile of Chaucer's legend of good wimmen
By Morris & Co.
Located in London, GB
Edward Burne Jones for Morris & Co, designed in 1861-1862. A rare hand-painted tile depicting Chaucer's Legend of Good Wimmen. The Fiberite packing we found inside the frame probably...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Jas Shoolbred and Co (attributed) An octagonal oak side table with central shelf
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred attributed An octagonal oak side table with central shelf, carved circular details to the legs, united by lower cross stretchers.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Aesthetic Movement side table with sunflower & curved & straight side stretchers
Located in London, GB
A rare Aesthetic Movement walnut side table with two curved upper stretchers that unite to a central sunflower and a lower straight sided H stretcher that unites to the bottom of the...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
R Boyd. in the style of Dr C Dresser. A pair of oak side chairs
Located in London, GB
R Boyd. in the style of Dr C Dresser. A pair of Aesthetic Movement oak side chairs with 1/4 moon details and double hoop stretchers. Furniture by R Boyd was illustrated in the Furnit...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
An Aesthetic Movement Elm stool with a 'S' handle, and a wild grain to the seat.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement period Elm stool with a 'S' shaped pierced handle, and a wonderful wild grain to the seat. Tight through and exposed joints to the four corners of the seat with...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Elm
Brownfield & Sons. Olympus pattern. Dr C Dresser style. Aesthetic Movement bowl
Located in London, GB
Brownfield and Sons Olympus pattern, in the style of Dr C Dresser. A large Aesthetic Movement white bowl with blue printed love birds and stylized decoration around the bowl.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized side table with a marquetry octagonal top
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized side table with a marquetry octagonal top decorated with conch shells and a central star detail in various fruit woods, with ebonized string and cheque...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Mark V Marshall Doulton Lambeth Abstract Leaf & Berry Design Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very rare and stylish Doulton Lambeth Marqueterie Ware blue and brown marbled art pottery saucer with gilded designs by Lambeth’s first Art Director Wilton Parker Rix (Doulton Lamb...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Stoneware
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
Splendid Brown Transferware Cake stand, England, 1880s
Located in Milan, IT
Beautiful Gardens scene Brown Transferware Cake stand, England, 1880s
Category
1880s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Pair of Victorian Marquetry, Ebony Framed Burr Walnut Display Cabinets
Located in Altrincham, GB
Pair of Victorian Marquetry, Ebony Framed Burr Walnut Display Cabinets attributed to Lamb of Manchester - 30.5"w x 15"d x 46"h
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ebony, Walnut
Aesthetic Movement Gothic Style Brass Mounted Stationery Box
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning quality British Aesthetic Movement brass mounted oak stationery box with gothic influences dating from around 1880. The box stands on a wide ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
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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