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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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Style: Aesthetic Movement
Rare Majolica Box with Oysters and Snail Choisy Le Roi, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Majolica box with oysters and snail signed Hippolyte Boulenger Choisy Le Roi, circa 1880. Measures: Height / 8", length / 15" on 6.5".
Category

1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

French Set of 4 Majolica Flowers Tiles, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French set of 4 Majolica flowers tile, circa 1890. 6' by 6" , The four tiles 12' by 12".
Category

1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Faience

Aesthetic Movement Bronze Andirons in Christopher Dresser Style
Located in Sharon, CT
Pair of large (22") cast bronze andirons constructed of multiple Aesthetic Movement devices.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

C Dresser for Colebrookdale Aesthetic Movement Cast Iron Garden Canopy Seat Ends
Located in London, GB
Designed by Dr C Dresser for Colebrookdale A cast iron Aesthetic Movement garden Canopy Seat named 'Waterplants'. The first image here is an example to ...
Category

1870s Great Britain (UK) Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Iron

French Majolica Vase with Fishs and Shells, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica vase with fishs and shells, circa 1880. Bamboo handles.   
Category

1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica, Faience

Large Orientalist Oil Painting
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large, early 20th century orientalist painting. Oil on canvas. No trace of signature.
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Canvas, Paint

Antique American Aesthetic Coin Silver Baby Cup by Chicago Maker
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic coin silver baby cup. Made by Juergens & Andersen in Chicago. Tapering and inset sides engraved with stylized ornament, including swags and scrolls, centered on oval frame ...
Category

Mid-19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Silver

Rare French Majolica Butterfly Wall Pocket, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Rare French Majolica butterfly wall pocket, circa 1880. From North of France.
Category

1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Wardle English Majolica Glazed Hand Holding Corn Spill or Posy Vase
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Majolica glazed spill vase from the Staffordshire pottery region of England, attributed to Wardle & Co. circa 1860. The vase is molded as a woman’s hand holding an upright ear of...
Category

19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Pierre Chapo Exceptional Chapo Stone Desk B40, Very Rare Version in Black Ash
Located in Saint Ouen, FR
Pierre Chapo Exceptional Chapo stone desk B40 Very rare version in black ash Special order part for the circa 1975 Tray: 225 x D 85 x L 75cms Box 1: 60 x 57 x H 60cms Box 2: 123 x 5...
Category

20th Century European Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ash

French Hand Painted Table Lamp
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Vibrant hand painted 19th century Faience and bronze urn now electrified. A maze yellow background with hand painted iris and leaf pattern. The basic shade is for photographic purpos...
Category

19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Roses in Vase on Table, Signed painting
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Gorgeous bouquet of roses in a blue vase on the table - Old painting signed by Leon Tombu - Léon Tombu born in 1866 in Andenne and died in 1958 in...
Category

Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

Limited Edition Print/Toni Martina Charcol Print
By Toni Morrison
Located in London, Lambeth
An interesting charcol drawing print limited edition by Toni Martina He was a highly-acclaimed artist, winning many prizes including the Prix de Rome S...
Category

Early 2000s British Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Paper

Large Scale Bamboo Desk with Black Leather Top
Located in Sheffield, MA
Wonderfully restored large size bamboo desk with black leather top and two large drawers. The desk looks stunning from all 4 sides. Some flaws on the leather top.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Leather

Walker & Hall, Sheffield, English Aesthetic Silver Plate Fruit Knives, S/4
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A set of four silver plate Aesthetic Movement fruit or dessert knives, showing the hallmarks for Walker & Hall, Sheffield, England, circa 1910. Nicely balanced, terminating with a ...
Category

Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Silver Plate

Vintage Indian Runner with Old World Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77529, vintage Indian runner with Old World Traditional style. The architectural elements of naturalistic forms combined with a traditional style, this h...
Category

Late 20th Century Indian Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wool

Victorian Carved Inlaid Rosewood Needle Vase, Late 19th Century
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very fine antique carved rose wood needle case with hinged cover with spring clasp and with central inset brass cartouche, the edges of the box with finely carved detail and with i...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

8 Spode Aesthetic Movement Hand Painted Blue & Ivory Floral Dessert Plates
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 8 Spode Copelands dessert plates are perfect for a dessert course at an intimate dinner and also likely to be used as display or cabinet p...
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

1950s German Daybed
Located in London, Lambeth
Very comfortable German daybed with slight angled top To make for a perfect relaxing bed. Wooden frame with Origin cotton fabric, circa 1950s.
Category

Mid-20th Century German Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Christopher Dresser Old Hall "Indiana" Pitcher Aesthetic Movement
Located in Sharon, CT
Beautiful example of an English Aesthetic Movement ceramic for Old Hall Earthenware Company Limited, c.1881. A similar 'Indiana' pitcher Illustrated and discussed in "Christopher Dr...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Philip Webb for Morris & Co. Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Settee with Bobbins
Located in London, GB
Philip Webb for Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. The firm became Morris & Co in 1875. A rare Aesthetic Movement Ebonised Settee. Professionally re-upholstered in period-style fabric....
Category

1860s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Beech

Midcentury Water Color from Axl Leskoschek, Original Frame, 1946, Austria
Located in Vienna, Austria
Axl Leskoschek, an Austrian artist was born on September 3rd 1889 in Graz, Austria. He died on February 12, 1976 in Vienna, Austria. He began his studies with Law but in 1917 he had...
Category

1940s Austrian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Paint

Sarreguemines French Faïence Majolica Barbotine Corn on the Cob Lidded Tureen
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A French Majolica covered tureen formed as an ear of corn, the handle and footing molded as corn husks. Sarreguemines, circa 1940s. Realistically molded and charming on the table...
Category

Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Gilded Grapes Candleholder 3 lights, gilted handcrafted
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

Mezzotint Two Nudes on the Seashore by Alessandro, Mastro Valerio
Located in Toledo, OH
Mezzotint two nudes on the seashore lounging on a rock by Alessandro - Mastro Valerio 1887-1953. Signed lower right. Number 27/35. Hinged to backerboard...
Category

20th Century North American Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Paper

Antique French Esthetic Two-Armed Bronze Sconces with 'Swirl', 1900s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Exquisitely crafted pair of French two-armed sconces with superb detailing. Originally made as wall-candelabras. No alterations to the construction has been made so they are easily c...
Category

Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Set of 12 Wedgwood Dinner Plates with Cobalt Centers & Aesthetic Movement Enamel
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This is an unusual set of 12 Wedgwood lapis lazuli powder blue ground dinner plates with a polychrome Aesthetic Movement style enameled border. The beautiful combination of colors on...
Category

1930s English Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century Aesthetic Movement X-Frame Chair w. Hand Carved Monkey Finials
Located in Lisse, NL
Marvellous, early Arts & Crafts chair with human-like, monkey sculptures. I once learned that one of the goals of art is that it should trigger your imagination. Also, in the sense that it should make you ask yourself the question, what am I looking at and what does it mean (to me)? When I first saw this chair I immediately knew I was looking at a unique work of art and the artistic, human-like monkey sculptures lift it to a whole different level. Realizing that this chair is most likely created in the era of the British Aesthetic Movement around 1880, it came to me how the artist who created this piece could very well have been inspired by a book he may have read, 'on the origin of species' by Charles Darwin. My imagination led me to believe that reading about 'evolutionary biology' could very well have been the seed that was at the root of this marvellous and meaningful work of art. A work of art that lesser creative minds may simply call 'a chair'. Your imagination may tell you something very different and that is why this unique and very well preserved antique also is a great conversation piece. Our price for this 'Darwin chair...
Category

19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass, Iron

12 Webb Hand Blown Large Crystal Goblets w/ Flared Rim Engraved Prunus Blossoms
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 hand blown crystal goblets were made by Webb Corbett, England and are the perfect addition to your table setting. The nice large size makes these an excellent choice f...
Category

1920s English Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Rare Elegant Vintage Italian Glass Table Lamp by Balsamo Stella
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Rare vintage glass lamp by Guido Maria Balsamo Stella - artist born in Torino 1st January 1882, died Asolo (Treviso) 1st January 1941 - He studied A...
Category

1930s Italian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Art Glass

Faux Bois Bench
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
A charming garden accent, this cast iron faux Bois bench has been radically weathered to perfection. A testament to Janes, Beebe & Co foundry, one...
Category

1840s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Iron

Model 17 Bentwood High Back Armchair by Michael Thonet
Located in Buffalo, NY
This model 17, bentwood side chair with a cane seat and back was designed by Michael Thonet for his own company in the 1860s. This example was produced in the 1970s and is in a very ...
Category

1970s Austrian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Cane, Wood

Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Tazza Compote With Grape Motif, 263 A
Located in Toledo, OH
George Jensen sterling silver Tazza compote with grape leaf motif #263A, circa 1918. Very nice condition. Dimensions: 5" diameter x 5" H.
Category

1910s European Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Aesthetics Movement Late Victorian Bamboo and Black Lacquered Étagère Bookcase
Located in New York, NY
Late 19th-early 20th century bamboo étagère with side shelves, glass door, and mirrored upper section with shaped black lacquered decorated top.
Category

Late 19th Century Unknown Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Lacquer

Antique Pair of Hand Enameled European Glass Garniture Vases
Located in Lambertville, NJ
A pair of hand blown and hand painted enamel vases with gilt accents. Clear glass petal tops and pedestal bases. The main body is black glass with detailed enamel work. Lovely petal...
Category

1880s Czech Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Blown Glass

Majolica Parakeets Garniture Set Vases & Jardinière Sarreguemines, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica Parakeets Garniture set with 2 vases and a jardinière planter signed Sarreguemines, circa 1880. Model 7122. Measures: Jardinière / Height 6.2", length 11" on 6". Vases / ...
Category

1880s European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Majolica, Ceramic

Antique Bamboo Rocker in the George Hunzinger Style
Located in Bellport, NY
A charming little rocker with all the bells and whistles of the George Hunzinger style. Handcrafted and upholstered in a modern woven beige and green top grade fabric. Excellent cond...
Category

19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Good Quality Aesthetic Movement Brass Fire Fender with Turned Details & Finials
Located in London, GB
A good quality Aesthetic Movement brass fire fender with turned details and finials above, protective mesh to the lower part all stood on a solid brass plinth.
Category

1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass

Clair Seglem Watercolor Painting of Marble Torso on Magenta Background
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A small still life water color painting of an alabaster torso accented with flowers and limes on a bright magenta background. This piece is by the late Oklahoma artist and retired Air Force man Clair...
Category

20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Paint, Paper

George Jensen Oval Base Compote, Berry Stems and Leaves Designed by Johan Rohde
Located in Toledo, OH
Beautiful compote in the berry stems and leaf pattern. Designed by Johan Rohde for Georg Jensen. Compote features an oval stepped base with berry ...
Category

1920s European Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Asprey Carved Rock Crystal Gorilla Diamond Eye's and 18-Karat Gold Accents
Located in Westport, CT
Asprey one of a kind hand carved rock crystal Gorilla, with 18-karat gold accents and diamond eyes, together on the original petrified wood base, w...
Category

Late 20th Century British Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Rock Crystal, Multi-gemstone, Silver, Gold

Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Tazza Compote with Grape Motif 263 B
Located in Toledo, OH
Beautiful sterling Tazza compote in grape motif by Georg Jensen, circa 1918. Marked 263 B. Very good condition. Dimensions: 7" diameter x 7.5" H and weighs 19.9 ozt.
Category

1910s European Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Jas Shoolbred, an Aesthetic Movement Side Table with Angular Turned Supports
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized side table with a galleried lower shelf and angular turned supports.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

WMF Silverplate Modernist Plate Sigrid Kupetz Design with Small Oval Bowl
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
WMF silver plate modernist plate Sigrid Kupetz design with small oval bowl, both by Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik, mid-20th century. The plate is ...
Category

1930s German Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Silver Plate

Large English Bird Plate Mintons, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
English blue bird plate in a landscape signed Mintons (mark 1873 to 1912).
Category

Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

20th Century Oil on Canvas of Romanticized, Woodland Waterfall
Located in Van Nuys, CA
An unsigned, unframed, oil painting on canvas. This painting is peaceful, charming and in very good condition. It is tacked to its original wood stretcher bars.
Category

Early 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Paint

Late 19th Century Antique Persian Kurdish Rug with Traditional English Style
Located in Dallas, TX
51634, late 19th century antique Persian Kurdish rug with Traditional English style. With timeless elegance and nostalgic charm, this hand knotted wool antique Persian Kurdish rug can beautifully blend modern, contemporary and traditional interiors. The abrashed midnight navy blue field features an all-over Herati pattern. Angular florals and foliage with serrated edges adorn each corner spandrel in contrasting colors. The Classic Herati design, also known as the Mahi or fish pattern, is among the most widespread and well known of all Persian designs, consisting of a flower centered in a diamond accompanied by curving lanceolate leaves that resemble fish. It is enclosed with a repeating tree of life border flanked with an inner guard border and a triple outer guard border. With its perfectly worn-in charm and understated elegance, this large antique Persian rug...
Category

Late 19th Century Persian Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wool

Royal Worcester Porcelain Soup Tureen Made in 1851
Located in Katonah, NY
This large Royal Worcester soup tureen and stand is decorated with delicate pink, purple, white, and yellow roses and soft green leaves accented with gold. The finial and handles are...
Category

Mid-19th Century Great Britain (UK) Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Arts and Crafts Wrought Iron Chandelier or Pendant with Stylized Swan Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
Wonderful antique and handcrafted six-light chandelier. If you are searching for an elegant and unique chandelier to, for example, complete a dining room or a large entrance then th...
Category

Early 20th Century European Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

E W Godwin attr, for Collinson & Lock. An Aesthetic Movement mahogany side table
Located in London, GB
E W Godwin, attributed, made by Collinson & Lock. An Aesthetic movement mahogany side table with spiral-turned legs on out swept feet. With the original lock and key to the drawer. Collinson and Lock of London 'Art Furnishers', founded with the partnership of F.G. Collinson and G.J. Lock, former employees of Jackson and Graham. Designers employed by the firm included T.E. Collcutt, the architect of their premises; E.W. Godwin, who was paid a retainer to produce exclusive designs for the company from 1872 to 1874, H.W. Batley and Stephen Webb...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Silk Embroidered Large Italian Pillow
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Very elegant pure silk large Italian pillow, with flower embroidered: in the centre of Your sofa... B/2426  
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Silk

Samuel Alcock & Co. Strawberry and Grape Leaf Plate, England, circa 1850
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A strawberry and grape leaf plate, from Samuel Alcock & Co, Burslem, Staffordshire, England, circa 1850. A central grape leaf is shown with a vine border, along with purple bunche...
Category

Mid-19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Porcelain Half Moon Pink Shell on White and Gilded Oyster Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A late 19th century, French porcelain, crescent or half-moon shaped oyster plate, five pink blush oyster wells on a white colored ground hand-painted with blades of sea grass and a g...
Category

19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

19th Century French Faïence Hand Painted Floral Asparagus Plate
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A scarce barbotine Majolica glazed oval Asparagus plate, France, circa 1880-1890, maker unknown. This unusual plate shows six raised asparagus spears...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Earthenware

Aesthetic Movement Soup Tureen with Ladle
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic Movement soup tureen with ladle. Aesthetic Movement soup tureen with ladle and cover in brown, yellow and green Faisan pattern with t...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Majolica Fishs Platter Choisy Le Roi, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Unusual Majolica platter with 3 fishes signed Choisy le Roi, circa 1880.
Category

1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

19th Century Irish Wallpaper Panel framed in a Cornice Molding
Located in Dublin, Dalkey
19th century Irish velvet flocked wallpaper from David Skinner's original period patterns archive of Irish historic wallpapers from Dublin, Ireland....
Category

19th Century Irish Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Gold Leaf

American Aesthetic Hanging Mirrored Hall Rack
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
American aesthetic fan motif hanging mirrored hall rack, of carved popular, with upper 30" brass rod, central engraved fan motif mirror, and four cast brass hooks.
Category

Late 19th Century North American 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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