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
Period: Mid-20th Century
1960's Zeki Muren Turkish Sivas Carpet with Modern Style
By Zeki Müren
Located in Dallas, TX
52575 Zeki Muren Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, 05'08 x 08'09. Originating from the Sivas region of Turkey, Zeki Muren Turkish Sivas rugs pay tribute to the renowned Turkish singer of th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1960's Turkish Oushak Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
50500 Vintage Red Turkish Oushak Rug, 07'02 x 10'00. Drenched in a palette of autumn’s last embers and steeped in the grandeur of Ottoman elegance, this hand-knotted wool vintage Tur...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
Distressed Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
51452 Distressed Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug, 08'03 x 10'02. Borne from the looms of western Anatolia, this hand-knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak rug is a weathered poem in thread ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1950's Turkish Angora Wool Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53835 vintage Turkish Angora wool Kilim rug, 04'01 x 06'00. With its shaggy pile, incredible detail and texture, this handwoven Turkish angora kilim rug is a captivating vision of wo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool, Angora
1950's Turkish Angora Wool Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53832 Vintage Turkish Angora Wool Kilim Blanket Rug, 04'05 x 06'05. Woven in the rugged highlands of southeastern Turkey, this handwoven Turkish Angora kilim...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool, Angora
1950's Turkish Angora Wool Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53861 Vintage Turkish Angora Wool Blanket Kilim Rug, 02'07 x 03'10. Woven like twilight caught in motion, this handwoven Turkish Angora kilim rug pulses with the untamed energy of th...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool, Angora
1950's Turkish Sivas Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53162 Distressed Vintage Muted Turkish Sivas Rug, 08'02 x 11'02. Originating from Sivas in central Anatolia, Turkey, antique-wash Turkish Sivas rugs exude vintage allure, thanks to a distinctive treatment process that enhances their timeless charm. Embracing an essence of laid-back elegance, these rugs present a faded or weathered appearance that emanates a relaxed refinement, inviting a sense of tranquility into any space. Their intricate geometric or floral motifs, softened by the passage of time, add to their captivating allure, weaving a story of cultural richness and heritage. Crafted with meticulous care from high-quality wool and adorned with soft hues, these rugs embody both durability and aesthetic sophistication, honoring Turkey's esteemed rug-making tradition. Treasured by collectors and enthusiasts alike for their enduring charm, antique-wash Turkish Sivas rugs infuse each space with a touch of nostalgia and individuality, enriching it with their timeless allure and distinctive character.
Effortlessly blending Cotswold Cottage...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1950's Zeki Muren Turkish Sivas Carpet with Midcentury Cubist Style
By Zeki Müren
Located in Dallas, TX
52592 Zeki Muren Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, 06'07 x 09'08. This mesmerizing hand-knotted wool Zeki Muren Turkish Sivas rug is a bold expression of modern artistry woven into a rich A...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1960's Zeki Muren Turkish Sivas Rug with Modern Style
By Zeki Müren
Located in Dallas, TX
51909 Distressed Vintage Turkish Sivas Rug, 02'06 x 06'00. Zeki Muren Turkish Sivas rugs, originating from Turkey's tranquil Sivas region, pay tribute to the esteemed Turkish singer ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1950's Turkish Oushak Carpet with Modern Tribal Style
Located in Dallas, TX
52145 Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug Runner, 03'05 x 12'03. Woven like a verse from the earth’s own hymnal, this hand knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak runner unfolds with soulful inte...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
Original Pastel portrait of a young woman by G. Brisgand in gilt frame
Located in New York City, NY
A fine original pastel portrait of a beautiful young woman in vibrant colors, representing a modern interpretation of a classical subject .
She is portrayed as aristocratic, sensual,...
Category
1930s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paint
Artistic Double Gourd Form Raku Pottery Vase
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Artistic Double Gourd form Raku pottery vase, unglazed diagonal ribbon exposing black clay body thickly applied grey crackled glaze pooling at the bo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Pottery
1950's Turkish Oushak Rug with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
50929 Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug Runner, 03'00 x 09'08. Like a woven page from Anatolia’s storied past, this hand-knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak runner stretches forth in quiet ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1950's Turkish Oushak Rug with Traditional Style Warm Earth-Tone Colors
Located in Dallas, TX
50503 Vintage Earth-Tone Turkish Oushak Rug, 06'08 x 10'08. Like a parchment illuminated by time and softened by the golden hush of Anatolia’s light, this hand-knotted wool vintage T...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1940's Turkish Oushak Carpet with Modern Rustic Style
Located in Dallas, TX
51726 Distressed Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug Runner, 02'06 x 12'05. Woven with the wisdom of Anatolian winds and softened by time’s gentle erosion, this hand knotted wool distressed v...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1950's Turkish Striped Kilim Rug with Modern Rustic Style
Located in Dallas, TX
60646 Distressed Vintage Turkish Striped Kilim Rug, 08'09 x 11'08. A dazzling celebration of color, craft and rugged beauty, this handwoven wool distressed vintage Turkish kilim rug ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool, Cotton
1960's Turkish Oushak Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
73844 Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug, 03’10 x 06’02. A reverent artifact of Anatolian memory, this vintage Turkish Oushak rug bears more than the beauty of hand-knotted wool—it carries t...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
Early-Mid 20th Century English Cast Stone Garden Gnome
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
English early-mid 20th century cast stone garden gnome. A plump faced gnome with watering can tending his plants. Old loss to the tip of his hat. Condition commensurate with age & pu...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Cast Stone
Early-Mid 20th Century English Cast Stone Garden Gnome Planter
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Early-mid 20th century large cast stone garden gnome planter, English. Great weathered surfaces. A seated, legs crossed, large happy faced gnome in vest & 3/4 pants with great shoes,...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Cast Stone
Hallmarked English Successionist Style Porcelain Water Jug and Centrepiece Bowl
Located in North Miami, FL
This fabulously designed successionist style hallmarked English set of porcelain pieces dates from the early 1950's yet has a modern flair.
It is successionist meets serpent Egyptian...
Category
1950s English Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Turkish Anatolian Rug
Located in New York, NY
Subtle Turkish Anatolian floral pattern rug from the 20th century
Measures: 2'6'' x 5'3''.
Category
Mid-20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
Antique Framed Oil Painting on Canvas by De Kok
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Framed oil painting on canvas by De Kok showcases the artist's firm grasp on creating the tranquility of an intriguing landscape composition using color and contrast resultin...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
Three Antique Sterling Silver Designers Teaspoons
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Three sterling silver teaspoons by three different old famous designers ,with assorted beautiful decorations and patterns , perfect and rare: Blackington Co., Alvin Co., Fontenac pattern by International Silver Company.
Can be sold INDIVIDUALLY.
Everyone was used exclusively for 5 o'clock tea.
They are three little sculptures...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver
Demure Watercolor of Woman In Thoughtful Pose
Located in Round Top, TX
An enigmatic portrait of a demure woman in a thoughtful pose.
Deep, rich gouache and watercolor original painting, framed in the mid-20th century. Artwork appears to be slightly old...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint, Paper
Orange Peel Anatolian Rug
Located in New York, NY
Orange peel colored Midcentury Turkish Anatolian rug.
Category
1940s Turkish Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1960's Muted Persian Viss Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
61189 Vintage Persian Viss Rug, 06'07 x 10'01. This hand-knotted wool distressed vintage Persian Viss rug evokes a sense of quiet elegance, where ancient tribal artistry meets timele...
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1960's Persian Malayer Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
61107 Vintage Persian Malayer Rug, 10'08 x 14'03. Embark on a captivating journey through the annals of time and tradition with this meticulously hand-knotted wool masterpiece – a vi...
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1950's Turkish Angora Wool Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53855 Vintage Turkish Angora Wool Blanket Kilim Rug, 04'02 x 05'03. Emerging from the earthen silence of southeastern Turkey, this handwoven Turkish Angora kilim rug holds the softne...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool, Angora
Black and Gold Haberdashery Draper Shop Cabinet
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Black and Gold Haberdashery Draper Shop Cabinet
This is a Large Chest of Drawers, it has an unusual combination of 12 long square drawers, the drawers have original brass Lions Mas...
Category
1930s Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Mid-Century set of 4 Large Scale Four Seasons Paintings
Located in Dallas, TX
Mid-Century set of 4 Large Scale Four Seasons Paintings were designed for a French bakery, and beautifully and colorfully represent the Four Seasons, with the seasons' names painted ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paint
1950's Distressed Persian Kerman Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
53750 Distressed Vintage Persian Kerman Rug, 06'09 x 10'00. Step into a realm of timeless elegance with this hand-knotted wool distressed vintage Persian Kerman rug, where quiet soph...
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1950’s Turkish Oushak Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
50651 Vintage Turkish Oushak Runner, 03'06 x 11'00. This hand-knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak runner features two medallions and a cl...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
Vintage Persian Sarouk Scatter Rug with American Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
75657 Vintage Persian Sarouk Scatter rug with American Traditional style. Rich in color with beguiling beauty, this hand knotted wool vintage Persia...
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1960's Earth-Tone Persian Mazandaran Kilim Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
76384 Vintage Persian Mazandaran Kilim Rug, 09'10 x 10'00. Woven beneath the rain-heavy skies of northern Iran, this vintage Persian Mazandaran kilim distills the poetry of light and...
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
1960's Turkish Oushak Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
50228 a vintage Oushak rug runner. Punctuate your space with personality by incorporating this vintage Oushak runner. It features two substan...
Category
Mid-20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
Vintage Persian Sarouk Accent Rug
Located in Dallas, TX
75656, a vintage Sarouk accent rug. This stunning rug features a cornflower central floral medallion centred with an amulet on an oval field of cream dotted with crimson leaves blooming with indigo flowers and lotus, resting on a crimson background. The rug is bordered with a meandering vine and floral motif banded with three thin guard borders of geometric designs. The brightly colored palette of this charming rug would make an enchanting addition to any home. Used as: Entry rug, Foyer rug, Entryway rug, Persian kitchen mat...
Category
Mid-20th Century Persian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
Mosaic table, iron foot, 1960, unique piece
Located in Nice, FR
Table or pedestal table with a mosaic top, iron base, all made in the old fashioned way, in an antique way, the mosaics are highlighted, unique piece.
The outline of the mosaic tray...
Category
1960s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble
Glass Coffee Table, Italy, Romeo Rega, Design, 1960s
Located in Nice, FR
Glass coffee table, Italy, designer Romeo Rega, 1970, Structure in brass and black iron, smoked glass. Very refined.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Original Paintings by Jacob Semiatin
Located in Saint-Ouen (PARIS), FR
These three abstract paintings by Jacob Semiatin (1915-2003) are in wooden frames. Sold one by each.
Category
1950s Irish Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paint
Pedestal Overlay Glass Patisserie Stand
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Elegant patisserie stand with flowers printed in silver on the glass: named "overlay", classical American object for the table service.
O/. 1770.
Category
Mid-20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Modern Watercolor Female Portrait
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
ST/736 - Watercolor and tempera modern female portrait: simple but unusual.
An interesting item..., simply to frame.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paper
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
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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