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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
1920’s Persian Heriz Carpet with Modern Style
Located in Dallas, TX
77175 Antique Persian Heriz Rug, 11'05 x 19'00. Enter a world where geometry meets grandeur with this magnificent antique Persian Heriz rug—a striking testament to the powerful desig...
Category

Early 20th Century Persian Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wool

New Modern Persian Sultanabad Carpet with Transitional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
60711 Neoclassical Style Persian Sultanabad Area Rug with Federal Color Palette. With transitional style and harmonious hues, this modern Persian Sultanabad rug is sophisticated and ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary 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

New Modern Round Striped Indian Area Rug with Transitional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
30293 Transitional Modern Round Area Rug with Stripes, 08'00 x 08'00. This hand-knotted wool round area rug from India showcases a richly textured design featuring subtle earth-tone ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wool

Brass Aesthetic Movement Christopher Dresser Fire Dogs A
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Brass Aesthetic Movement Christopher Dresser Fire Dogs A Pair of Brass Aesthetic Movement Fire Dogs Designed by Dr Christopher Dresser, a fi...
Category

1880s Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass

Petite Wood Armchairs With Cord Seats, a Pair
Located in Greensboro, NC
A Pair of Petite Wood Armchairs With Cord Seats. Likely French. 22"w x 19"d x 34" x17.5" seat height seat width 18" seat depth 15.5"
Category

Mid-20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Papercord, Wood

1930's Turkish Oushak Carpet with Traditional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
51360 Vintage Turkish Oushak Rug, 05'06 x 08'11. Rooted in the storied soil of Anatolia, this hand knotted wool vintage Turkish Oushak rug evokes a tranquil symphony of earth and air...
Category

Early 20th Century Turkish Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wool

Bronze Curtain-Holders or Coat Hangers or Tie-backs
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/6840 - Antique bronze curtain-holders to enrich Your windows. Before photos had not been cleaned. Excuse me...
Category

Mid-19th Century European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

American Aesthetic Mahogany and Inlaid Table
Located in Essex, MA
With a beautifully figured octagonal top inlaid with shell and volutes. With a conforming frieze raised on circular tapered legs joined by a lower shelf with spindle gallery. Ending ...
Category

1880s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Mahogany, Satinwood

19th Century Copper and Brass Plant Pot Bucket or Wine Cooler
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th century copper and brass plant pot bucket or wine cooler This is a lovely looking 19th Century planter it is made in brass with riveted copper ...
Category

Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass

New Nautical Drift Modern Coastal Wool & Silk Carpet with Transitional Style
Located in Dallas, TX
30148 New Nautical Drift Modern Coastal Rug, 09'00 x 12'03. Evoking the gentle cadence of rolling tides and sun-washed shores, this hand-knotted wool and silk Nautical Drift Modern C...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Indian Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wool, Silk

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

Italian Style Neo Classical Bronze Table Lamp Figural Base Paw Feet
Located in Toledo, OH
Italian style Neo- Classical bronze table lamp resting on three paw feet. Dimensions: 37" high x 9.5" diameter.
Category

20th Century Unknown Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Minton Aesthetic Movement Tiled Jardinieres with Lily of the Valley
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This pair of jardinieres is made of 19th century Mintons porcelain tiles which have been mounted into later constructed jardinieres. The tiles are all matching, each one decorated with lily of the valley floral motifs. Beautifully detailed constructed beaded boxes, frame these Aesthetic Movement tiles...
Category

19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Antique Gorham Sterling Olive Bowl and Tongs
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1884, sterling, Gorham. This unequivocally charming serving piece embodies the relaxed refinement of the Victorian era. Complete with tongs, this rare example of a figural Gorham olive dish...
Category

1880s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

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

Letter Rack or Stationery Rack in Leather from the 19th Century, France
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant 19th centuryletter rack or stationery rack from France It is unusual to find them with their original key. Very nice interior beautiful pati...
Category

19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Leather

Large Pillow in Silver and Gold Printed Signed Velvet
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
B/1782-1 - Large cuhion or pillow in silver and gold printed velvet, to be combined with curtain fabrics already published on 1stdibs: see reference at the bottom of the page. The w...
Category

2010s English Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Velvet

Aesthetic style silver photograph frame
Located in London, GB
Rare and early Aesthetic style antique silver photograph frame from the late Victorian era. The border is hand hammered with a mottled effect. There is a cast central surround with a...
Category

19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Dripglaze Heavily Potted Floral Vase
Located in NYC, NY
A beautifully potted vase with raised delicate floral decoration with a burnt orange flower in a subtle Japanese aesthetic typical of aesthetic movement po...
Category

Early 20th Century European Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Pottery

Vintage French Bronze Frame Gold Dore Miniature Painted Portrait
Located in Toledo, OH
Hand painted miniature portrait of a woman in a yellow gown. French bronze frame with gold dore finish. Image measures 1.69" W x 1.69" H and Overall Dimens...
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Painting . Brasilia, modern
Located in Nice, FR
Brazilia  Artist : Chebisiem Tribute to a country that I have kept in my heart... Oscar Niemeyer (Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida de Niemeyer Soares) participates in the creation of the...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Acrylic

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

Pair 18th Century Framed Oil Paintings by P. J. Boquet
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 18th century framed oil paintings by P. J. Boquet (1751-1817) represents two of the four seasons framed in the round. Reframed in the early 20th century, each work shows how Boq...
Category

1790s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Canvas

19th Century Pair of KPM Attributed Porcelain Painted Plaques of Woman & Boy
Located in Long Branch, NJ
19th Century Pair of KPM Attributed Porcelain Painted Plaques of Woman & Boy Dimensions : Frame - 16" Tall X 14" Wide X 2" Deep Porcelain 6.5" Tall This gorgeous pair of KPM Attrib...
Category

Late 19th Century German Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Asian Style Wood Wall Lantern Sconce, Early 20th Century circa 1915
Located in San Francisco, CA
Asian / Esthetic Movement style wooden lantern shaped wall sconce with mica panel inserts. Newly reconditioned and re-wired, ready to install. In good antique condition. Early 20th ...
Category

Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Antique Victorian Aesthetic Movement Carved Oak Elm & Marble Occasional Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very decorative, hand made in England, circa 1860 Victorian Aesthetic movement, Elm & Oak with thick marble top, large side table or small occ...
Category

1860s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Marble

Pair Late 19th Century French Tole Painted Bronze Urn & Flower Form Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This pair of candelabra made in the form of urns holding floral arrangements are French and were cast in bronze in the 1870s. It’s possible that at one time they were gilded but they...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Aesthetic Movement Burl Oak Serving Cabinet
Located in Greenwich, CT
Richly patinated late 19th century English burl wood serving cabinet, the highly figured and bookmatched top with thumb molded edge over three drawers retaining their elaborate mixed...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Burl, Oak

Pair of Aesthetic Movement mahogany occasional tables
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Good pair of Aesthetic Movement mahogany occasional tables dating to around 1880, the tables have crisply ring turned legs and are in good useable condition.
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Aesthetic Movement table attributed to Collinson & Lock
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Aesthetic Movement pale soft wood occasional table with five finely turned legs attributed to Collinson & Lock circa 1880. This particular form of table is more usually found in rose...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Softwood

Pair of Sculptural White Ceramic Lamps, Elephants, Italy, Circa 1970
Located in VÉZELAY, FR
We are pleased to present a magnificent pair of sculptural white ceramic lamps, made in Italy, dating from the second half of the 20th century (around 1970). These rare pieces, bot...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Metal, Brass

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

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

FOUR FINE BURR WALNUT AESTHETIC MOVEMENT DINING CHAIRS WITH GRAND TOUR PLAQUEs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
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

Large Ceramic Fabric Bowl
Located in El Segundo, CA
Exquisitely crafted, our windswept bowl is a testament to artisanal excellence. Meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in our studio, it emerges from pure white clay, resulting in...
Category

2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Pair of Asymmetric Plaster Lamps, French
Located in Nice, FR
Pair of asymmetric shaped plaster lamps. White cotton shade. an E 27 base bulb. This pair is made entirely by hand. Neat finish. The lampshade is included in the price. To be p...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Plaster

Rare Crystal Square Shape Delicate Pair Silver Ewers Mounted by Boivin C.1900
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of very refined ewers in engraved crystal beautifully mounted, part of the silver sterling base is like lace! a work that few silversmiths could do. The octagonal base is decora...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Crystal, Silver

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

Aesthetic Movement Walnut Cabinet
Located in Castle Douglas, GB
Aesthetic Movement Walnut Cabinet Walnut profiled sides and back, the door and drawer with raised fielded panels in figured pitch pine, stands on shaped feet but could also be hung o...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Pine

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

Set of Aesthetic Movement Brass Fire Tools
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Smart set of Aesthetic Movement fire tools with engraved decoration circa 1880.
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass

19th Century Oak side table attributed to Dr Christopher Dresser
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Rare 19th Century oak side table attributed to Dr Christopher Dresser, or his studio, for the cabinet maker Thomas Knight of Bath. The strecther arrange...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Oak

Large pair of Victorian Arts & Crafts Iron Andirons Fire Dogs
By Richard Norman Shaw
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Unusal large pair of hand wrought Iron and steel Arts & Crafts andirons in good original condition. Dating to the late 19th Century they are very much in the manner of Aesthetic Mov...
Category

Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Iron

Antique English Tortoiseshell Root Bamboo Magazine Holder, C.1900
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in this pristine antique English Root Bamboo magazine Rack in a beautiful tortoiseshell finish, this is a 19th Century English Bamboo Magazine or Newspaper Rack I say pristine ...
Category

Early 1900s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

fractals
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

fractals
fractals
$8,580
Medium Ceramic Fabric Bowl
Located in El Segundo, CA
Exquisitely crafted, our windswept bowl is a testament to artisanal excellence. Meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in our studio, it emerges from pure white clay, resulting in...
Category

2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

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

Multi-gemstone, Rock Crystal, Gold, Silver

Aesthetic Movement Gueridon, England, Circa 1860
Located in PARIS, FR
A Japanese style lacquered table consisting of a circular top adorned with a gold nuagé lacquered decor and with red exotic flowers and scrolled foliage. The top is supported by four...
Category

1860s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Lacquer

Pair of 19th Century Hand-Painted Ceramic Plaques Seascapes 2-DM Birds
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This huge pair of "Barbotine" ceramic plaques have all the bells and whistles. Completely hand-painted with inviting seascapes, each one is surrounded with paste flowers and realisti...
Category

19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic, Porcelain

Paintings Set of Four Seasons for a Dining Room
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/5542 - What to say about this rare set of four large paintings ? It's certainly an idea for wall decoration: inside a boiserie (wooden panels) or with golden frames. in the dini...
Category

Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Canvas

Aesthetic Period Antique Silver Plate Candelabrum by Hukin & Heath, Circa 1880
Located in London, London
Made circa 1880 by Hukin & Heath, this stylish, Victorian, antique silver plated candelabrum, is a fine example of the Aesthetic Movement, featuring a textured base, and will hold 6 ...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Silver Plate

19th c Old Paris Hand Painted Porcelain Planter with Portraits of Horses
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This large square hand painted porcelain planter was made in France ca. 1880's or earlier. It features two hand painted "portraits" of horses heads alternating with 2 sides of hand p...
Category

1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

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

Hat For Table Lamp
Hat For Table Lamp
$359 Sale Price
20% Off
Antique Ornately Carved Burr & Burl Walnut Green Leather Coffee Cocktail Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning heavily carved Aesthetic Movement style Burr & Burl Walnut coffee table with green Leather top A very good looking and well made ...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Aesthetic Movement Table Lamp by Christopher Dresser
Located in Brisbane, QLD
A table lamp converted from a terracotta vase attributed to Christopher Dresser and Watcombe Terra-Cotta Co., of Torquay, Devon, England, circa 1875. The matte finish vase has been decorated with transfer prints in a neoclassical style including a Greek key around the neck. The lamp is accompanied by a hand-dyed, heavy linen shade in black with a fine wool lining. "Watcombe Pottery...
Category

19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Monumental Japanese Aesthetic Vase
Located in Litchfield, CT
This exceptional hand-painted porcelain vase by George Jones & Sons features magnificent sparrows flitting amongst lush trees and billowing clouds, circa 1880s. A superb example of the Japanese Aesthetic...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Small Ceramic Fabric Bowl
Located in El Segundo, CA
Exquisitely crafted, our windswept bowl is a testament to artisanal excellence. Meticulously handmade by skilled artisans in our studio, it emerges from pure white clay, resulting in...
Category

2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Aesthetic Movement Tromp L'Oeil Basket
Located in Montreal, QC
An American Aesthetic Movement Basket, naturalistically modeled as a bird perched on a a leafy twig, above a shallow dish simulating cloth, decorated with gilt and silvered leaves an...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

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

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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