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
Aesthetic Design Antique Sterling Silver Chamberstick by Heath & Middleton 1891
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1891 by Heath & Middleton, this enchanting Victorian, Antique, Sterling Silver Chamberstick is a superb example of the naturalistic bark effect popularise...
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
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
$200 Sale Price
20% Off
Victorian Antique Centrepiece Vase, Ram Horn, Glass & Silverplate, Circa 1880
Located in London, London
Made circa 1880, this striking, Victorian, antique silver plated centrepiece, stands on Ram horn legs, and features a varicoloured glass dish and trumpet vase. The centrepiece measur...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Aesthetic Period & Design English Sterling Silver Bowl, London 1879
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1879 by Martin, Hall & Co., this stunning, Antique Sterling Silver Bowl, is in the Aesthetic taste, featuring cast and applied floral and butterfly detailing,...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Midnight Morris
Located in Kuala Lumpur, MY
Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire. I do wander everywhere.
Category
2010s Thai Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool, Bamboo
$14,900 / item
Nacre and Gold Porcelain Plate by Hania Jneid
By Hania Jneid
Located in BARCELONA, ES
This is a numbered piece in fine porcelain designed and hand built by artist - designer Hania Jneid. Unique piece hand glazed and ornamented in Gold lustre. It is functional as well ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
$4,422 Sale Price / set
20% Off
19th Century Aesthetic Movement Doulton Burslem Figural Grape Stand Centerpiece
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This figural porcelain grape stand and holder is decorated with whimsical mushrooms encircling the "faux branch" to hold the grapes. It is embellished with...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Aesthetic Period, Antique Silver Plate Candelabrum, 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 plain base, and will hold 6 can...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Large Gothic Style Bronze Eight-Light Chandelier
Located in Montreal, QC
This late 19th century Gothic style patinated bronze chandelier was once a gasolier,. It has eight arms, four flowing down from the foliate decorated crown . The other four upturn...
Category
19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$11,520 Sale Price
20% Off
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
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
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
SUPER RARE ANTiQUE VICTORIAN AESTHETIC MOVEMENT ARMCHAIR WITH GRAND TOUR PLAQUES
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare and totally original Aesthetic Movement, Victorian circa 1840-1860 Library armchair with ins...
Category
1840s European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
$4,422 Sale Price
20% Off
fractals
By John Brevard
Located in Coral Gables, FL
John Brevard's new silk tufted rug collection is a masterful interplay of fractals and sacred geometries, each piece a testament to the elegance of mathematical symmetry in design. H...
Category
2010s Spanish Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silk
$8,580
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
$21,518 / set
Stanford White Style Mirror
Located in New York, NY
Early 20th century American style frame in the Stanford White design. Cast and gilded, 29" x 25". Available in other sizes, please inquire.
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
$7,500 / item
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
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
ANTiQUE CIRCA 1880 AESTHETIC MOVEMENT BAMBOO CARVED CHINESE MAGAZINE PAPER RACK
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare and highly collectable Aesthetic Movement Chinese ha...
Category
1880s Chinese Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
$951 Sale Price
20% Off
Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Brass Standing Floor Lamp
Located in Long Island City, NY
Late 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Brass Standing Floor Lamp.
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
19th Century Aesthetic movement brass spirit kettle Circa 1890
Located in Central England, GB
A 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Spirit Kettle
A late 19th century Aesthetic movement Spirit Kettle. This opulent and beautifully made piece is made from brass with gold plated surfaces which is in excellent condition. It is of a wonderful design, very reminiscent of a piece of Christopher Dresser's work. It is made in five pieces; stand, burner and cover, kettle and lid. The kettle has a woven wicker handle and the lid and burner have an ebonised wooden knob and handle...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
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
$165 / item
Pair of Signed Allen Wedgwood Hand Painted Porcelain Plaques of Children
By Wedgwood
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This exquisite pair of hand-painted Wedgwood porcelain plaques, painted by Thomas Allen, is a beautiful example of the Aesthetic Movement. The delicate, intricate designs and vibrant...
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Micro Mosaic Pen Holder
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Micro mosaic Moorish pen holder: simply beautiful ! Elegant sitting on Your desk.
It must not remain near heat sources because the mosaic could be damag...
Category
Late 20th Century Moroccan Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Pair of Fern Wall Brackets
Located in New York, NY
American, circa 1850-1880.
Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), with wire armature and composition ornament, gessoed
and gilded.
Measures: 14 1/8 in. high, 16 5/16 in. wide (at the sh...
Category
19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
$55,000 / set
Gillows of Lancaster Aesthetic Movement Amboyna Burr Walnut Occasional Table
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare, fully restored, super quality Gillows of Lancaster & London Amboyna wood & burr walnut eboni...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$6,157 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair 19th c. Wedgwood Aesthetic Movement Porcelain Plaques Thomas Allen
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This pair of unusual porcelain plaques depict two young women in period dress against gold background panels. The acid etched panels are decorated with an all-over Aesthetic Movement motif depicting peacock feathers and surrounded by sheaves of wheat. The painting of the women is finely done and very detailed in a thick enamelled application. One is playing with a stick-toy doll and the other with wheat and a toy broom.
Unsigned but attributed to Thomas Allen...
Category
19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
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
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
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
$1,260 Sale Price
30% Off
Mirrored Tulips
Located in Kuala Lumpur, MY
Reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, Omar Khan composes symmetrical flowers in swathes of ombre periwinkle tones that rhythmically dance across the face of the...
Category
2010s Thai Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wool
$14,400 / item
A Mahogany Display Cabinet Circa 1900
Located in London, GB
A fine mahogany display cabinet, circa 1900, likely a transitional piece with influences from the earlier Aesthetic Movement. The cabinet showcases clean lines, elegant detailing, an...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
$2,694 Sale Price
30% Off
Monumental Overmantel or Pier Mirror in the Aesthetic Taste
Located in New York, NY
American, third quarter of the 19th century.
Pine, gessoed and gilded, with mirror plate.
Measures: 81 ½ in. high, 59 ½ in. wide.
Condition: Excellent. The gilding has been cleaned and very, very slightly inglided as necessary. The ball at the upper left was missing and has been replicated based upon...
Category
19th Century American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Pine
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
Pair of Geometric 19th Century Wood Occasional Tables
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These ebonized wood tables or stools from the English Aesthetic Movement showcase spare, geometric designs adorned with traces of gilt. The craftsmanship emphasizes the movement's fa...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Aesthetic Movement Side Chair in Walnut by E.W. Godwin, circa 1885
By Goodwin
Located in Faversham, GB
Aesthetic Movement walnut and rush seated chair by E.W. Godwin for William Smee & Son, London. Turned spindle and dowel back with legs united by six-shaped ...
Category
19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Bamboo, Cane, Rush
$1,959 Sale Price
20% Off
Handwoven Telephone Wire Accent, Moutarde
Located in Jersey City, NJ
With a vibrant mix of modern touches, our handwoven telephone wire accent is the ultimate piece for an elegant yet creative design. The curated collecti...
Category
2010s South African Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wire
$280 Sale Price
20% Off
Fabri Sculptural Table
By John Brevard
Located in Coral Gables, FL
This unique piece combines iron (a product of our tectonic era) and petrified wood (a timeless material with memory of the past). This series was created by John Brevard in 2010.
...
Category
2010s American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Iron
$76,950
French Repousse Silver Table
Located in Stamford, CT
A French rectangular table with repousse silver plaques and inlay. Primary woods is walnut with ebonized wood trim and pewter legs.
Category
19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Pewter
$14,900
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
Lighting Italy, Sconce, xx Th
Located in Nice, FR
a single light, brass structure, a very beautiful Murano glass plate. Application of a geometric design on the glass plate. Single model.
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Rare 19th Century Pair of Black Lacquered Aesthetic Movement Étagère Tables
Located in London, GB
A pair of black lacquered Étagères
In the early aesthetic Manner
The circular tables having lacquered surfaces with a striking sheen, highlig...
Category
19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair Lamps, Modernist, Metal, Geometric
Located in Nice, FR
Pair of lamps, modernist, composed of a lampshade of a gray metal sphere and a fabric lampshade. Palm style beech wood. The pair of Lamps is a creation, it is not mass-produced. Ampo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Beech
$1,434 / set
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
ANTIQUE VICTORIAN AESTHETIC MOVEMENT STYLE TiLED TOP CHESSBOARD CHESS TABLE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning antique Victorian Mahogany games table with Chessboard Tiled top and stamped to the base with ...
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Hardwood
$1,511 Sale Price
20% Off
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.