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: 20th Century
Pair Estate English Aesthetic Movement Silver-Plated Candlesticks Circa 1950-60.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Estate English Aesthetic Movement Silver-Plated Candlesticks, Circa 1950-1960.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
American Aesthetic Oak Partners Desk manner Louis Comfort Tiffany
Located in Buffalo, NY
American Aesthetic Oak Partners Desk manner Louis Comfort Tiffany.. Large and handsome antique oak partner's desk, Gorgeous grain, brass hardware.carving to the massive feet.Drawers ...
Category
1920s American Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Antique German Hartleben's Volks Atlas Book World Maps
Located in Seguin, TX
Antique circa 1900 A. Hartleben's Volks-Atlas. Published by A. Hartleben's, Germany. Folio hardcover with decorated olive cloth binding and brown leather spine. Gilt title to spine...
Category
Early 20th Century German Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paper
1967 Aubrey Beardsley Book
Located in Seguin, TX
Aubrey Beardsley by Brian Reade. Published by The Viking Press, New York, 1967. An illuminating biography, and an engrossing analysis of Beardsley's aims and achievements as an art...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paper
"The Red Barn" by Gershon Benjamin
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Watercolor on paper presented in a contemporary frame measuring 19" x 25" overall. This work by Gershon Benjamin is signed in the lower right and features a classic red barn.
An ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paint, Paper
Wedgwood Grape Leaf Majolica Pitcher
By Wedgwood
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Wedgwood majolica glazed Grape Leaf Pitcher, date marked 1935.
Decorated in the round, a raised pattern showing bunches of purple grapes, greens leaves, and brown vining branches....
Category
Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
1913 Huntley & Palmers Japanese Screen Form Biscuit Tin Box
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
1913 Huntley & Palmers Japanese screen form biscuit tin box. Aesthetic Movement design 4-panel screen complete with faux leather trim - each panel well decorated. Regd No. 611071. St...
Category
Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Tin
Heywood Wakefield Wicker and Oak Table With Original Label
Located in Hudson, NY
Heywood Wakefield library table. With quarter sawn, oak top and woven wicker pedestal legs, apron, and stretcher. This wicker table drew on the Aesthetic Movement and Japanese influe...
Category
1940s American Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Oak
Highly Unusual French Majolica Rope Twist Vase or Jardiniere
Located in Atlanta, GA
Aubagne France, early 20th century.
A highly unusual French ceramic piece with beautiful brown glazed exterior and a polychrome glazed interior. The vase or jardiniere features a li...
Category
20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Mersad Berber 'Bosnia, 1940-2012' Oil on Canvas, Woman with Flowers
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Signed lower left. A lovely pensive woman dressed in 19th c. style holding flowers. She looks to the left with fruits in an abstract composition on a tab...
Category
20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Wood
Black Leather Chesterfield Sofa
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb chesterfield sofa in anthracite black leather from the 60s, made in England
Very beautiful sofa from the 60s made in England in Nothingham
Beautiful quality leather Sofa call...
Category
20th Century British Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Leather
A Library Terrestrial Globe With Wrought Iron Base
Located in Brussels, Brussels
a fine library terrestrial globe from the 60s made in Italy
Very beautiful wrought iron base of good quality resting on a tripod base
The globe is removable on its cradle for trans...
Category
20th Century Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Vintage Wicker Garden or Porch Planter Stand
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Fabulous, 1930s, tightly woven wicker plant holder with spiral turned wood legs.
Painted motif of red and black in center. High skilled craftsmanship.
Galvanized inner liner.
Category
Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Wood
Aesthetic Bamboo Gilt Iron Side Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage aesthetic style gilt metal bamboo side chair.
Category
20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
Aesthetic Bamboo Gilt Iron Arm Chair
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage aesthetic style gilt metal bamboo arm chair.
Category
20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
Pair, Antique Meissen Porcelain Ornithological & Gold Encrusted Chargers
Located in Atlanta, GA
Meissen (German, founded 1710), 20th century.
A pair of fine quality porcelain chargers depicting two hand painted birds. Each centralized ornithological bird perched on a branch is...
Category
20th Century German Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Enamel
Vintage Oval Coffee Table - Natural and White Botanical Theme
Located in Munster, IN
Whimsical and free, this vintage coffee table has never looked more fabulous. Delicate leafy vines surround a distinctly feminine facade. Stain on stain stenciling creates a natural ...
Category
Late 20th Century Unknown Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair Of Globe Wernicke Bookcases In Oak -19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant pair of large Globe Wernicke London bookcases in oak from the end of the 19th century - Early 20th century from England
The two bookcases are made up of 5 elements
The book...
Category
Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
German Majolica Bird Plate, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
German Majolica Bird Plate, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
A large, shallow ceramic vase from France 1970s
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A large, shallow ceramic vase from France, dating back to the 1970s, reminiscent of the work of Yves Mohy and the workshops of Virebent. It features abstract designs and exquisite en...
Category
1970s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Small Terrestrial Globe From J.forest - Paris
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Very beautiful little Terrestrial Globe from the beginning of the 20th century circa 1910 by J. Forest Paris Rue de Bucci
The Terrestrial Globe has a very beautiful blackened wooden...
Category
Early 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paper
Huichol Niereka Art Textile
Located in New York, NY
Mexican Huichol Niereka art textile depicting two figures, one with deer antlers shooting a bow and arrow at an anthropomorphic zoomorphic figure, housed ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Textile
Aesthetic Movement Faux Bamboo and birds eye maple Bed
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Aesthetic movement birds eye maple and birch bed, circa 1900. The inside of the headboard with faux bamboo turnings and a large birds eye maple inset panel, both inside and outside o...
Category
Early 1900s European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Birch, Birdseye Maple
Mirror 1970, style, Willy Rizzo
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Nice, FR
Rectangular mirror in speckled maple from the 1970s in the style of Willy Rizzo. In the center a mirror. Four in brass.
Beautiful workmanship. Very good above a chest of drawers or ...
Category
1970s Italian Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mirror
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
Studio Crafted Claro Walnut End Table, 1970s
By Sam Maloof
Located in Coronado, CA
A stunning, studio crafted end table constructed of solid Claro walnut, made by an unknown designer in the 1970s. The table features a large storage area, a small drawer and a pull o...
Category
1970s American Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Old Hand Painted "Fish" Tiles
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
nr. 1647 - Pair of antique "fish " tiles, hand painted under plaze. They were glued to the wall to embelish houses and gardens: I did it too at the seaside.
I have other ones, that ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Azerbaijani Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
French Bent Bamboo Mirror & Cane Hall Tree / Umbrella Stand / Coat Rack
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is one of my favorite hall trees! It is a 1950s French bent bamboo piece. It has four octagonal mirrors, multiple hooks and a lined base for umbrellas. It is in very good condit...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Cane, Mirror, Bentwood
Italian Gilt Lily Side Table
Located in Houston, TX
Vintage Italian gilt metal lily table with glass top.
Category
20th Century Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
Antique Aesthetic Foliate Carved Rosewood & Rouge Marble Side Table C1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Aesthetic side stand offers rosewood construction with and inset rouge marble top, foliate carved skirt, lower shelf and raised on straight square legs, c1910
Measures - ...
Category
Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Marble
German Majolica Swallows Plate, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
German majolica aqua plate with birds swallow and insect circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Large Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Hand Wrought Black Iron Andirons
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Large Aesthetic Movement Hand Wrought Black Iron Andirons 28” Tall By 22” deep and 16” wide. Each andiron is one piece. Great condition with just some age-appropriate wear.
Category
Early 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Aesthetic Movement Bamboo and Lacquer Etagere
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Aesthetic movement bamboo and lacquered etagere / canterbury, circa 1910. With bamboo frame work and lacquered panels. The lower section is a magazin...
Category
1910s European Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Lacquer
Rosella Glass Cake Plate by Mikasa
By Mikasa
Located in Bradenton, FL
A decorative glass plate in the Rosella pattern made by Mikasa of New Jersey. Frosted glass is etched with roses on the underside and decorated in pink, surrounded by delicate foliag...
Category
Late 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Glass
Antique Gorham Coin Silver Vase No. 335
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique silver vase.
By the Gorham Mfg. Co.
In coin silver.
The vase with a footed base, rounded body, and elongated narrow neck which opens into a wider mouth. These are v...
Category
Early 20th Century American Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver
Portuguese White Ceramic Lobster Platter
Located in Bradenton, FL
A white ceramic platter made by Sanor Ceramica of Portugal. Embossed with a coastal design, centered with a lobster amidst starfish and shells. Each end of the platter is embossed wi...
Category
Late 20th Century Portuguese Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
1910 Faux Books Biscuit Tin by Huntley & Palmers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Faux books biscuit tin box by Huntley & Palmers, 1910, English. In the form of a strapped group of generic books old red & black paint with gilt work and tan strap. Overall wear comm...
Category
1910s English Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
Heath & Middleton - Lotus Bowl - Antique Sterling Silver - London 1902
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1902 by Heath & Middleton, this wonderfully designed Antique Sterling Silver Sugar Bowl, takes the form of a blossoming lotus flower, supported on the stems o...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Cauldon Dinner Plates, Set of 12
By Cauldon
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a beautifully decorated set of 12 Cauldon dinner plates that date to the first half of the 20th century. All of the plates are in very good condition and are ready for your n...
Category
Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Large Gateleg Table In Oak
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely oak table called Gateleg
Very beautiful table which has a very beautiful turned base
Beautiful top with a thickness of 3cm
the table can be used as a dining room table, as ...
Category
20th Century British Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
c. 1930s-40s Scarlet Book Form Biscuit Tin by Huntley & Palmers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Large scarlet book form biscuit tin box by Huntley & Palmers, c.1930s-40s, English. Scarlet with black & gilt cartouche & floral designs, with gilt "pages". Overall good condition gi...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
1911 Faux Dickens Books Biscuit Tin by Huntley & Palmers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Faux books biscuit tin box by Huntley & Palmers, 1911, English. In the form of a strapped group of novels by Charles Dickens in old green & red paint with gilt work and black strap. ...
Category
1910s English Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
c. 1930s-40s Book Form Biscuit Tin by Huntley & Palmers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Large scarlet book form biscuit tin box by Huntley & Palmers, c.1930s-40s, English. Scarlet with black & gilt cartouche & floral designs, with gilt "pages". The "front cover" in very...
Category
Mid-20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
Bentwood Office Chair Model Number 704 J J Kohn For Thonet 1900s Jacob Joseph
Located in Stow on the Wold, GB
Wonderful bentwood chair, designed by Jacob and Joseph Kohn, Austria and produced by Thonet, dates from the early 1900s. Model Number 704
Retains the original embossed seat with won...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bentwood
19th-C. French Aesthetic Movement Faux Bamboo Pine & Marble Chest / Commode
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a personal favorite! This is a late 19th century French pine commode with white marble top. The marble is not attached. The piece does have dovetail construction. It is in ve...
Category
Late 20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Marble
Antique Aesthetic Style Oak and Brass Umbrella Stand. C.1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
A lovely oak and brass umbrella or stick stand.
Original patina
Nice colour of oak with brass hardware
Sturdy construction. Copper tray in the base is in good condition
Walking s...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Satchel Form Biscuit Tin by Huntley & Palmers
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A satchel purse form biscuit tin box by Huntley & Palmers, early 20th century, English. Faux snakeskin decoration with elegant details. Registration No. 48391L, 1908. All parts in go...
Category
Early 20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
Just Andersen large alloyed bronze bowl
Located in London, GB
A large alloyed bronze patinated dish bowl stamped Just Andersen Denmark and numbered 1736 X. Some wear to the patination which should be visible in the photos but otherwise a larger...
Category
1910s Danish Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
Aesthetic Movement Bamboo Corner Etagere
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic Movement bamboo corner etagere, with three faux lacquer shelves and four back back panels similarly decorated within a bamboo frame. 47...
Category
20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo, Lacquer
Maitland-Smith Faux Tortoise & Tooled Leather Bamboo Canterbury Magazine Rack
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a good looking Maitland-Smith faux tortoise and tooled leather bamboo magazine rack. It is marked and in very good condition.
Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Aesthetic Movement Carved Gilt Frame by Standford White Circa 1900
By Stanford White
Located in Peabody, MA
An original period frame with Flemish corners by the renowned architect Stanford White. Carved and signed by the New York firm of Thomas Jacobson and William C. Le Brocq, whom he com...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Aesthetic Movement Woven Bamboo Occasional Table
Located in New York, NY
Aesthetic Movement Woven Bamboo Occasional Table, on four legs conjoined by an undertier. Provenance: From a Chelsea estate.
Category
20th Century Unknown Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Acorn Shaped Ice Bucket by Teghini Firenze 1960s
By Teghini
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Bold.
Figurative.
Sleek.
Teghini Firenze designed this lovely modernist silver plated ice bucket in the 1960s.
The piece features a rounded shape with an oversized stylized acorn d...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Metal
Lydie Eyraud, Mirror, circa 1980
Located in Saint ouen, FR
Lydie Eyraud
Mirror,
circa 1980
Wood and resin
Measures: 45.5 x 45.5cm
Signed at the bottom.
Category
1980s European Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Resin, Wood
Set of 16 Wedgwood Hand Painted Artist Signed Cobalt Gilt Fish Plates
By Wedgwood
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This is a large set of 16 hand painted and artist signed A. Holland, one of Wedgwood's famous and iconic artists. These fish plates are decorated with an unusual border incorporating...
Category
1930s English Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Gorham Exotic Turkish Sterling Silver Coffeepot, 1900
Located in New York, NY
Fin-de-siecle exotic Turkish sterling silver coffeepot. Made by Gorham in Providence in 1900. Narrow ovoid bowl with cylindrical neck and round inset foot. High-looping snake scale h...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Vintage Hermes Horsebit Silver Bracelet 925, France
By Hermès
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage Hermes Silver Bracelet 925 France. Vintage silver bracelet 925 representing horse bits connected between them by straps. Original velvet...
Category
1960s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver
Paintings Set of Four Seasons
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 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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