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: Early 1900s
Aesthetic Movement Tiger Bamboo Bat Wing Bar
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Early 20th century Aesthetic Movement tiger bamboo small 2 person bat wing bar with a unique batwing bar top and small 2 shelf cabinet along the back.
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
1906 Set of Seven King Pattern Sterling Silver Knives by Dominick & Haff
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 7 King pattern sterling silver hollow handle luncheon knives by Dominick & Haff, 1906. HHW monogram, engraved 1906 obverse.
8 3/8" x 3/4".
Whitehall Antiques is a family busi...
Category
Early 1900s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Large Scale Meiji Japanese Bronze Table Lamp W/ Floral Candelabra Mounts
Located in Atlanta, GA
Japanese, circa 1900.
A pair of antique Japanese bronze table lamps. The lamps feature a detailed body showcasing applied lotus blossom and bird motifs to center, traditional Japanese motifs throughout and good quality guardian handles to each.
These have a very unusual blossom floral and vine...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Sarreguemines French Majolica Laughing Sow Absinthe Water Pitcher
Located in Philadelphia, PA
From Sarreguemines, a French Majolica pig pitcher known as True Rieuse, or the Laughing Sow, date marked 1904.
This Barbotine majolica pitcher...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Earthenware
c. 1900 Brass Book Slide by Judd Mfg. Co., CT.
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Expanding, folding brass book slide with cast iron camels by Judd Mfg. Co., CT., c.1900. The camels cold painted with patinated bases symbolic of pharaonic Egypt. Brass & steel mecha...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass, Iron
Theresienthal enamel decanter and two liqueur glasses c1907
Located in Worcester Park, GB
Super Theresienthal set -a large clear and enamel decanter and two small liqueur glasses, decorated in green and yellow translucent enamel swags and garlands in a classic Aesthetic M...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Art Glass
Porcelain Oyster Plate With Shells, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Porcelain Oyster Plate With Shells, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Small Majolica Frog Jerome Massier, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Small Rare Majolica frog Jerome Massier, circa 1900.
Reference / Page 118,119 "Barbotines de la Cote d 'Azur" of M.Bottero.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Small Majolica Frog Jerome Massier, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Small Rare Majolica frog Jerome Massier, circa 1900.
Reference / Page 118,119 "Barbotines de la Cote d 'Azur" of M.Bottero.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Set of 12 KPM Dessert Plates with Hand Painted Fruit Pierced & Gilt Borders
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of KPM porcelain dessert plates are exceptional as they feature interesting and more unusual fruit subjects. The plates have the name of the fruit subject painted on the rev...
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Small Majolica Frog Jerome Massier, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Small Rare Majolica frog Jerome Massier, circa 1900.
Reference / Page 118,119 "Barbotines de la Cote d 'Azur" of M.Bottero.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Circa 1900 Japanese Bronze Champleve Enamel Large Vase
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Circa !900 Japanese Large well shaped bronze champleve enameled vase..
Six paneled sides with Asian themed engravings on each panel.With two ringed handles. Original warm amber brow...
Category
Early 1900s Japanese Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Enamel
Royal Worcester Aesthetic Movement Pierced Oriental Blush Spill Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual Royal Worcester ‘Aesthetic Movement’ porcelain pierced spill vase decorated in the oriental style with a building set amidst bambo...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Majolica Frog on Lily Pad Jerome Massier, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Rare Majolica frog on a green lily pad leaf Jerome Massier, circa 1900.
Reference / Page 118,119 "Barbotines de la Cote d 'Azur" of M.Bottero.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
French Majolica Bird Plate Keller & Guerin Saint Clement circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica bird plate Keller & Guerin Saint Clement circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
Porcelain Oyster Plate with Seaweeds Limoges, circa 1900
By Limoges
Located in Austin, TX
French porcelain oyster plate with seaweeds Limoges, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Italian Walnut Framed Mirror
Located in East Hampton, NY
A simple and elegant Italian walnut wall mirror with a tiered wood frame. ALL original and in wonderful aged condition.
Category
Early 1900s Italian Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
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
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
Antique Silver Aesthetic Rose Bowl
Located in London, GB
This amazing antique Edwardian sterling silver bowl is entirely handmade and styled after a Chinese design. The reliefs of chrysanthemums and fighting cocks are exceptional, being ha...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
Edwards & Roberts, Queen Anne Revival Swan Neck Inlaid Mahogany Wall Cabinet
Located in London, GB
Edwards & Roberts.
An Edwardian Aesthetic Movement Queen Anne Revival mahogany wall cabinet with floral inlaid swan neck pediment and chequer and line in...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Limoges Enamel Plaque “La Fileuse”
By Limoges
Located in Dallas, TX
A large enamel on a convened copper plaque. The scene is of a seated elderly woman looming cotton or wool yarn, Circa 1900. Hand painted then baked on in a oven by Limoges.
Signed “...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Copper
Limoges Enamel Plaque “La Fileuse”
By Limoges
Located in Dallas, TX
A large Limoges enamel painting on a convexed copper plaque. The scene is of a mother and daughter sitting in front of a fireplace drying yarn while the...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Copper
12 Coalport Green Raised Paste Gold & Hand Painted Bird Reserves & Named Birds
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This set of 12 Coalport 19th century dessert plates are the perfect solution to serving and enjoying the quality decoration of hand painted game birds. Each bird is named on the back...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
8 Spode Aesthetic Movement Hand Painted Blue & Ivory Floral Dessert Plates
By Spode
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
Large English Bird Plate Mintons, circa 1900
By Minton
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
Large English Bird Plate Mintons, circa 1900
By Minton
Located in Austin, TX
Large English blue bird plate in a landscape signed Mintons (mark 1873 to 1912).
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic
WMF. An Aesthetic Movement Copper Chamber Candlestick in the Dr C Dresser Style
Located in London, GB
WMF. An Aesthetic Movement Copper Chamber Candlestick and match book holder in the Dr C Dresser Style.
Category
Early 1900s German Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Copper
English Arts & Crafts Wooden Carved Wood Side Table
Located in Montreal, QC
Great Arts & Craft period carved wood octagonal side table with Celtic style design. Bearing label under top: Bowman Brothers, Camden town, London , NW 1.
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of 12 Cauldon Hand-Painted "Flower Arrangement" Dessert Plates, Cobalt Blue
Located in Great Barrington, MA
A decorative and beautifully hand-painted set of 12 Cauldon dessert plates with shaped rims trimmed in gold with central floral decoration. Each plate depicts a unique flower arrange...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Set of 12 Cauldon Aesthetic Movement Hand-Painted Aquatic Plates, Artist Signed
By Cauldon
Located in Great Barrington, MA
There are fish plates and then there are these plates! The sea-foam green ground is the perfect foil for the hand-painted borders which are divided into five reserves featuring vario...
Category
Early 1900s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
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
Restored Tiger Tortoise Bamboo Serving Dining Tray
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Also known as "Tortoise Shell" or "English Rattan" this serving meal tray is perfect for breakfast in bed or dining on your sofa in style. Featuring a d...
Category
Early 1900s Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Rattan
Thomas Jeckyll, Aesthetic Movement Fire Insert, Made by Barnard Bishop & Barnard
Located in London, GB
Thomas Jeckyll. An Aesthetic Movement cast iron fire insert with stylized flower details.
Made by Barnard Bishop and Barnard of Norwich.
This insert takes ten standard 6 inch squar...
Category
Early 1900s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Iron
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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