Arts and Crafts Furniture
Emerging in reaction to industrialization and mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement celebrated handcrafted design as a part of daily life. The history of Arts and Crafts furniture has roots in 1860s England with an emphasis on natural motifs and simple flourishes like mosaics and carvings. This work is characterized by plain construction that showcases the hand of the artisan.
The earliest American Arts and Crafts furniture dates back to the start of the 20th century. Designers working in this style in the United States initially looked to ideas put forth by The Craftsman, a magazine published by Wisconsin native Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker and founder of the Craftsman style. Stickley’s furniture was practical and largely free of ornament. His Craftsman style drew on French Art Nouveau as well as the work he encountered on his travels in England. There, the leading designers of the Arts and Crafts movement included William Morris, who revived historical techniques such as embroidery and printed fabrics in his furnishings, and Charles Voysey, whose minimal approach was in contrast to the ornamentation favored in the Victorian era.
American Arts and Crafts work would come to involve a range of influences unified by an elevation of traditional craftsmanship. The furniture was often built from sturdy woods like oak and mahogany while featuring details such as inlaid metal, tooled leather and ceramic tiles. The style in the United States was led by Stickley, whose clean-lined chairs and benches showcased the grain of the wood, and furniture maker Charles Rohlfs, who was informed by international influences like East Asian and French Art Nouveau design.
Hubs in America included several utopian communities such as Rose Valley in Pennsylvania and the Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony in New York, where craftspeople made furniture that prioritized function over any decoration. Their work would influence designers and architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, who built some of the most elegant and iconic structures in the United States and likewise embraced a thoughtful use of materials in his furniture.
Find antique Arts and Crafts chairs, tables, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.
Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Furniture
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Glass, Oak
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Furniture
Alabaster, Metal, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary English Arts and Crafts Furniture
Cotton, Fabric, Velvet
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Glass, Oak
Mid-20th Century German Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wood
1890s British Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Copper
Early 1900s French Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Leather, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Ukrainian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century Unknown Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Resin
1960s Italian Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Tapestry, Velvet, Trimming
Early 20th Century North American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Earthenware
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
1930s Spanish Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wood
19th Century Dutch Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal
2010s American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Oak
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Chestnut
Early 20th Century Arts and Crafts Furniture
Pottery
Early 20th Century Central Asian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Paper
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century French Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century European Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wrought Iron
2010s American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Walnut
2010s Turkish Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Marble
2010s American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Maple
Late 20th Century Turkish Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wool
20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Pottery
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Slag Glass
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Cherry
Early 20th Century Dutch Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
Late 19th Century Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Copper
Early 20th Century Indonesian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Bronze
1910s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Art Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Arts and Crafts Furniture
Art Glass
1950s Italian Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Early 20th Century American Arts and Crafts Furniture
Glass, Oak
1890s British Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century English Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wrought Iron
1910s Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Ceramic
1960s Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
1950s Italian Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
1950s Italian Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
1920s American Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Oak
1940s Vintage Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wool
Late 19th Century American Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Wood
Late 19th Century English Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Brass
2010s French Arts and Crafts Furniture
Steel
1880s English Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Stoneware
Late 19th Century English Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Terracotta
Late 19th Century French Antique Arts and Crafts Furniture
Bronze