Inspired by the Arts & Crafts style in England, which rebelled against the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution with a proud emphasis on handcrafted design, American Craftsman style similarly pushed against the lavishness of the Victorian era. Coined by Wisconsin-born Gustav Stickley, a furniture designer and publisher of The Craftsman magazine, American Craftsman furniture would influence homegrown styles that followed, such as Mission and the Prairie School.
Like the popular early 20th-century Craftsman houses — which feature meticulous woodwork on everything from built-in bookcases in the living room and cabinetry in the kitchen to earth-toned exteriors with exposed rafters — American Craftsman furniture was all about handmade storage cabinets, bedroom furniture, chairs and other pieces built with organic materials. “Simplicity and straightforwardness of construction has always been the leading characteristic of Craftsman furniture,” Stickley stated. And while he is often credited with most of the designs at the Craftsman Workshops in Eastwood, New York, others such as Harvey Ellis were influential in shaping the straight-backed chairs, beds with vertical slats and tables with exposed joinery that came to define the style.
Highly utilitarian with no unnecessary flair, American Craftsman furniture was designed to emphasize the essence of its modest construction and promote the natural beauty of the wood. Solid oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany were all favored by the movement’s principal figures. Another attribute commonly associated with the style is the integration of subtle details like tooled leather, inlaid metal and hammered iron handles.
Owing to the outbreak of World War I, the popularity of American Craftsman style waned as consumer spending dropped and furniture companies shifted to the production of wartime materials and goods specified in government contracts. Yet, by the 1960s, there was a renewed appreciation for this foundational modern American style, with Stickley and his contemporaries in demand for the clean, simple lines and sturdy construction of American Craftsman furniture.
Find a collection of antique American Craftsman chests, nightstands, seating, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
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Bill W. Sanders Studio Craft Oak Bar Cart with Bicycle Wheels, USA, 1970s
Located in Oceanside, US
Sculptural bicycle cart by American artist Bill W. Sanders, known for his playful yet refined approach to functional art. This handcrafted metal piece bea...
Oak
Vintage 1950s Italian bar cart made of green metal and brass
By Mice di rugiano domenico e c. s.n.c.
Located in Cantù, IT
Vintage 1950s Italian bar cart made of green metal and brass
Metal, Brass
Italian Design Mid-Century Bar Cart, 1950s
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Rare 1950s Italian desgin serving bar cart. Made of beech wood equipped with two glass shelves and brass wheels for convenient movement. Perfect for serving drinks to your guests. Vi...
Glass, Beech
Vintage 1960s Italian Marquetry Bar Cart with Brass Gallery & Wheels
Located in Portsmouth, VA
Entertaining always feels more special when the details are beautiful. This vintage Italian bar cart isn’t just functional — it’s a statement piece with timeless charm. Crafted in It...
Brass
Italian Brass Bar Cart, 1950s.
Located in Palermo, IT
Italian brass bar cart, 1950s. Glass shelves. Elegant and in good condition. 4 swivel wheels. Minor signs of wear. We guarantee prompt shipping in a wooden crate with appropriate pac...
Brass
Italian Brass Bar Cart with Smoked Glass Shelves 1970s
Located in Winter Park, FL
An Italian Hollywood Regency style brass plated bar cart. Smoked glass shelves with dark paned border. Simple bar handle. Bottle rack on the lower shelf. Wheels run smoothly. In good...
Brass
$950
H 29.5 in W 27.5 in D 16.5 in
Modern Two-Tier Bar Cart, Chrome and Glass, Mirrored Edges, USA, 1970s
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Modern two-tier bar cart with inset glass tops with mirrored edged detail and castor wheels. Height top of handles 29.5" height to top 2nd shelf 25.5".
Metal
Cesare Lacca, Bar Cart, Wood, Glass, Brass, Italy, 1950s
By Cesare Lacca
Located in High Point, NC
A wood, brass and glass bar cart designed by Cesare Lacca, Italy, c. 1950s. Minor imperfections to glass. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inches): 25.65"H x ...
Brass
Cesare Lacca, Bar Cart, Wood, Glass, Metal, Italy, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A wood, metal and glass bar cart designed by Cesare Lacca, Italy, c. 1950s. Wear consistent with age and use, including natural cracking of lower shelf top surface. Removable servi...
Metal
Vintage Brass Bar Cart by Cesare Lacca, Italy, 1950s.
By Cesare Lacca
Located in Catania, CT
This brass bar or service cart, designed by Cesare Lacca and produced in Italy in the 1950s, is in very good vintage condition and shows typical signs of age and use, consistent with...
Brass
Hollywood Regency Bar Cart Italy 1970s
By Hollywood Glam
Located in Čelinac, BA
Hollywood Regency Bar Cart Italy 1970s
Gold Plate
Salterini, Bar Cart, Iron, Italy, 1950s
By Salterini
Located in High Point, NC
A black-lacquered iron bar cart or serving cart produced by Salterini, Italy, c. 1950s. Overall Dimensions (inches): 34.7"H x 19.5"W x 32.25"D All items ship from High Point, North...
Iron
$3,039
H 25.4 in W 27.17 in D 19.69 in
Cesare Lacca Brass and Rosewood Mid-Century Bar Cart, Italy, 1950s
By (After) Gio Ponti, Cesare Lacca
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular and unique Italian bar trolley in solid rosewood and brass. This incredibly stylish piece was designed by Cesare Lacca and produced in Italy during the 1950s. Fully orig...
Brass
Rare Arthur Umanoff Bar Serving Cart, 1970s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
STUNNING ARTHUR UMANOFF BAR CART, 1970 Painted steel, oak, wheels. Produced by David Morgan, USA A fantastically functional California Modern design piece that exemplifies Umanoff’s singular architectural aesthetic. Has a drawer, two trays and six bottle cubbies accessible from either side. Constructed of oak with an enameled steel frame, chrome handle, swiveling caster and bicycle wheels with solid rubber tires. 40" H x 39" W x 20" D. Condition Overall very good condition. Occasional minor surface wear. We currently have this bar cart paired with a a Lou Hodges desk...
Iron, Steel