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.
Jas Shoolbred Attri, An Aesthetic Movement octagonal shaped centre table
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred Attri, An Aesthetic Movement Octagonal Shaped Centre Table with lower shelf and turned cross stretchers below.
Oak
An Aesthetic Movement Walnut & Gilt Octagonal Centre Table
Located in London, GB
Hewetson & Thexton, in the style of Bruce Talbert. An Aesthetic Movement walnut and gilt octagonal centre table with ring and spiral turned legs terminating in turned finials, united...
Walnut
19th C. Burled Walnut Oval Table In Aesthetic Style
Located in Bridgeport, CT
With a book matched burled top, inlaid scrolled decorated banding, and a burled apron. Raised on four turned supports with a turned finial. Mounted on four carved leafy scrolled oak ...
Glass, Satinwood, Walnut, Burl
Gillows attr, Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Mahogany Centre Table with Amboyna top
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in London, GB
Gillows attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Mahogany Octagonal Centre Table with a wonderful burr Amboyna top with line inlay and ebonized to the edges. The four turned legs...
Mahogany, Walnut
Jas Shoolbred attri. An Aesthetic Movement octagonal walnut side table
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred attributed An octagonal Walnut centre table with central shelf, carved circular details to the legs, united by lower cross stretchers.
Walnut
19th Century English Satinwood and Coromandel Folio Stand by Jackson & Graham
By Jackson & Graham
Located in London, GB
A Coromandel and Satinwood Folio Stand Firmly attributed to Jackson & Graham Constructed from richly figured coromandel and banded with satinwood and New Zealand honeysuckle, the fo...
Macassar, Satinwood
Collinson & Lock attributed. An Aesthetic Movement walnut octagonal center table
Located in London, GB
Collinson & Lock attributed. An Aesthetic Movement walnut six leg octagonal two tier center table with fine turned legs and out swept feet. The construction has radiating stretchers ...
Walnut
Charles Bevan, Marsh, Jones & Cribb An Aesthetic Movement D End Centre Table
By Charles Bevan, Marsh, Jones & Cribb
Located in London, GB
Charles Bevan attributed, made by Marsh, Jones and Cribb. An Aesthetic Movement walnut centre table with ebony line inlaid details. The rectangular top with D ends, turned legs wit...
Ebony, Walnut
Rare Gillow & Co 1852-1857 Aesthetic Movement Burr Walnut Ebonised Dining Table
By Gillows of Lancaster & London
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this very rare circa 1852-1857 Gillow & Co Lancaster attributed burr walnut and ebonished wood occasional or dining table A very rare and well made piece...
Walnut
Jas Shoolbred. An Aesthetic Movement walnut octagonal center table
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred. An octagonal walnut center table with central shelf, carved circular scroll details to the legs on castors, united by lower cross stretchers.
Walnut
Portuguese Pedestal Table -19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Elegant Portuguese oak pedestal table from the 19th century Very beautiful center table which with its rustic side stands out from the usual pedestal tables Very beautiful one-piece...
Oak
19th Century Oval Centre Table
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
A nicely shaped 19th Century oval rosewood centre table, the tilt top with gadrooned edge and shallow frieze, raised on a a carved vase shaped column with four splay legs, carved lap...
Rosewood
19th Century English Regency Mahogany Window Table
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality Regency flame mahogany centre table/ window table. The top of the table has a nicely banded edge, surrounding a flame mahogany ...
Mahogany
19th Century English Aesthetic Movement Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century English Aesthetic Movement side table made of oak with decorative stick and ball design. Square wood body with curved and rounded bentwood trim and brass accents. Stur...
Brass
Aesthetic Movement Mahogany Tea Table
Located in Petworth, GB
Aesthetic Movement mahogany tea table with Japanese inspired detailing Side hand rails an stylised fretwork Circa 1875 Width 65cm. Depth 33.5cm. Height 73cm
Mahogany
Coffee Table, Centre Table
Located in London, Park Royal
Louis XV style coffee table made by La Maison London. Rocaille revival style, hand-carved in solid wood, finished in hand-painted gesso white. Deep button upholstery with a raspber...
Wood
$2,005
H 30 in W 42.5 in D 42.5 in
Brooks Mission Oak Octagonal Center Hall Table — Arts & Crafts Slat-Sided
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A handsome Arts and Crafts octagonal side table by Brooks, crafted in quarter-sawn oak with the rich, deep patina characteristic of early 20th-century Mission furniture. The octagona...
Oak
Carved 19th century oval center table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
Carved mahogany 19th century oval center table circa 1890. Elegant piece of Scandinavian furniture making. Oval top with moulded edge and applied moulding around the bottom edge of...
Mahogany
$3,990Sale Price|33% Off
H 29 in Dm 46.75 in
Antique English Regency Style Geo, IV Figured Mahogany Tilt-Top Circular Table
Located in CHARLESTON, SC
Fabulous quality antique English Regency period Geo. IV figured SOLID mahogany tilt-top circular table ; Please note superb triangular shape pedestal with hand-carved hairy paw feet....
Mahogany
$11,500
H 28.5 in W 55 in D 58.5 in
An Octagonal Center Table with Verde Antico Top & Michael Taylor Faux Stone Base
Located in San Francisco, CA
the octagonal forest-green marble top with painted inlaid scrollwork surrounded by floral and foliate decoration; all raised on a neoclassical style Michael Taylor...
Marble
20th Century Wood English Octagonal Side Table, 1920s
Located in Vicoforte, Piedmont
English side table from the first half of the 20th century. Furniture in palisander, maple, mahogany and fruitwood of beautiful line and pleasant decor. Octagonal table of good measu...
Wood
19th Century Swedish Oval Table
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
19th Century Swedish oval table with one single drawer. Detailed with carved decorative dolphins around a column curtailing to lions paw feet.
Wood
19th c. Italian Walnut Center Table
Located in Dallas, TX
This 19th c. Italian Walnut Center Table is a stunning piece . Featuring a pretty wood base and original marble. Lovely! Circa 1870 31.5h x 39w
Marble
Aesthetic Movement Mahogany Occasional Table
Located in Astoria, NY
Aesthetic Movement Mahogany Occasional Table, late 19th century. 28" H x 28.5" W x 20" D. Provenance: From an East Village Estate.
Mahogany
19th Century carved oak and marble center table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century carved oak and marble center table circa 1880. Fine quality circular marble top center table. White marble with grey veining and rounded edge, sits on a frieze of carv...
Marble
Antique Moroccan Architectural Inlaid Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive 19th century Moroccan center table crafted in walnut having a rectangular top with a center medallion, diamond form corners and a border with inlaid geometric forms of bon...
Bone, Mother-of-Pearl, Ebony, Walnut
French Art-Nouveau Bamboo Center Table or Tea Table, 1890-1910
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This is a stunning French Art-Nouveau Bamboo Center Table or Tea Table This is the same period as the Aesthetic Mouvement in England during that time period, 1890-1910.. The table t...
Bamboo
Antique British Colonial Victorian Zebra Top Safari Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and unusual 19th century English table or stand with a round top covered in zebra with brass tacks over an aesthetics movement base having four turned legs connected by cross st...
Zebra Hide
Sold
H 28.63 in W 31 in D 31 in
Rare Aesthetic Movement Ebonized Center Table w/ Bronze Masks ca. 1870
By Pottier & Stymus
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A RARE AESTHETIC MOVEMENT EBONIZED MARQUETRY-INLAID PARCEL GILT CENTER TABLE WITH BRONZE MASKS OF DIANA OF ANET In the manner of Pottier & Stymus of New York unmarked ca. 1870 Item...
Bronze
Beautiful Architectural Wicker Table with Quartersawn Oak Top
Located in Hudson, NY
This is an exceptional Hayward Brothers wicker table with quartersawn oak top. Circa 1900 and an excellent original condition. Architecturally and deta...
Wicker, Oak
19th Century English Tortoise Bamboo Trompe L'oeil Centre Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Whimsical 19th century English aesthetic movement occasional table, center table, or games table crafted from radiant tortoise shell bamboo. The two-tier table features a trompe l'oeil decorated top on both tiers with decoupage playing cards on a black background with a rope border. The top of the games table is square with clipped corners. The legs are crafted from thick bamboo poles...
Bamboo, Wood, Paper
Mosaic table, iron foot, 1960, unique piece
Located in Nice, FR
Table or pedestal table with a mosaic top, iron base, all made in the old fashioned way, in an antique way, the mosaics are highlighted, unique piece. The outline of the mosaic tray...
Belgian Black Marble
Sold
H 27.5 in W 37.5 in D 37.5 in
Gillows, an Aesthetic Movement Oak Octagonal Drop-Leaf Centre Table with Florets
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Bruce James Talbert
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert attributed for Gillows of Lancaster and London. A rare Aesthetic Movement oak octagonal drop-leaf centre or dining table with wonderful figuring to the top. On one sid...
Oak
Antique Aesthetic Style Oak Library Table or Desk, circa 1900
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Most unusual library table or desk. Designer unknown Beautiful golden oak. It is freestanding, finished all the way round. No drawers In aesthetic style. There are elemen...
Oak
19th Century Oak and Copper Aesthetic Movement Center Table
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century oak and copper aesthetic movement center table, circa 1890. Stickley style pedestal table with silk painted top circa 1890. Hand painted and signed silk floral undern...
Oak