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.
Large Farm Style Workbench Kitchen Island
Located in Sheffield, MA
Nearly 10' in length, this Industrial work table will make a wonderful kitchen island, serving table or counter area. Originally a woodworkers workbench...
Wood
$4,160Sale Price|20% Off
Cabinet Makers Work Bench, as Sideboard, Serving Table or Bar
Located in Huntington, NY
Functional early 20th century cabinet makers work bench as sideboard, serving table or bar.
Maple
French Provincial Large Kitchen Island
By Bramble
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted from solid wood and finished in a rich straw wash, this piece brings a touch of classic elegance to any kitchen area. The sturdy construction and ample storage make it both a...
Wood
$1,861
H 30.71 in W 33.86 in D 3.15 in
Space Age Vintage Red Orange Serving Table or Bar Cart 1960s Germany
Located in Vienna, AT
Space Age vintage serving cart or bar cart or gueridon in a happy making color tone red orange from laminate and metal. The bar cart shows a foldable feature. For a good mobility th...
Metal
19thC Primitive Elm Pine Butchers Work Table
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1890. 19thC Primitive elm pine butchers work table, elm legs and thick rustic pine top. Well suited as a kitchen island or prep table. ...
Elm, Pine
Antique Industrial Jeweler's Bench Work Table
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1930. We offer a most unique antique Mexican Industrial Jeweler's Bench Work Table with outstanding patina. The stool is not included.
Wood
Antique Industrial Jeweler's Bench Work Table
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1930. We offer a most unique antique Mexican Industrial Jeweler's Bench Work Table with outstanding patina. The stool and the typewriter is not included.
Wood
$1,590
H 37.5 in W 63 in D 33 in
Vintage/Antique Industrial Primitive Kitchen Island/Workbench Table, Circa 1940s
Located in Wilmington, DE
Vintage/Antique Industrial Primitive Kitchen Island/Workbench Table, Circa 1940s Offered is vintage/antique industrial/rustic style workbench, circa 1940s. This Island has spent it...
Wood
$5,400
H 37 in W 96 in D 38 in
Large 19th Century Farm Style Workbench / Kitchen Island , cast iron wheels
Located in Buffalo, NY
Nearly 9' in length, this Industrial work table will make a wonderful kitchen island, serving table or counter area. Originally a woodworkers workbench, today use it in a modern or t...
Iron
$17,500
H 36.25 in W 60 in D 25 in
French Industrial Style Kitchen Island in Steel, Bronze and Walnut Butcher Block
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
We took our inspiration from the old French Industrial look that many companies were already doing, and took it a more upscale and higher quality level. Made by our old plank worksho...
Steel, Bronze
French 19th Century Oak Kitchen Island
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A unique drapery table from Burgundy, France, dating to the late 1800s. The tall and large surface area is ideal for any creative pursuit, artistic to culinary, which makes this exam...
Oak
American Walnut Two Tier One-Drawer Server, Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
American walnut two-tier server with carved scalloped skirt, one-drawer with original wooden knobs, and terminating on turned bulbous legs, Early 19th Century.
19thC Welsh Pine Post Office Sorting Counter /Table
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1880 19thC Welsh Pine Post Office Sorting Counter/ Table with original cast iron foot brackets in place. Provenance: Post Office - Abers...
Pine
$5,410
H 44.5 in W 60.5 in D 35.5 in
Custom American Antique Industrial Farm Clipper Now Work Table Kitchen Island
Located in Forney, TX
A custom one-of-a-kind A.T Ferrell & Co. Clipper Grain Cleaner now table or kitchen island. Featuring an antique American "Clipper" grain and seed cleaner by A.T. Ferrell and Company (Saginaw, Michigan, United States), dating to the turn of the late 19th / early 20th century, repurposed and now fashioned as a work table / kitchen island, with later wooden slab tabletop, beside tole grain chute, pulley turn wheels, tiered open shelf storage and a lower drawer, in the original red paint finish, with painted maker's mark to lower drawer. circa 1900 Beautifully aged warm rustic worn weathered distressed patina from age and industrial use adds to the overall authenticity, antique character, charm, and rich historical depth that can only be acquired over long periods of time - Dimensions: (approx) Overall: 44.5" High, 60.5" Wide, 35.5" Deep - Versatile: Having the ideal size and proportions for a variety of different uses, including as a farmhouse kitchen island or chopping block cutting board stand, workbench, large console, dining room sideboard server buffet serving table, bar height cocktail drinks or wine tasting table, Victorian era center table, placed in the foyer as a striking statement piece, general store counter, retail display, or in a old fashioned restaurant as a hostess counter or decoration that's sure to garner a lot of attention! - Company History: The history of AT Ferrell dates to 1869, when John E. Smith, a steam ship captain in the civil war, built the first air / screen grain cleaner. Having returned to Ohio after the war, Smith became interested in a small water powered flour mill and needed a wheat cleaner. Lacking the funds and credit, Smith built his own cleaner, and in 1869 the first fanning mill using a vertical air blast principle was put into operation. From his naval background Smith named his new machine “Clipper” after the very fast and advanced sailing ships of the time. Smith moved on from the flour mill business and turned his interest with the help of his new cleaner to becoming a grain buyer and trader. His success in that business stimulated the idea of further developments to the cleaner. And in 1879, ten years after the first, Smith had built 20 hand operated Clippers and sold them in the surrounding counties in Northern Ohio. By 1891 having built some 200 Clipper cleaners Smith thought he had hit his peak. He also thought he had saturated the market. Not able to foresee the future and wanting to retire, he sold his little cleaner business to Albert T. Ferrell who had been an employee for eight years. By the time just prior to World War Two more than twenty thousand various models of Clipper cleaners had been produced by the A.T. Ferrell company. Today it's estimated that sixety thousand Clipper cleaners have been produced and placed into operation worldwide over the last 150 years. Many of those have long been forgotten and lost to time, especially the older models, but surviving examples are still recognizable in barns, museums, feed mills and seed plants around the world. Keywords: Late Victorian era craftsman old fashion original general store counter country fair farm tool machine machinist agriculture machinery agricultural industry heavy-duty coffee bean grinder grinding mill vice carpenter shop carpentry bench Americana advertising commercial business fixture merchant mercantile display...
Metal
Toledo Bistro Cafe Set of Two Chairs and Table
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Six Mid-Century dining chairs designed by Kai Kristiansen crafted of solid teak frames with comfortable curved back and unique half arms. Seats upholstered in the original wool texti...
Steel
Adirondack Console Twig Table
Located in Westport, CT
Beautiful twig branch Console Table -two tier ,with nice twisted vine sides,great color and design.
Studio Craft Walnut Console Table
Located in San Mateo, CA
Solid walnut console table by an anonymous California craftsman simply signed with an H on one side. This table has two large drawers and two shelves below them. This is well constru...
Walnut