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Rustic Decorative Art

RUSTIC STYLE

For some, the phrase “rustic style” suggests a house like “La Pitchoune,” the late chef Julia Child’s cottage in Provence, with its exposed wooden beams and well-worn antique furniture. For others, rustic furnishings and decor prompt images of a place like the Lake Placid Lodge in Upstate New York, with its stone fireplaces and knotty pine paneling. Indeed, rustic furniture design takes many forms: twig furniture, a plank trestle table, a hand-stitched quilt, a chandelier made of deer antlers.

The rustic style originated in the late 1800s in England, where it was heavily influenced by Romanticism. By the 20th century, it had spread to the United States, adopted by wealthy New Yorkers and the National Park Service alike. Although there are many categories of rustic furniture, one of the most popular and familiar manifestations of the style is Adirondack furniture and the low-slung 1903 Thomas Lee Adirondack chair.

Rustic design is perhaps mostly about texture and humble materials: hand-hewn reclaimed wood, woven rush seating, wrought iron, coarse stone and weathered metal. As a decor, it exudes warmth and honesty, while a single piece of countrified design adds an intriguing visual counterpoint in a sleek, modern environment.

Easily identifiable by its rough textures, earthy colors and natural materials, rustic wares help bring the beauty of the outdoors inside.

As you can see on 1stDibs, vintage rustic chairs, dining tables and other pieces of rustic furniture offer endless inspiration.

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Style: Rustic
19th Century French Green Majolica Oyster Plate
19th Century French Green Majolica Oyster Plate

19th Century French Green Majolica Oyster Plate

Located in Austin, TX

Colorful French Majolica green oyster plate with stylized leaves, circa 1890. Very rare color.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

German Majolica Leaves & Ferns Plate, Circa 1890
German Majolica Leaves & Ferns Plate, Circa 1890

German Majolica Leaves & Ferns Plate, Circa 1890

Located in Austin, TX

German Majolica Leaves & Ferns Plate, Circa 1890.

Category

1890s German Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Majolica Oyster Plate Longchamp Circa 1890
Majolica Oyster Plate Longchamp Circa 1890

Majolica Oyster Plate Longchamp Circa 1890

By Longchamp

Located in Austin, TX

Rare yellow Majolica oyster plate, six white wells on a yellow basket weave, circa 1890 signed Longchamp.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century French Majolica Flowers Plate
19th Century French Majolica Flowers Plate

19th Century French Majolica Flowers Plate

Located in Austin, TX

19th Century French Majolica flowers plate.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Large French Majolica Bulldog Wall Platter Circa 1890
Large French Majolica Bulldog Wall Platter Circa 1890

Large French Majolica Bulldog Wall Platter Circa 1890

Located in Austin, TX

Large French Majolica Bulldog Wall Platter Circa 1890. Diameter / 11.3 inches.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Majolica, Ceramic

French, Majolica Bird Plate Onnaing, circa 1890
French, Majolica Bird Plate Onnaing, circa 1890

French, Majolica Bird Plate Onnaing, circa 1890

By Onnaing

Located in Austin, TX

French majolica plate with bird and white flowers Onnaing, circa 1890.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

French Majolica Moon Wall Plate, circa 1880
French Majolica Moon Wall Plate, circa 1880

French Majolica Moon Wall Plate, circa 1880

Located in Austin, TX

Unusual French yellow Majolica moon plate with owl, star ,bat and bird, circa 1880.  

Category

1880s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

French Majolica Pink Flowers Salins, circa 1890
French Majolica Pink Flowers Salins, circa 1890

French Majolica Pink Flowers Salins, circa 1890

By Salins

Located in Austin, TX

Lovely French Majolica plate pink flowers on a blue basket weave, circa 1880 attributed to Salins. Very rare color.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

French Majolica Flowers Plate Circa 1890
French Majolica Flowers Plate Circa 1890

French Majolica Flowers Plate Circa 1890

Located in Austin, TX

French Majolica Flowers Plate Circa 1890. Decorated with pink & purple flowers.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Large 19th Century Majolica Lemons Wall Platter
Large 19th Century Majolica Lemons Wall Platter

Large 19th Century Majolica Lemons Wall Platter

Located in Austin, TX

Large 19th Century Majolica Lemons Wall Platter from the South of France. Diameter / 13.3 inches.  

Category

1890s Finnish Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

19th Century Green & Yellow Majolica Oyster Plate
19th Century Green & Yellow Majolica Oyster Plate

19th Century Green & Yellow Majolica Oyster Plate

Located in Austin, TX

Colorful French Majolica green and yellow oyster plate with stylized leaves, circa 1890.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

French Majolica Pink Flowers Salins, circa 1890
French Majolica Pink Flowers Salins, circa 1890

French Majolica Pink Flowers Salins, circa 1890

By Salins

Located in Austin, TX

Lovely French Majolica plate pink flowers on a blue basket weave, circa 1880 attributed to Salins.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century English Majolica Leaves Plate
19th Century English Majolica Leaves Plate

19th Century English Majolica Leaves Plate

Located in Austin, TX

19th Century English Majolica Leaves Plate. Chips on the back.

Category

1890s English Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic, Faience

Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany
Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany

Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany

Located in Berghuelen, DE

Black Forest Red Deer Trophy on Carved Plaque - Germany A large 6-pointer red deer trophy (Cervus elaphus) from the Black Forest, mounted on a wooden plaque with carved oak leaves a...

Category

1930s German Vintage Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Antler, Wood

Oversize 19th Century Majolica Palissy Wall Snake Platter
Oversize 19th Century Majolica Palissy Wall Snake Platter

Oversize 19th Century Majolica Palissy Wall Snake Platter

Located in Austin, TX

19th Century Oversize French Majolica Palissy platter with a large snake , roses , 2 lizards , bugs , leaves and crawfish. Unique piece. Diameter / 21 inches , Depth / 4.5 inches.

Category

1880s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic, Faience, Majolica

Large German Majolica Leaves & Flowers Plate Circa 1900
Large German Majolica Leaves & Flowers Plate Circa 1900

Large German Majolica Leaves & Flowers Plate Circa 1900

Located in Austin, TX

Large German Majolica Leaves & Flowers Plate Circa 1900. 9 inches diameter.

Category

1890s German Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

French Majolica Joan of Arc Plate Onnaing, circa 1890
French Majolica Joan of Arc Plate Onnaing, circa 1890

French Majolica Joan of Arc Plate Onnaing, circa 1890

Located in Austin, TX

French Majolica Joan of Arc Plate Onnaing, circa 1890.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century French Faience Breton Oyster Plate Malicorne
19th Century French Faience Breton Oyster Plate Malicorne

19th Century French Faience Breton Oyster Plate Malicorne

Located in Austin, TX

Antique rare large French faience oyster plate, circa 1890 made by the manufacture of Malicorne with a Breton man on the center and flowers and butterflies.

Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Faience

French Faience Oyster Plate circa 1920
French Faience Oyster Plate circa 1920

French Faience Oyster Plate circa 1920

Located in Austin, TX

French rustic faience oyster plate with flowers and bretonne circa 1920.

Category

1920s French Vintage Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Faience

French Majolica Plate, Circa 1890
French Majolica Plate, Circa 1890

French Majolica Plate, Circa 1890

By Salins

Located in Austin, TX

French Majolica plate with a geometrical pattern circa 1890.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

Two bull's heads, hand-braided esparto,  Spain 1960's
Two bull's heads, hand-braided esparto,  Spain 1960's

Two bull's heads, hand-braided esparto, Spain 1960's

Located in Paris, Ile-de-France

2 " toros " heads Wall trophy bull's heads. Made in hand braided "esparto"* Spanish handicraft 1950's to 60's *Esparto, halfah grass, or esparto grass is a fiber produced from...

Category

1960s Spanish Vintage Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Natural Fiber, Rope

French Majolica Plate Onnaing, Circa 1890
French Majolica Plate Onnaing, Circa 1890

French Majolica Plate Onnaing, Circa 1890

By Onnaing

Located in Austin, TX

French Majolica plate Onnaing Circa 1890. flowers and blackberries.

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic

19th Century French Majolica Pigeon Wall Pocket
19th Century French Majolica Pigeon Wall Pocket

19th Century French Majolica Pigeon Wall Pocket

Located in Austin, TX

Large 19th century French Majolica Pigeon wall pocket. The pigeon have a pink ribbon and carry a white card.  

Category

1890s French Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Ceramic, Majolica

19th Majolica Palissy Snake and Lizard Wall Platter Jose Alves Cunha
19th Majolica Palissy Snake and Lizard Wall Platter Jose Alves Cunha

19th Majolica Palissy Snake and Lizard Wall Platter Jose Alves Cunha

By José Alves Cunha 1

Located in Bradenton, FL

Antique 19th century Portuguese Majolica Palissy style plate with large snake and large lizard searching through mossy tuft, signed Jose Alves Cunha (Caldas da Rainha) with snake, wo...

Category

19th Century Portuguese Antique Rustic Decorative Art

Materials

Pottery

Rustic decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Rustic decorative art 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 decorative art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include wall decorations, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, earthenware and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Rustic decorative art made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Germany pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative art, popular names associated with this style include Henriot Quimper, Sarreguemines, Wasmuel Majolica, and Onnaing. 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 decorative art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $75 and tops out at $8,490 while the average work can sell for $283.