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Aesthetic Movement Furniture

AESTHETIC MOVEMENT

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.

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Style: Aesthetic Movement
Morris and Co. A superior quality Aesthetic Movement two tier walnut side table
Located in London, GB
Morris and Co. Designed by George Jack. A superior quality Aesthetic Movement two tier walnut side table, with a shaped apron below the top and f...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

An Aesthetic Movement wrought iron and copper fire bucket with sunflower finials
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement wrought writhen iron and copper fire bucket, with sunflowers that form a part of the main iron frame coming down to form the r...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Dr C Dresser for Benham & Froud. A pair of Aesthetic Movement brass fire dogs.
Located in London, GB
Dr C Dresser for Benham and Froud stamped mark. A pair of Aesthetic Movement brass fire dogs with sunflower heads on elegant shaped necks.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass

Burne Jones for Morris & Co Hand painted tile of Chaucer's legend of good wimmen
Located in London, GB
Edward Burne Jones for Morris & Co, designed in 1861-1862. A rare hand-painted tile depicting Chaucer's Legend of Good Wimmen. The Fiberite packing we found inside the frame probably...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

James Dixon, Dr C Dresser style of. A silver plated sugar bowl and milk jug
Located in London, GB
James Dixon, Dr C Dresser style of. An Aesthetic Movement silver-plated sugar bowl and milk jug, the jug with a trumpet style flower to the handle. H 5 x W 11 x D 11.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Silver Plate

Lamp Hat Embroidered in Silver Tinsel
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/423 - Unique piece : lamp hat embroidered in silver tinsel - It is suitable for a high floor or table lamp. The price is very interesting because I want to close my activities. ...
Category

1990s Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Silk

Gillows attr, An Aesthetic Movement octagonal walnut eight leg centre table
By Gillows of Lancaster & London, Henry William Batley
Located in London, GB
Gillows attributed, in the style of H W Batley. An Aesthetic Movement octagonal Mahogany eight leg centre table with shaped supports below the top and four ...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Morris & Co. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut tallboy with internal sliding drawers.
Located in London, GB
Morris and Co. A Superior Quality Aesthetic Movement Walnut tallboy, with a polished top and dentil molding below with fielded diamond shaped panels to the upper doors opening to rev...
Category

1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Collinson & Walton. An Aesthetic Movement burr walnut & ebonized music cabinet
Located in London, GB
Collinson and Walton. A rare Aesthetic Movement ebonized music cabinet with pierced gallery to the top, wild burr walnut panels to the doors which open to reveal sheet music slides, ...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Aesthetic Movement walnut metamorphic oak coal box with Herons in a river scene.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Walnut metamorphic oak coalbox. The handle when pulled back mechanically opens the two doors to the front, which has brass panels depicting Herons eating fish i...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Lambs of Manchester An Aesthetic Movement ebonized Walnut eight leg centre table
Located in London, GB
Lambs of Manchester. A rare Aesthetic Movement ebonized walnut octagonal eight-leg centre table with a veneered macassar ebony top and a molded edge and shaped aprons below united by...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut, Macassar

George Bell & George Freeth Roper Aesthetic Movement Walnut rush seat armchair.
By Kendall & Co., George Bell
Located in London, GB
George Bell & George Freeth Roper. Probably made by Kendal Milne & Co for Herman Schill. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut armchair with a row of fine barley t...
Category

1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Dr Christopher Dresser An ebonized and gilded pedestal torchère
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized and gilded pedestal torchère in the style of Dr C Dresser. The circular top has a Greek key pattern band, the main octagonal column has incised and gil...
Category

1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Aesthetic Bronze Dog Candlesticks
Located in Hudson, NY
Aesthetic Bronze Dog Candlesticks
Category

Early 20th Century Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Martin Brothers Loving Cup
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
5461 Martin Brothers Loving Cup with a crisp firing of an aquatic scene with twin handles. The vessel, thrown and decorated by Edwin and Walter Martin features stylised decoration of 9 fish...
Category

1880s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Thomas Edward Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. Aesthetic Movement high back chair.
Located in London, GB
Thomas Edward Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. A fine Aesthetic Movement Walnut high back chair with later maroon upholstery. Illustrated in the Collinson and Lock catalog.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Antique Cast Iron Branch Form Garden Bench
Located in Toledo, OH
Antique Cast Iron Branch Form Garden Bench. Circa 19th Century 1840-1849 Period. Aesthetic Movement. Featuring rope tied oak branches with leaves motif. This bench has seen many chan...
Category

1840s Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Iron

Aesthetic Movement side table with sunflower & curved & straight side stretchers
Located in London, GB
A rare Aesthetic Movement walnut side table with two curved upper stretchers that unite to a central sunflower and a lower straight sided H stretcher that unites to the bottom of the...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Morris & Co. A fine quality Aesthetic Movement walnut side table.
Located in London, GB
Morris & Co. A fine quality Aesthetic Movement walnut side table with herringbone inlay to the top edge, stood on hexagonal shaped legs with a lower shelf
Category

1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

An Aesthetic Movement ebonized & upholstered armchair with sweeping side rails.
Located in London, GB
A stylish Aesthetic Movement ebonized armchair with sweeping side rail incorporating the upholstered armrests which are set back to accommodate those wonderful hoop dresses of the Vi...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Louis Maximilien Fiot : "Panthera", Terracota sculpture, edition Susse, C.
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Louis Maximilien FIOT (1886-1953, France) : « Lionne à sa toilette » Patinated terracota sculpture of a lioness nobly standing on a rock Old edition by Susse terracota workshop Sig...
Category

1920s French Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Terracotta

Aesthetic Movement Walnut centre table with incised circular details to the legs
Located in London, GB
Collinson and Lock, attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut centre table with incised circular details to the legs, united by double cross stretchers.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Aesthetic Movement Gothic Style Brass Mounted Stationery Box
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A stunning quality British Aesthetic Movement brass mounted oak stationery box with gothic influences dating from around 1880. The box stands on a wide ...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass

SUPER RARE ANTiQUE VICTORIAN AESTHETIC MOVEMENT ARMCHAIR WITH GRAND TOUR PLAQUES
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare and totally original Aesthetic Movement, Victorian circa 1840-1860 Library armchair with ins...
Category

1840s European Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Pair of 19th Century Tall Turned Rosewood Prickett Candleholders
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of tall, 27 inches turned Rosewood with a triangular base on ball feet. Beautifully turned and a very interesting grain pattern from light to dark. Lead filled base for...
Category

1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Lead

Thomas Edward Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. Aesthetic Movement high back chair.
Located in London, GB
Thomas Edward Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. A fine quality Aesthetic Movement rosewood high back chair with later blue upholstery.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

A rare Rosewood side chair with finely carved and turned details
Located in London, GB
Collinson and Lock. A rare Aesthetic Movement Rosewood side chair with finely carved and turned details to the back supports with exagerated disc turned front legs and conforming sid...
Category

1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

Liberty & Co armchair with a shaped back & mashrabiya turnings to the head rest.
Located in London, GB
Liberty & Co An Aesthetic Movement ebonized Moorish low armchair with a shaped back with mashrabiya turnings to the head rest and tapestry seat
Category

1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Frances E Lee Impressive Pair Doulton Lambeth Slaters Floral Painted Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A large and impressive pair Doulton Lambeth Slaters pâte-sur-pâte style floral painted vases by renowned designer and decorator Frances E Lee and dating from around 1885. The large stoneware bottle shaped vases stand raised on a narrow round foot with large round bulbous bodies and tall funnel shaped necks with a slightly wider thick rim. The bodies of the vases are beautifully decorated with three large decorative panels set within brown outline frames with fleur-de-lis style patterning to the top and bottom with a checkered pattern to the inside of the frame. The frames contain foliage and flowering stems thickly applied in a pâte-sur-pâte style with variations to each of the panels. The decoration overlaps with the frame and extends into the body of the vase. Formal patterning is applied around the neck and top of the vase. The vase is hand painted in tones of blue, brown, pink, white, yellow and green and the whole is set against a stipple natural salt glazed ground. These are an exception to the normal Doulton Lambeth Slaters vases...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

Whytock & Reid. A pair of Aesthetic Movement ebonized & parcel gilt side chairs.
Located in London, GB
Whytock & Reid of Edinburgh. A rare pair of high Aesthetic Movement ebonized and parcel gilt side chairs.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Aesthetic Movement Ash & fiddle back Ash wall cabinet inlaid with floral panels.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Ash and fiddle back Ash wall cabinet with a shaped and inlaid cornice and polychrome painted floral panels to the doors. The Ash wood has been stained to show d...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ash

E W Godwin attr for Collinson & Lock. An Aesthetic Movement walnut writing table
Located in London, GB
Collinson and Lock. Attributed to E W Godwin. An exceptional quality walnut writing table with five upper drawers each with swan neck handles standing on eight finely turned legs, ea...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

E W Godwin attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut octagonal centre table
Located in London, GB
E W Godwin attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut octagonal center table with tramline molded edges with fine turnings to the legs united by a high stretcher and standing on Thebes...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Jas Shoolbred. An Aesthetic Movement adjustable height piano stool
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred. An Aesthetic Movement adjustable height piano stool with carved florettes and line scribed decoration to the seat and to the shaped legs, united by a double stretcher. This has a BSA motor bike company mechanical height adjusting mechanism with gear cogs...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Chinese Console From The 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely Chinese console from the 19th century It is made up of two drawers and two small doors. Ideal as a console, as a bar or occasional table Very beautiful patina and in superb co...
Category

19th Century Chinese Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Wood

R. W. Edis, probably made by Jackson & Graham A fine pair of Walnut side chairs
By Jackson & Graham, Robert William Edis
Located in London, GB
R. W. Edis, probably made by Jackson and Graham. A fine pair of Aesthetic Movement Walnut side chairs with fine ring turned and incised tramline details, and sweeping side supports. ...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Mark V Marshall Doulton Lambeth Abstract Leaf & Berry Design Vase
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A very rare and stylish Doulton Lambeth Marqueterie Ware blue and brown marbled art pottery saucer with gilded designs by Lambeth’s first Art Director Wilton Parker Rix (Doulton Lamb...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Stoneware

J P Hewitt. Aesthetic Movement circular plaque with a Pre-Raphaelite girls head.
Located in London, GB
J P Hewitt. An Aesthetic Movement circular plaque painted with a Pre-Raphaelite female head set in the original incised and ebonized period frame. Signed to the back.
Category

1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

R Boyd. in the style of Dr C Dresser. A pair of oak side chairs
Located in London, GB
R Boyd. in the style of Dr C Dresser. A pair of Aesthetic Movement oak side chairs with 1/4 moon details and double hoop stretchers. Furniture by R Boyd was illustrated in the Furnit...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Oak

Early Victorian Ebonised Inlay Pier Cabinet Glazed Bookcase Velvet Lined
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A well proportioned Victorian peer cabinet, ebonised with fruitwood inlay and standing on four turned bobbin feet. Two opening glazed doors, retaining its original lock and key, ope...
Category

Mid-19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood, Mahogany

Jas Shoolbred and Co (attributed) An octagonal oak side table with central shelf
Located in London, GB
Jas Shoolbred attributed An octagonal oak side table with central shelf, carved circular details to the legs, united by lower cross stretchers.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Oak

An Aesthetic Movement walnut armchair with a curvaceous back leather upholstery.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Walnut Library armchair with a curvaceous back and nicely worn button back leather upholstery. The arms with double curves to the end of the armrests and floret...
Category

1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Collinson and Lock. An Aesthetic Movement Satin walnut breakfront wall cupboard
Located in London, GB
Collinson and Lock. An Aesthetic Movement Satin walnut breakfront wall cupboard with a dentil cornice, and Japanese basket weave detailing to the brass handle.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

E W Godwin for Collinson & Lock An ebonised & parcel gilt side table chess table
Located in London, GB
E.W. Godwin attributed for Collinson & Lock. An ebonized and parcel gilt side table chess table with hand painted scenes on silk under an octagonal glass top. The silk has a little w...
Category

1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Victorian Marquetry, Ebony Framed Burr Walnut Display Cabinets
Located in Altrincham, GB
Pair of Victorian Marquetry, Ebony Framed Burr Walnut Display Cabinets attributed to Lamb of Manchester - 30.5"w x 15"d x 46"h
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ebony, Walnut

T E Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. An Aesthetic Movement walnut high back chair.
Located in London, GB
Thomas Edward Collcutt for Collinson & Lock. A fine quality Aesthetic Movement Walnut high back chair with later blue upholstery. Illustrated in the Collinson and Lock catalogue.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Danier Cottier (style of). An Aesthetic Movement dark oak coal box
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement dark oak coal box in the style of Daniel Cottier. With all over shallow carved floral decoration.
Category

1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Oak

An Aesthetic Movement Elm stool with a 'S' handle, and a wild grain to the seat.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement period Elm stool with a 'S' shaped pierced handle, and a wonderful wild grain to the seat. Tight through and exposed joints to the four corners of the seat with...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Elm

Syrian Inlaid Cabinet, 19th Century
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a wonderfully creative Levantine or Syrian cabinet that dates to the late 19th century. It's style is reminiscent of the work of Carlo Bugatti. This cabinet is intricately de...
Category

Late 19th Century Syrian Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Metal

An Aesthetic Movement ebonized side table with a marquetry octagonal top
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized side table with a marquetry octagonal top decorated with conch shells and a central star detail in various fruit woods, with ebonized string and cheque...
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Brownfield & Sons. Olympus pattern. Dr C Dresser style. Aesthetic Movement bowl
Located in London, GB
Brownfield and Sons Olympus pattern, in the style of Dr C Dresser. A large Aesthetic Movement white bowl with blue printed love birds and stylized decoration around the bowl.
Category

1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Ceramic

Baccarat Aesthetic movement intaglio cut glass vase c 1880
Located in Worcester Park, GB
Fabulous, intaglio carved, Baccarat vase in the Aesthetic style dating around 1880. Depicting two classically dressed women arranging fruit and plants on a pedestal with a landscape ...
Category

1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Crystal

Antique Style Brass Wall Lamp Large Art Deco Tradition Gold Circle Whirl
Located in Berlin, DE
Immerse yourself in the elegance of bygone times with our exclusive antique-style brass wall lamp. This wall lamp is not only a stunning lighting object, but also a real work of art ...
Category

2010s German Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass

Pair Aesthetic Movement Club Chairs, Style of Herter Brothers.
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a striking pair of American Aesthetic Movement Parlor or Club Chairs in the style of Herter Brothers. These chairs are an unusual form of New York 19th century...
Category

Late 19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Unique Pair of Faux Rosewood Clarinet Form Table Lamps
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Faux rosewood base. Clarinet body. 37 3/4" h x 5 1/2" diameter. Condition Good condition. We recommend all lighting be rewired.
Category

1970s European Vintage Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Set of 14 Wedgwood Green Majolica Aesthetic Movement Sunflower Plates
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Set of 14 green majolica glazed dinner plates in the ‘Sunflower’ pattern by Wedgwood, made circa 1880. The sunflower, alongside the calla lily and peacock feather, became an emblem ...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Earthenware, Majolica, Pottery

1906 Set of Seven King Pattern Sterling Silver Knives by Dominick & Haff
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Set of 7 King pattern sterling silver hollow handle luncheon knives by Dominick & Haff, 1906. HHW monogram, engraved 1906 obverse. 8 3/8" x 3/4". Whitehall Antiques is a family busi...
Category

Early 1900s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Sterling Silver

Antique Style Brass Wall Lamp Large Art Deco Tradition Gold Circle Whirl
Located in Berlin, DE
Immerse yourself in the elegance of bygone times with our exclusive antique-style brass wall lamp. This wall lamp is not only a stunning lighting object, but also a real work of art ...
Category

2010s German Aesthetic Movement Furniture

Materials

Brass

Aesthetic Movement furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Aesthetic Movement furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, decorative objects, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Aesthetic Movement furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, United Kingdom, and England pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Minton, Doulton Lambeth, Christopher Dresser, and Wedgwood. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $65 and tops out at $86,402 while the average work can sell for $1,820.

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