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
Victorian Glass Ball and Claw Black Ebonized Oak Table, circa 1870s
Located in Hastings, GB
Victorian glass ball and claw ebonised table
C'1870's
Beautiful ebonised side table with turned bobbin legs. There are 4 brass eagle claws holding ...
Category
1870s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Howard & Sons Rosewood Revolving Bookstand Table
Located in Essex, MA
Square with serpentine edge. conforming lower shelf with spindles and book storage. Raised on saber legs and casters. Signed in celluloid plaque Howard & Sons. London.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Hukin & Heath, Dresser style, A silver-plated sugar bowl & matching sugar spoon
Located in London, GB
Hukin and Heath, Dr C Dresser style of, A silver plated sugar bowl and matching sugar sifting spoon.
Category
1880s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Aesthetic Movement Sterling Silver Fish Slice w/ Acid Etched Detail by Whiting
Located in New York, NY
This elegant and well adorned Sterling Silver Fish Slice W/Acid Etched & Hand Tooled Detailing is crafted by the Whiting Manufacturing Company and originates from the United States, ...
Category
1890s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Sterling Silver
1887 Aesthetic Movement Combination Gas Electric Chandelier
Located in Mississauga, CA
Now this is a fascinating light and an incredible historic artifact from the very early days of electricity. It was originally a gas and electric light with the gas burners pointing ...
Category
1880s American Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze
EW Godwin Style of. Aesthetic Movement ebonized folding chair with new cane seat
Located in London, GB
EW Godwin Style of. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized folding chair with bobbin details to the backrest and a new cane seat.
This listing is for one chair. We ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Beech
An Aesthetic Movement low side chair with fretwork to the lower back rest
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement low side chair with fretwork to the lower back rest, this has shrunk and cracked a little but still quite useable. With unusual high, turned stretcher supports ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Modern Watercolor Female Portrait
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
ST/736 - Watercolor and tempera modern female portrait: simple but unusual.
An interesting item..., simply to frame.
Category
Mid-20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Paper
19th Century Limoges French Painted Porcelain Pitcher
Located in Soquel, CA
19th Century Limoges French Painted Porcelain Pitcher
Rare and prized, American Amateur painting on French Limoges pitcher, circa 1897. Dimensions, 1...
Category
19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain, Paint
Victorian button back armchair
Located in Petworth, GB
A stylish Victorian button back traditional upholstered armchair with turned walnut feet raised on brass castors, covered in cotton velvet fabric 'Glasgow Rose' by Patch Rogers Design.
Category
1890s British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Charles Bevan attributed. An Aesthetic Movement oak towel rail with fine details
Located in London, GB
Charles Bevan attributed. An Aesthetic Movement oak towel rail the three rails in a crucifix form with fine chamfering and ebonized dot banded inlay to ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Bamboo Wardrobe, c. 1900
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a charming late 19th century English bamboo wardrobe or armoire. All elements of the wardrobe are original and in very good condition. The war...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Reed, Wood
19th C French Bronze Snake Candlesticks
Located in Hudson, NY
19th C French Bronze Snake Candlesticks
Beautiful original patina in red. Gilt bronze snake.
Category
Late 19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Baccarat Decanter for Cognac Hennessy Paradise
By Baccarat
Located in Valladolid, ES
Outstanding, rare and unique Richard Henessy Baccarat Cognac Decanter ,Open worked crystal bottle Crystal stopper, This is an old type Richard, no long...
Category
1990s French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Silver
19th Century Majolica Pink & Blue Oyster Plate Gien
By Gien
Located in Austin, TX
Rare 19th century Majolica oyster plate with pastels colors, shells and seaweeds signed Gien.
Category
1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Majolica
Phillip Webb A large Aesthetic Movement bobbin turned Satinwood chaise lounge
Located in London, GB
Phillip Webb for Morris and Co attributed. A larger than usual Aesthetic Movement bobbin turned Satinwood chaise lounge or day bed, the upper turned armrests with typical Morris and ...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Satinwood
Faux Bamoo Doll Bed or Dog Bed
Located in Pasadena, CA
This a charming Faux Bamboo Doll Bed ( dog bed?) that date to the late 19th century. This little bed is in very good condition and features turned beehive f...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo, Pine
An Aesthetic Movement side table with scroll supports stood on ring turned legs
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement side table with scroll supports stood on ring turned legs united by a turned cross stretcher with an object or plant pot stand to the centre.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Gillows of Lancaster An Aesthetic Movement ebonized circular side table
Located in London, GB
Gillows attributed. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized circular side table with carved sunflower floret to the top with three turned, carved and incised gilt decoration to the legs and t...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair Estate English Aesthetic Movement Silver-Plated Candlesticks Circa 1950-60.
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Estate English Aesthetic Movement Silver-Plated Candlesticks, Circa 1950-1960.
Category
Mid-20th Century English Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized & gilded foot stool with striped upholstery.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement ebonized footstool with concave-shaped sides and incised parcel gilt decoration on little flat feet with striped braided upholstery.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Beech
Fine Victorian oak & carved oven range cigar box
Located in Dereham, GB
Fine Victorian oak & carved oven range cigar box
Oak box in the form of an Victorian oven range
Cast brass detail on front , with brass grate & faux coal
b...
Category
Late 19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass
Dr. C Dresser & Barnard, Bishop & Barnard. A rare Aesthetic Movement fireplace.
Located in London, GB
Barnard, Bishop, and Barnard & Dr C Dresser, with the original B, B, & B paper label to the back.
A rare Aesthetic Movement walnut fire surround, inset with four Linthorpe pottery c...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut, Pottery
A little pair of Aesthetic Movement oak Thebe stools with leather studded seats
Located in London, GB
A little pair of Aesthetic Movement oak stools with leather studded seats, on Thebes style mushroom feet.
Category
1890s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Antique Framed Oil Painting on Canvas by De Kok
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Framed oil painting on canvas by De Kok showcases the artist's firm grasp on creating the tranquility of an intriguing landscape composition using color and contrast resultin...
Category
Mid-20th Century Belgian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Giltwood
Majolica Seaweeds Oyster Plate Keller and Guerin Saint Clement, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica oyster plate attributed to Keller Et Guerin Saint Clement, circa 1890.
Reference / page 98 "Collecting oyster plates" of Jeffrey B. Snyder.
Category
1890s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Morris & Co (style of). An Aesthetic Movement armchair with seagrass seat
By Morris & Co.
Located in London, GB
Morris & Co (style of). An Aesthetic Movement armchair with seagrass seat.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Beech
Rare set of Majolica plates by Emile Galle
By Émile Gallé
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A very rare set of four Emile Galle fiance plates with various stylized flowers. Single plates from this set rarely surface, and I've only seen a single one before finding these in...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Ceramic, Faience
Aesthetic Movement, Maple Faux Bamboo Side Table Attributed to RJ Horner
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
19th Century rare Aesthetic Movement, Maple Faux Bamboo Side Table Attributed to RJ Horner + Co. NY.
Category
19th Century Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Faux Bamboo
James Dixon and Sons An Aesthetic Movement Electroplated Brittania metal tea set
Located in London, GB
James Dixon and Sons. An Aesthetic Movement Electroplated Brittania metal tea set consisting of a teapot, milk jug, and sugar bowl. Teapot 16x17x17. Milk Jug 13x13x7. sugar bowl 9x1...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Orientalist Chandelier, France, Circa 1870
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare chandelier in gilded and patinated bronze with eighteen lights, finely decorated with stylized oriental motifs in polychrome red and blue cold enamel. Surmounted by an elegant c...
Category
1870s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Lambs of Manchester (stamped). A fine Aesthetic Movement oak breakfront bookcase
Located in London, GB
Lambs of Manchester, stamped to the brass door lock. A fine Aesthetic Movement breakfront bookcase made from quarter sawn oak with a raised back to the...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Walker Hall Dr C Dresser style. An Aesthetic Movement silver plated spoon warmer
Located in London, GB
Walker Hall Sheffield after a design by Dr C Dresser. An Aesthetic Movement silver-plated ostrich egg shape spoon warmer with a circular handle, a mouth-shaped opening, and subtle ha...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
Maple & Co London Bruce Talbert attr. Aesthetic Movement chest of five drawers.
By Maple & Co.
Located in London, GB
Maple and Co London, in the style of Bruce Talbert. A good quality Aesthetic Movement chest of drawers made from Walnut with a wonderful wild figure to the grain. Molded decoration t...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Bruce Talbert for Gillows and Co. Aesthetic Movement scissor style side chair
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert for Gillows and Co. An Aesthetic Movement scissor style side chair with ebonized dot details and chip carved details to the fra...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Collinson & Lock (attributed). A small Aesthetic Movement mahogany side table.
Located in London, GB
Collinson & Lock Attributed. A small Aesthetic Movement Mahogany side table with raised Japanese fretwork to the lower shelf.
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Set of 6 Aesthetic Movement Green Majolica Wedgwood Sunflower Plates
By Wedgwood
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Set of 6 Aesthetic Movement green majolica glazed dinner plates in the ‘Sunflower’ pattern by Wedgwood, made circa 1880.
The sunflower, alongside the calla lily and peacock feathe...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Earthenware, Majolica, Pottery
E W Godwin for William Watt An Aesthetic Movement tall back ebonized armchair.
Located in London, GB
E.W. Godwin attributed, probably made by William Watt. An Aesthetic Movement tall back ebonized armchair. The turnings are in keeping with other Godwin designs, and the arms are iden...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
A Boucheron Paris 18k Gold Silver & Ruby Vermeil Minaudiere Circa 1940
By Boucheron
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A Boucheron Paris 18k Gold, Silver & Ruby Vermeil Minaudiere Circa 1940, of rectangular form with a hinged cover the top of the cover with pierced vermeil scrolling foliage the flow...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Gold, Silver
Gillows attr An Aesthetic Movement ebonized & fold over floral inlaid card table
Located in London, GB
Gillows attributed. An Aesthetic Movement ebonized fold over and swivel top card table with the original red baize to the playing area. The recta...
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Bruce Talbert Gillows, Aesthetic Movement rosewood armchair with pink upholstery
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert for Gillows. An Aesthetic Movement Rosewood armchair with a pink button back upholstered back and seat.
Category
1870s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Rosewood
E W Godwin attributed, A set of four Aesthetic Movement oak dining chairs
Located in London, GB
Edward William Godwin attributed.
A set of four Aesthetic Movement oak dining chairs with carved florets to the headrests and a turned gallery below the backrest with finely turned ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
100 Pieces Limoges Service signed Charles Field Haviland Aesthetic Movement 1885
Located in Paris, FR
This 19th-century service is signed by world-well-known CFH-GDM Charles Field Haviland. His very high-quality porcelain with polychrome and hand-painted decoration "flowers and encha...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Porcelain
Hat For Table Lamp
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
O/425 - Lamp hat embroidered in silver tinsel: unique piece. It is suitable for a high floor or table lamp.
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Silk
A pair of small Aesthetic Movement oak sets of drawers with lockable side flaps.
Located in London, GB
A pair of small Aesthetic Movement oak sets of drawers, with carved alternating fern leaf decoration to the drawer fronts and ring pull brass handles. The hinged sides with lockable ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Lewis Foreman Day. A rare Aesthetic Movement mantel clock with floral decoration
Located in London, GB
Lewis Foreman Day for Howell James & Co. An Aesthetic Movement mantel clock with hand painted floral decoration and sunflower to the dial flanked...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
E W Godwin attr. A pair of Aesthetic Movement oak dining chairs ready upholstery
Located in London, GB
Edward William Godwin attributed. A pair of Aesthetic Movement oak dining chairs with carved florets to the headrests. Ready for upholstery. Price for the pair
See Soros, Susan Weber...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Collinson & Lock. Aesthetic Movement octogonal two tier table on ring turn legs.
Located in London, GB
Collinson & Lock attributed. An Aesthetic Movement Walnut octogonal two tier side table on splayed and fine ring turn legs, reminiscent of some of the legs Godwin chased around.
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Unusual 19th C., Victorian Aesthetic Movement Petit Point Boot Jack
Located in Atlanta, GA
English, 19th century.
An unusual Victorian Aesthetic Movement petit point boot jack. The frame is constructed from walnut with gold painted detailing to the carved recessions. The ...
Category
19th Century British Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Leather, Walnut
Aesthetic Movement oak oblong side table with ring turned legs, and splayed feet
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement oak oblong side table with staggered ring turnings to the legs and stood on splayed-out feet united by a fine ring-turned centr...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
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
E W Godwin for William Watt. An oak Shakespeare armchair. One of only four known
Located in London, GB
E.W. Godwin made by William Watt. An oak Shakespeare armchair. This armchair was part of the Shakespeare dining room suite in the Elizabethan-Revival style that Godwin designed for William Watt, which was illustrated in the Building News on 11 November 1881 Fig. 176.1. Four are currently known in existence, this one with an upholstered seat, two with solid seats in private collections, and the fourth is in a National Trust house. See The Secular Furniture of EW Godwin...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Dr C Dresser Benham & Froud. An Aesthetic Movement brass fire bucket and shovel.
Located in London, GB
Dr C Dresser for Benham and Froud, stamped mark to base.
An Aesthetic Movement brass fire bucket and shovel with an organic whiplash handle, rising ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wrought Iron
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
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
Bruce Talbert An Aesthetic Movement Gothic Revival oak needlework table and box
Located in London, GB
Bruce Talbert attributed. An Aesthetic Movement/Gothic Revival oak needlework table and box with carved lunettes, florets and incised turned details to the legs united with turnings ...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Oak
Aesthetic Movement Walnut side table wot-not-stand with half triangle shelves.
Located in London, GB
An Aesthetic Movement Walnut tall side table wot-not-stand with a molded square top and a further full shelf below followed by staggered tri-angular shelves, from to bottom with fine...
Category
1880s English Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Le Bon Marché Boudoir chair upholstery restored b The Royal School of Needlework
By Le Bon Marché 1
Located in London, GB
Le Bon Marche.A unique Boudoir chair with the original upholstery restored by the Royal School of Needlework in Hampton Court Palace retaining the original Le Bon Marche stamped labe...
Category
1880s French Antique Aesthetic Movement Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
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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