American Craftsman Architectural Elements
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.
Early 20th Century American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Copper
Mid-20th Century English American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Brass
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Glass, Wood
Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Mahogany
1930s English Vintage American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Brass
Late 19th Century European Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Brass
19th Century American Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Late 19th Century American Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Iron
Late 19th Century American Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Copper
Late 19th Century American Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Stained Glass, Wood
20th Century Italian American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Brass
1890s Italian Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Lead
Mid-20th Century American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Copper
2010s American American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Stainless Steel
Early 1900s Italian Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Lead
19th Century Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Wood
1910s American Vintage American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Wood
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Wood
Late 19th Century American Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Late 19th Century American Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Wrought Iron
Late 18th Century Unknown Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Brass, Iron
1920s American Vintage American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Iron
Mid-19th Century American Antique American Craftsman Architectural Elements
Terracotta
