Emerging in reaction to industrialization and mass production, the Arts and Crafts movement celebrated handcrafted design as a part of daily life. The history of Arts and Crafts furniture has roots in 1860s England with an emphasis on natural motifs and simple flourishes like mosaics and carvings. This work is characterized by plain construction that showcases the hand of the artisan.
The earliest American Arts and Crafts furniture dates back to the start of the 20th century. Designers working in this style in the United States initially looked to ideas put forth by The Craftsman, a magazine published by Wisconsin native Gustav Stickley, a furniture maker and founder of the Craftsman style. Stickley’s furniture was practical and largely free of ornament. His Craftsman style drew on French Art Nouveau as well as the work he encountered on his travels in England. There, the leading designers of the Arts and Crafts movement included William Morris, who revived historical techniques such as embroidery and printed fabrics in his furnishings, and Charles Voysey, whose minimal approach was in contrast to the ornamentation favored in the Victorian era.
American Arts and Crafts work would come to involve a range of influences unified by an elevation of traditional craftsmanship. The furniture was often built from sturdy woods like oak and mahogany while featuring details such as inlaid metal, tooled leather and ceramic tiles. The style in the United States was led by Stickley, whose clean-lined chairs and benches showcased the grain of the wood, and furniture maker Charles Rohlfs, who was informed by international influences like East Asian and French Art Nouveau design.
Hubs in America included several utopian communities such as Rose Valley in Pennsylvania and the Byrdcliffe Arts and Crafts Colony in New York, where craftspeople made furniture that prioritized function over any decoration. Their work would influence designers and architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, who built some of the most elegant and iconic structures in the United States and likewise embraced a thoughtful use of materials in his furniture.
Find antique Arts and Crafts chairs, tables, cabinets and other authentic period furniture on 1stDibs.
Antique Arts & Crafts Square Lead Bird Bath
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A substantial antique arts and crafts square lead bird bath dating to circa 1900. Highly decorative, this bird bath bears the words “Fear Not to Sow Because of the Birds” with owls a...
Lead
Copper Watering Can
Located in London, England
Small copper watering can, lovely patina. U.K circa 1900.
Copper
Humorous Bird Bath with Four Little Elf like Leprechauns in Various Poses
By Leeds Fireclay Company
Located in London, GB
A rare and humorous stone ware bird bath with four little Elf like Leprechauns in various poses of thought and contemplation. Attributed to Leftco (Leeds Fireclay Co). Made in two pa...
Stoneware
Vintage American Cast Iron Garden Urn
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Fleurdetroit presents for your consideration this American, Cast iron urn. A marvelous addition for the garden or interior, this urn certainly will add personality to any space it is...
Iron
$2,800Sale Price|20% Off
Frank Lloyd Wright Style Arts and Crafts Prairie School Cement Planter Pots
Located in Ferndale, MI
Pair of large heavy cast cement planter pots. Very much in the Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie nSchool style.
Cement
Glazed volcanic stone sphere -made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Turned sphere at volcanic stone hand, subsequently glazed and decorated interior and exterior decoration The handwork makes each of these pieces unique todini workshop creation in T...
Stone
Set of Seven 1960s Metal Garden Tree and Bird Trellises, USA
Located in Stamford, CT
Sold and priced as a set of seven trellises. Three sets of seven metal garden tree and bird trellises are available. Create your own garden or garden room dramatic background with th...
Metal
Parrot Glass Mosaic Plaque
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a Parrot glass mosaic. It depicts a large round plaque made of tiny polychromatic hand-cut glass featuring a parrot standing in a branch with tropical flowers around it. The ...
Art Glass
John Bradstreet Bronze Lotus, circa 1900
Located in New York, NY
From the 1890s until his death in 1914, John Bradstreet, the important American Arts and Crafts furniture and interior designer, worked from The Crafts House, his landscaped orientalist compound in Downtown Minneapolis. There, he also received his clients, and dealt in Asian art acquired on frequent trips to the Far East. He used similar bronze Japanese lotuses...
Bronze
Stan Bitters Bird Houses in Glazed Ceramic, USA, 2017
By Stan Bitters
Located in Berlin, DE
Excellent handmade bird houses of glazed lowlfier clay by Stan Bitters. The birdhouses are available in different colors. The houses are a favourite with finches.
Clay
$8,500
H 29.5 in W 14.75 in D 14.75 in
American Figural Boy Lead Bird Bath Holding Shell w/ Dove On Circular Base, 1850
Located in Charleston, SC
American figural boy lead bird bath holding shell above head with dove perched on rim while standing on a circular molded base, Mid 19th Century
Lead
Willy Guhl Goblet Planter
By Willy Guhl
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Unique concrete planter by Swiss architect Willy Guhl. Planter in the shape of a goblet or drinking cup. Excellent patina and coloring. Great scale. Two available. Priced individuall...
Concrete
$2,000 / set
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 17.5 in
Painted Cast Iron Garden Urns and Pedestal Bases, American, Mid-20th Century
Located in Downingtown, PA
"Garden Grandeur": Pair of American Cast Iron "Vase Chambord" Urns on Pedestals, Mid-20th Century A stately pair of American cast iron garden urns raised on matching pedestals, dati...
Iron
English Garden Stone Square Bird Bath
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English garden bird bath of composition stone, featuring a square top with round recessed bath area in the center, set upon a four-sided tapering pedestal with square plinth b...
Stone, Cast Stone
$3,931
H 27.7 in Dm 21.7 in
Large 18th or 19th Century Antique Iron Anduze Style Garden Vase / Planter / Urn
Located in Lisse, NL
Very rare and highly decorative, architectural cast iron vase. If you are a private collector or an interior designer with an eye for the rare and wonderful, then this very rare and timeless garden vase could be perfect for your home or for one of your projects. You may have seen French terracotta Anduze vases before, but we are pretty certain that you have never seen one made of cast iron. This large and possibly one of a kind specimen of cast iron has a wonderfully calm design and it is hand painted in a beigy-gray color which makes it even more timeless. Handcrafted using cast iron...
Iron
$2,660Sale Price|30% Off
H 40.5 in W 22.5 in D 17.5 in
Antique Cast Stone Pedestal and Shell Form Bird Bath
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique cast stone and shell form birdbath. Great antique condition, nice wear and aged patina will add interest to any outdoor space.
Cast Stone
English Garden Stone Urn on Plinth in the Neo-Classical Style
Located in Austin, TX
A handsome English circular garden stone urn (or planter pot) on a raised column plinth. The round urn featuring a lattice design around the top circumference and a fluted bowl. Resting on a round plinth featuring a Neo-Classical relief...
Stone, Cast Stone, Concrete
Pair of 1920s French Cast Iron Jardinieres with Original Purple Paint
Located in Mt Kisco, NY
A pair of unique round cast iron jardinieres attributed to Deville & Cie of Charleville, France. The casting has a floral detail. There is drainage below for permanent planting.
Iron
French Solid Cast Iron Garden Urn Planter
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Small Old Cast Iron Classic Urn Planter, France. Exceptional and substantial in its own right, this cast iron piece featuring amazing original patina. Its timeless design lends itsel...
Iron
Large English Garden Stone Campana Urn or Planter Pot on Square Plinth Base
Located in Austin, TX
A fine large English garden Campana urn (or planter pot) on plinth of composition stone, featuring a round urn with Classically proportioned body on raised square base, and a decorat...
Cast Stone
Vintage Cast Lead Shell Form Bird Bath, 1920's
Located in Chappaqua, NY
Vintage Cast Lead Shell Form Bird Bath, circa 1920's. Stylized'Dolphin base.' Heavy cast lead with aged patina.
Lead
Traditional Cast Iron Britannia Pub Tables, 9 Available
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Collection of Traditional Cast Iron Britannia Pub Tables This listing is for any one of these 9 Traditional English Pub Tables with the Britannia face on all 3 legs, the table ...
Iron
Cast Iron and Beaten Copper Pub Table or Garden Table
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Cast Iron and Beaten Copper Pub Table or Garden Table This lovely table stands on a heavy iron 4 footed base, the top of the table is made in beaten Copper The table is in good sou...
Copper
Large Planter from the Cotswold Studios
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Large Planter from the Cotswold Studios This is a superb large planter, it has plenty of room for planting up even with a small bush The planter has be...
Cast Stone
Frank Lloyd Wright Terra Cotta Sculpture "The Boulder"
By Frank Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
Located in Oakland, CA
Molded terra cotta sculpture "The Boulder" designed by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright and produced by the FLW Foundation, exact age is hard to gauge, judging by the wear approximately 60 plus years, later production sculptures were a terra cotta dyed plaster. The original was designed by Wright for the entry of his first house / studio in 1898 in Oak Park...
Terracotta
Arts & Crafts Style Green Three Seat Wicker Sofa
Located in Nashua, NH
A beautiful three seat, Arts & Crafts style antique wicker sofa in excellent condition. It is attributed to the Karpen Furniture Company of Chicag...
Fabric, Wicker
Lovely Weathered Bird Bath
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Lovely weathered bird bath A lovely looking old weathered bird bath, the support is a sturdy pillar and the bath sits on top, this lifts off for transport Measures: The Bird bat...
Cast Stone
Set of 5 Classical Basket Irish Weave Garden Planters
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A set of 5 classical basket weave garden planters An excellent set of 5 large square planters, this superb set came from an outdoor staircase w...
Marble
Old Chocolate Brown Garden Rabbit with Pricked Ears
Located in South Burlington, VT
Chocolate Hare with fine ears and extraordinary Fur A handsome furry vintage hand cast rabbit in an attractive smooth chopcolate brown finish, cast with beautiful realistic "ears pricked" manner and boasting a superb deeply cast surface fur. It is one of the finer quality designs for vintage American folk art rabbits...
Iron
Weathered Cast Iron 6 Branch Plant Stand
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Weathered cast iron 6 branch plant stand. A truly architectural piece for the garden, the stand is made in Iron so is very heavy, it has 6 branches each with a plant platform at...
Iron
Vintage Galloway Garden Urns
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
Fleurdetroit presents for your consideration, this pair of Arts & Crafts, Galloway garden urns. This impressive pair from a bygone era of Edwardian Garden Splendor with Arts & Crafts...
Terracotta
Sold
H 25.2 in W 32.29 in D 5.91 in
Red, Blue, Vert and Jaune Metal Fish for Candle Inside, Italian, SXX, circa 1960
Located in Valladolid, ES
An amazing photophore as an sculpture do a fish in polychromatic metal. From Italy, midcentury, SXX, circa 1960. Wear consistent for age and use.
Metal
Red Metal Fish, for Candle Inside, Italian, SXX, circa 1960
Located in Valladolid, ES
An amuzing photophore as an sculpture do a fish in polychromatic metal. From Italy, Midcentury, SXX, circa 1960. Wear consistent for age and use.
Metal