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.
19th Century Majolica Birds Jardinière Delphin Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica jardinière planter with 4 birds Delphin Massier, circa 1890. Height / 5 inches , 8 by 5 inches. The Massier are known for the quality of their unique enamels and paintings. ...
Ceramic
ROYAL WORCESTER - Antique Porcelain Shell Form Wall Pocket - U.K. - Circa 1881
By James Hadley, Royal Worcester
Located in Chatham, ON
ROYAL WORCESTER (Manufacturer) - James Hadley (Designer 1837-1903) - Model Number 737 - Antique shell form and gilded coral branch porcelain wall pocket - featuring a realistically m...
Porcelain
19th Century Majolica Shell Jardiniere Sarreguemines
Located in Austin, TX
19th century Majolica Shell Jardiniere signed Sarreguemines. Coral base.
Majolica, Ceramic
A French Japonisme Bronze-Mounted Cobalt Blue Porcelain Jardinière circa 1880
Located in Sleepy Hollow, NY
A striking late 19th-century French Japonisme centerpiece or planter, exquisitely crafted in richly glazed cobalt blue porcelain and lavishly mounted in finely chased gilt bronze. Da...
Bronze, Ormolu
Large Majolica Shell Vase Nautilus Choisy Le Roi, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica Shell Nautilus Vase Urn signed Choisy Le Roi, circa 1890. The base is decorated with shells and coral. H / 8 inches , W / 10 inches.
Majolica, Ceramic
French Majolica Flowers and Insects Basket, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Antique French majolica basket with flowers and butterfly, bug, and insect accents, circa 1880. No maker's mark. Some chips.
Majolica
Majolica Jardinière with Faux Bois Design, Celadon Glaze, Japan
Located in Darien, CT
A richly glazed majolica jardinière, modeled in the faux-bois taste with an entwined vine-form rim and root-form feet. The body has deeply molded leaves, berries, and blossoms in hig...
Ceramic
Large Majolica Thistle Jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica thistle jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880. Height / 9.5 inches. Diameter / 13 inches.
Ceramic
French Monumental Majolica Shell Vase Circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Stunning monumental Majolica pink clamshell jardiniere, circa 1880. This yellow and brown footed shell is decorated with coral,seaweeds and yellow...
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
Majolica Parakeets Garniture Set Vases & Jardinière Sarreguemines, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica Parakeets Garniture set with 2 vases and a jardinière planter signed Sarreguemines, circa 1880. Model 7122. Measures: Jardinière / Height 6.2", length 11" on 6". Vases / ...
Majolica, Ceramic
$3,040Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair 19th C. French Opaline & Gilt Bronze Aesthetic ' Fairy' Motif Cachepots
By Baccarat
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair 19th C. French Opaline & Gilt Bronze Aesthetic ' Fairy' Motif Cachepots France, Circa 1870s Attributed to Baccarat A captivating pair of 19th-century French Opaline & Gilt B...
Bronze
English Majolica Bamboo Planter and Stand, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
English Victorian Majolica bamboo planter and stand, circa 1880.
Ceramic
Aesthetic Movement Jardiniere Attributed to G .Viardot, France, circa 1880
Located in PARIS, FR
A large Japanese style boat-shaped jardiniere attributed to G. Viardot, made in carved wood, ornated with panels decorated with Japanese blossoming cherry tree branches and a trophy ...
Wood
Majolica Aqua Parakeets Jardinière Sarreguemines, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica Parakeets jardinière planter signed Sarreguemines, circa 1880. Model 7122. Jardinière / Height 6.", length 10" on 6".
Ceramic, Majolica
English Aesthetic Movement Pottery Japanese Dragon Jardinière on Stand
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Late 19th/Early 20th century English Aesthetic Movement decorative jardinaire or planter stand featuring Japanese dragons. Beautifully glazed with a two tone finish of green with ric...
Pottery
Majolica Birds on Shell Jardiniere Massier, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Small Majolica birds on shell jardinière Massier, circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience
Early 20thC Aesthetic French Jardinière
Located in Altrincham, GB
Early 20thC Aesthetic French Jardinière with Foliate Banding - 9" diam x 7"h
Brass
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
Aesthetic Gilt Metal Cockatoo & Turtle Figural Cachepot
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Aesthetic Gilt Metal Cockatoo & Turtle Figural Cachepot USa, circa 1900s Of large Size and scale, realistically cast and modeled of Cockatoo with in...
Metal
$1,196Sale Price|20% Off
Highly Unusual French Majolica Rope Twist Vase or Jardiniere
Located in Atlanta, GA
Aubagne France, early 20th century. A highly unusual French ceramic piece with beautiful brown glazed exterior and a polychrome glazed interior. The vase or jardiniere features a li...
Ceramic
French Victorian Glazed Aesthetic Period Centerpiece Planter
Located in Norwood, NJ
Finest quality French aesthetic movement glazed ceramic centerpiece planter, fourth quarter 19th century, Japanese inspired decorating throughout the oval-bodied vessel. The medium ...
Ceramic
Aesthetic Period & Design English Sterling Silver Bowl, London 1879
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in London in 1879 by Martin, Hall & Co., this stunning, Antique Sterling Silver Bowl, is in the Aesthetic taste, featuring cast and applied floral and butterfly detailing,...
Sterling Silver
19th c Old Paris Hand Painted Porcelain Planter with Portraits of Horses
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This large square hand painted porcelain planter was made in France ca. 1880's or earlier. It features two hand painted "portraits" of horses heads alternating with 2 sides of hand p...
Porcelain
Large French Majolica Palissy Jardiniere Circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica Palissy jardinière with leaves and branches, circa 1880.
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
$1,427
H 11.42 in W 6.3 in D 5.52 in
Blue and Grey Freeform Ceramic Vase by Accolay circa 1960 French Midcentury
Located in Neuilly-en- sancerre, FR
Accolay Elegant freeform ceramic vase by Accolay Signed under the base Original perfect conditions Decorative blue and grey ceramic glazes colors Measures: Height 29cm...
Ceramic
Large Majolica Thistle Jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica thistle jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880. Height / 9.5 inches. Diameter / 13 inches.
Ceramic
Majolica Rooster/Cockerel Vase by Louis Carrier Belleuse
By Louis Robert Carrier-Belleuse, Choisy-le-Roi
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
Choisy Majolica vase which features a rooster stood in front of a stone wall. Signed, 'LOUIS CARRIER-BELLEUSE' to the side of the base. Coloration: Bro...
Majolica
$2,573
H 20.87 in W 18.31 in D 14.18 in
Very Rare 19th Century Hand Carved Qing Dynasty Chinese Hongmu Jardinière Stand
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning and very rare 19th century hand carved Chinese Qing Dynasty Hongmu stand A very good looking well mad...
Wood
$4,868 / set
H 21.26 in Dm 7.09 in
Pair of Orientalist Royal Worcester Porcelain Figures of Water Carriers
By Royal Worcester, James Hadley
Located in London, GB
These two refined Orientalist figures represent a male and female in Eastern dress, each holding a ceramic water jug. The pair was modelled by British ceramic designer James Hadley, ...
Porcelain
$3,600 / set
H 8.15 in Dm 2.5 in
Pair of 19th Century Aesthetic Movement Royal Worcester Shell and Coral Vases
Located in Great Barrington, MA
These rare examples of Aesthetic Movement ivory porcelain themed vases features a matching pair of realistically molded open shells nestled in coral branches. The translucent walls a...
Porcelain
$16,000 / set
H 29.93 in W 10.24 in D 9.06 in
Pair of Glazed Ceramic Flower Vases by Delphin Massier, France, circa 1890
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Pair of glazed ceramic flower vases by Delphin Massier, France, circa 1890.
Ceramic
Iridescent Art Nouveau Monumental Beetle Vase by Delphin Massier
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Note: We highly recommend shipping through 1stDibs for its cost effectiveness, full insurance coverage, and reliable handling. While standard parcel services are an option, the defau...
Earthenware
$1,260Sale Price|30% Off
H 7.49 in Dm 10.24 in
Antique large fine quality Oriental Japanese 19th Century bronze Jardinière bowl
Located in Wisbech, England
Antique large fine quality Oriental Japanese bronze Jardinière planter bowl censor Meiji Period 19th Century. Would look amazing in the right location and make a fabulous centre pie...
Bronze
19th Century French Majolica Jardinere
Located in Dallas, TX
Lovely antique French Majolica jaridinere. Featuring a beautiful aqua and brow textured finish with images of birds and leaves. Makes a fabulous accessory! Circa 1890 16w x 13d x 9h
Ceramic
$2,250
H 8.4 in W 13.5 in D 8.75 in
Antique French Onnaing Majolica Pumpkin Cachepot Jardiniere Planter, circa 1880
By Onnaing
Located in Pearland, TX
A gorgeous antique French Onnaing majolica pumpkin cachepot / jardiniere / planter, circa 1880. Maker's mark on reverse. This fine jardiniere is a nice large size decorated with vibr...
Ceramic, Majolica
Majolica Aqua Flowers Cachepot Sarreguemines, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Majolica Aqua Hydrangea Cachepot Sarreguemines, circa 1900. Model 7082. Height / 8.8 inches. Diameter / 10.5 inches.
Ceramic, Majolica
Late19thC Ebonized & Ormolu Mounted Jardiniere Stand
Located in Altrincham, GB
Late19thC Ebonised & Ormolu Mounted Jardiniere Stand - of tapered Aesthetic form with lion paw feet and circular top - 15" diam (13" at the top) x 37.5"h
Ormolu
19th Century Majolica Flowers Jardiniere Delphin Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Unusual Majolica large jardiniere with flowers daisies, pansies, wild roses surrounded by branches signed Delphin Massier. 9.5 inches W. 5 inches H.
Ceramic, Majolica
Sold
H 6.38 in W 3.25 in D 3.15 in
Pair of 19th Century English Pinder Bourne & Co Ceramic Bamboo Planters
By Pinder, Bourne & Co
Located in Pearland, TX
Antique 19th Century Aesthetic Movement ceramic bamboo planters/vases, decorated in blue and gold, decorated with birds and reeds. Stamped to the bottoms "Pinder Bourne & Co. Nile St...
Ceramic
Burmantofts Rare Pair Faience Pottery Yellow Glazed Swan Vases
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare pair Burmantofts Faience art pottery vases or planters modelled as swans dating from around 1890. This stylish pair of swans are modelled as swimming and stand on an unglazed ...
Pottery
Majolica Fish Jardiniere, Attr. To Joseph Holdcroft C. 1870s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in! This fabulous and large Majolica jardinière or planter with Swimming Fish and white Lotus flowers on branches on a turquoise background and Greek Key border. .This planter...
Ceramic
French Majolica Orchid Jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica Orchid Jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880 Height / 8 inches. Diameter / 10.5 inches.
Ceramic
Large Majolica Thistle Jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880
By Onnaing
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica thistle jardinière Onnaing, circa 1880. Height / 9 inches. Diameter / 13 inches.
Ceramic
French Majolica Daffodil Cache Pot Creil & Montereau, Circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica Daffodil Cache Pot Creil & Montereau, Circa 1890. Total height / 10.3 inches. Platter / 11.5 inches diameter. Cache pot / height :9.3 inches, diameter: 10 inches.
Faience
Circa 1880 Grand Size Japanese Cloisonné Jardinière
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Circa 1880 grand size Aesthetic Movement, cloisonné jardinière, Japanese. Meiji period. Boldly decorated with repetitive floral cartouche border, extensive flowers and flowing tendri...
Metal, Enamel
19th Century Majolica Birds Jardiniere Delphin Massier
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica birds jardinière planter signed Delphin Massier, circa 1890. The Massier are known for the quality of their unique enamel...
Ceramic
Majolica Birds on Shell Jardiniere Massier, circa 1890
Located in Austin, TX
Small Majolica birds on shell jardinière Massier, circa 1890.
Ceramic, Faience