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.
Unique Hand Decorated "Romantic Family" Arts & Crafts Wood Settle Rhode Island
Located in South Burlington, VT
From an important thirty year old New England collection of hand decorated pyrography Arts & Crafts furnishings. Unique work of art with a Rhode Island origin. A romantic compositio...
Wood
Arts And Crafts Antique Pyrography Old King Cole Signed Table, 1915
Located in South Burlington, VT
A Unique and charming American arts and crafts carved and hand pyrographed maple wood single drawer table created by the rarely encountered George S. Stewart Company, Norwalk, Ohi...
Wood, Maple
$2,240Sale Price / set|38% Off
Fine Pair of American Hand Decorated "Grape & Vine" Arts & Crafts Chairs
Located in South Burlington, VT
From an important thirty year old New England collection of hand decorated pyrographic Arts & Crafts chairs This is a beautiful pair of 19th century chairs hand decorated in a lov...
Wood, Pine
Bath Cabinet Makers, an Arts & Crafts Oak Sideboard with Dutch Inlaid Scenes
By Liberty & Co., Bath Cabinet Makers
Located in London, GB
Bath cabinet makers. In the Liberty style. An early Arts & Crafts oak break front sideboard with Dutch inlaid scenes of mill owners with there little bla...
Oak
$2,425Sale Price|37% Off
Antique Arts Crafts Native American End Table 1910
Located in South Burlington, VT
A Unique Table With Native American Motif, Signed This is a one-of-a-kind original and beautiful hand incised broad top wooden end table -a unique creation- finished in attractive n...
Wood
American Unique Hand Decorated Adirondack "Sail Boats" Desk, 1900
Located in South Burlington, VT
From an important thirty year old New England collection of hand decorated pyrography Arts & Crafts furnishings. Unique work of art with a southern Vermont origin. A large scal...
Wood
$7,600Sale Price|20% Off
American Unique Antique Handcrafted "Children's Celebration" Wood Bench, 1905
Located in South Burlington, VT
This is a unique and original beautifully hand-incised hand painted settle or bench signed and dated 1905. This unique work of art is hand-incised using a pyrographic (pyrography) wo...
Wood
Romantic Unique Hand Decorated "Throne Chair" Arts And Crafts Pyrography
Located in South Burlington, VT
From an important thirty year old New England collection of hand decorated pyrography Arts & Crafts furnishings. Unique work of art with a Rhode Island origin. A romantic hand carved and hand painted one-of-a-kind throne chair painting and pyrography on wood attributed to the circle of Lawrence Pennington, early 20th century, Warwick, Rhode Island. This is a beautiful early 20th century high back...
Wood
French Painted & Carved Floral Dressing Table, Circa 1790
Located in Charleston, SC
French hand painted flip top dressing table with floral paintings , ebonized string inlay, foliage border with swags, connecting cross stretchers , and terminating on tampered splay...
Paint, Wood
"Space bar" by WAS, Unique piece
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
"Space bar" by WAS Airplane trolley turned into an unique Artwork The trolley has been customized by the french artist WAS transforming it into a work...
Metal, Aluminum
Small hand--painted cabinet, dated 1736
Located in 'S-HERTOGENBOSCH, NL
Small cabinet with 1 door. Hand painted with decorative floral motives. Dated: 1738. Inside has 2 shelves, a small drawer is missing.
Pine, Paint
Late 19th Century Quebec Paint Decorated Plant Stand, circa 1890
Located in Nantucket, MA
Antique Quebec paint decorated plant stand or bucket bench, circa 1890, pine slat construction with three shelves, fluted backsplash and apron, and deli...
Pine
Antique Painted Folk Art Farmhouse Bridal Chest
Located in OOSTERHOUT, NL
Beautiful painted bridal chest from Germany, specifically from the Swabian Alps. The chest is painted in a grayish-blue color and features floral decorations on the front panel. This...
Pine, Paint
Hand Painted Wooden House with Storage - in an American Folk Art Style
Located in Morristown, NJ
A charming handmade storage piece in the form of a house with a chimney. Executed in the American Folk Art style, this is a charming piece that is both decorative and practical. The ...
Metal
Arts and Crafts Oak Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
An Arts and Crafts table in quarter sawn oak with hexagonal top and shaped undershelf supported on three flat tapered legs ending in arched feet and decorated with trefoil piercework...
Oak
Antique Long Wooden Bench in Old Brown Paint
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An antique wooden bench in old brown paint with other paint spatters here and there on top. The extended top with attached sides is mounted on notched carved flat legs on each end. A...
Wood
18th Century Swedish Folk Art antique rustic Trunk /Chest
Located in Boden, SE
18th Century Swedish antique rustique Chest from Boden Norrbotten, Northern Sweden. The chest has untouched original paint. The trunk was dated 1799 to celebrate a birthday ,and the ...
Pine
$2,995
H 17.75 in W 22 in D 22 in
Catalina California or Mission Arts & Crafts Style Spanish Tile Top Side Table
Located in Topeka, KS
Gorgeous Catalina, California, Taylor, or Mission Arts & Crafts style Spanish tile top side or end table. Comprised of a square top with four ceramic tiles inlaid in an oak frame and...
Ceramic, Oak
$18,000 / set
H 33.25 in W 19.25 in D 16 in
Set of Eight American Black Lacquered and Gilt Fancy Chairs Baltimore, C. 1810
Located in Charleston, SC
Set of Eight American black lacquered and gilt fancy chairs with painted bird, floral, and shell motif. Two arms and six sides. Chairs have cane seats with...
Silk, Upholstery, Pine, Giltwood, Lacquer, Paint
18th Century American Pine Decorated Blanket Chest
Located in Nantucket, MA
18th century American pine decorated blanket chest, probably from New England, circa 1770 having a dovetailed case on wide bracket feet, the li...
Pine
Passion by Michael Scheers
Located in bruxelles, BE
Michael Scheers is a Belgian visual artist. He was born in 1958. He lives and works in Rixensart (BE). Self-taught, Michael Scheers has been involved in the world of advertising since his early childhood. This world allowed him to demonstrate a great sense of detail from an early age. Michael Scheers' art lies halfway between optical illusion and movement. The discovery of his work is a process of transformation where the angle of vision defines forms and colours. Each geometric composition is a poetic journey where the mastery of colours and the discovery of unexpected configurations surprise, magnetise or question. Michael Scheers truly inhabits the space and interacts with the viewer who becomes a participant in spite of himself. Art in Motion is participatory, dynamic and social. One cannot ignore the parallels between his work and that of Walter Leblanc...
Canvas, Glass
Broken Glass by Michael Scheers
Located in bruxelles, BE
Michael Scheers is a Belgian visual artist. He was born in 1958. He lives and works in Rixensart (BE). Self-taught, Michael Scheers has been involved ...
Canvas, Glass
Wave by Michael Scheers
Located in bruxelles, BE
Michael Scheers is a Belgian visual artist. He was born in 1958. He lives and works in Rixensart (BE). Self-taught, Michael Scheers has been involved in the world of advertising since his early childhood. This world allowed him to demonstrate a great sense of detail from an early age. Michael Scheers' art lies halfway between optical illusion and movement. The discovery of his work is a process of transformation where the angle of vision defines forms and colours. Each geometric composition is a poetic journey where the mastery of colours and the discovery of unexpected configurations surprise, magnetise or question. Michael Scheers truly inhabits the space and interacts with the viewer who becomes a participant in spite of himself. Art in Motion is participatory, dynamic and social. One cannot ignore the parallels between his work and that of Walter Leblanc...
Canvas, Paper
Antique Icon 12 Apostles and the Virgin Mary with Christ
Located in Milano, IT
Splendid antique icon designed 1300 and 1400, Italian manufacture. The painting is on a rectangular wooden panel. The painting depicts the Virgin Mary seated on a throne with Jesus Christ in her arms. The 12 apostles...
Wood, Paint
Twins by Michael Scheers
Located in bruxelles, BE
Michael Scheers is a Belgian visual artist. He was born in 1958. He lives and works in Rixensart (BE). Self-taught, Michael Scheers has been involved ...
Canvas, Paper
Chromed View by Michael Scheers
Located in bruxelles, BE
Michael Scheers is a Belgian visual artist. He was born in 1958. He lives and works in Rixensart (BE). Self-taught, Michael Scheers has been involved ...
Metal, Chrome
Pink Flamingo by Michael Scheers
Located in bruxelles, BE
It is possible to remove the cardboard, the round canvas then has a diameter of 91 cm Michael Scheers is a Belgian visual artist. He was born in 1958. He lives and works in Rixe...
Canvas, Paper
Moroccan Table Hand Painted in Green and Red Moorish Design
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan colorful green hand painted and carved side occasional table with Moorish designs. Pedestal table in green background with multicolored floral and geometric designs. Very decorative fine artwork on a star shape base. Hand painted in the Moorish manner and well suited as bedside stands or side tables. These exotic side tables...
Wood
Moroccan Moorish Blue Hand Painted Side Table
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan Moorish blue handcrafted and hand painted side table. Moucharabie fret work octagonal stool with Moorish arches. Handcrafted in Hispano Moresque style and hand painted on blue color background with wine, aqua, green and ochre Moorish floral and geometrical designs. Nice Moorish Bohemian accent addition to any room. Arts & Crafts Moroccan tea table...
Wood
Moroccan Hand-Painted Dark Green Octagonal Side Table
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan colorful hand-painted dark green side table with Moorish design and open fret mousharabie work on sides. Dark green background with multicolored floral top and geometric de...
Wood
Moroccan Hand Painted Ivory Table
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted tabouret or side tables. Moucharabie fret work octagonal stool with Moorish arches. Handcrafted in Hispano Moresque style and hand painted on ...
Wood
Moorish Hand Painted Pedestal Table
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and ivory color hand painted tabouret or side table. Octagonal shape pedestal table with Moorish arches. Very decorative fine artwork in octagonal shape base. ...
Wood