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.
English Arts and Crafts Secretary Bookcase, ca. 1910s
Located in Meulebeke, BE
An elegant and finely crafted example of early 20th‑century British design, this English Arts and Crafts secretary bookcase from the 1910s. I...
Copper
$7,246
Arts & Crafts Secretaire
Located in London, GB
Arts & Crafts secretaire. Circa 1930's. Dark green stained wood with aged foxed mirror, geometric carvings, scrolled metal details and velvet backing. In good soli...
Glass, Wood
IMPORTANT Antique Desk/Bookcase by Gustav Stickley -W7794 MUST SELL
By Harvey Ellis, Gustav Stickley
Located in Shamokin Dam, PA
This is an extremely important Antique Desk/Bookcase by Gustav Stickley and Harvey Ellis. This is one of the most important pieces made by Gustav Stickley. It was designed in 1902...
Glass, Oak
Shapland & Petter, Arts & Crafts Mahogany Desk with a Pierced Heart to the Top
Located in London, GB
Shapland & Petter. A wonderful Arts & Crafts mahogany writing desk with a pierced heart to the top, shaped back and sides, with upper three quarter shelf and a stylized floral leaded glass back below. A period style leather writing area with hand tooled gilt decoration to the edges. A bow fronted drawer with stylized copper heart...
Leather, Mahogany
Antique Oak Ladies Writing Desk with Barley Twist Legs and Leather Top
Located in Lisse, NL
Artistic and perfectly hand-crafted oak writing desk with large drawer. Beautiful and practical antique ladies writing desk from circa 1920. This fine Arts & Crafts era desk, with ...
Brass
Ernest Gimson A walnut bureau inlaid with holly chequered string inlay.
Located in London, GB
Ernest Gimson attributed. Arts & Crafts Cotswold school walnut bureau inlaid with holly chequered string inlay. The quality of this craftsman handmade bureau is a step above. The fol...
Walnut
George Walton Style of a Small Arts & Crafts Oak Sideboard with Floral Carvings
Located in London, GB
A small Arts & Crafts oak sideboard in the style of George Walton. With flaring cornice, four small upper cupboards the central pair with arched doors and a small work area in front,...
Oak
$4,760Sale Price|20% Off
English Arts & Crafts Handmade Dark Stained Solid Oak Desk with Side Shelves
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Solid oak English Arts & Crafts desk with built in side shelves and removable top for ease of movement make this a practical gem. Original hardware perfectly intact and united by str...
Oak
Arts & Crafts Movement Oak Secretaire Cabinet Desk
Located in Tunbridge Wells, GB
Unusual original Arts & Crafts Movement oak secretaire cabinet, circa 1900. The cabinet has its original brass handles and is in good condition with only some minor losses to the pa...
Oak
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of elm, oak and padouk woods, c.1780 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compart...
Metal, Brass
$6,895
H 44 in W 47 in D 23 in
George III Bureau Desk or Secretary Chest of Mahogany from the 18th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine George III slant top desk or bureau secretary chest of patinated mahogany, c.1770 - an inlaid slant front drops to reveal a series of small drawers and document compartments, ...
Metal, Brass
Louis XV Style Chinoiserie Slant-Top Desk
Located in Pembroke, MA
A stunning, petite French slant-top desk or "bureau de pente" in the Louis XV style, turquoise and gold polychromed with Chinoiserie detailing, and red under-body. Desk opens to rev...
Bronze
$4,800Sale Price|58% Off
H 39 in W 49 in D 24 in
English Regency Style Mahogany and Satinwood Inlaid Carlton House Desk
Located in Vero Beach, FL
English Regency style mahogany and satinwood inlaid Carlton house desk. Circa 1880 rare Carlton House desk, typical for the Regency period, is a beautiful piece of furniture. It i...
Mahogany
$2,800Sale Price|30% Off
H 37.8 in W 38.59 in D 20.48 in
19th Century French Mahogany Writing Desk with Folding Front Part
Located in Sofia, BG
French mahogany writing desk with folding front part and hidden drawers in the upper part. There are also three big drawers in the lower p...
Mahogany
$2,200
H 86 in W 39.5 in D 16 in
Vintage French Provincial Blue Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby
By Danby
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Blue Distress Painted Bookcase Tall Secretary Desk by Danby. Item features shell carved accents, working lock and key, solid wood construction, great style ...
Wood
George III Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
Elegant Georgian style cabinet with classical pediment, geometric glazing bars over the twin doors with three adjustable shelves within, the lower section with a fall front, fully li...
Mahogany
$3,500
H 73 in W 40 in D 29.5 in
Antique Early 19th Century Plantation Desk Secretary + Bookcase Hutch Cabinet
Located in Dayton, OH
An exceptional mid to early 19th century primitive American Plantation writing desk / hutch / cupboard / cabinet. Made from Pine and Poplar with a cherry finish. Featuring two piec...
Poplar, Pine
English Mahogany Secretary Desk, 19th Century
Located in Southampton, NY
English Mahogany secretary desk, 19th century Three pieces: Crown, upper drawers and lower cabinet. Lowest draw pulls out as a secretary desk. Measures: 21" deep x 46.5" wide x 80.5"...
Mahogany
Antique Mahogany Secretary Bookcase
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A quality mahogany classic secretary bookcase made in two parts. The top cornice with a carved dentil frieze over double mullion glazed doors that open to two shelves. The lower case...
Brass
$38,000
H 43 in W 44 in D 23 in
American Chippendale Mahogany Oxbow Slant Top Desk. Boston, Circa 1770
Located in Charleston, SC
American Chippendale mahogany oxbow slant top four drawer desk with exposed dove tail, original brasses, fitted interior, shell carved skirt, and terminating on original claw and ba...
Art Deco Walnut Writing Desk Bureau, English, c1930
Located in Devon, England
Fabulous 1930s Art Deco heavily figured walnut bureau in the most wonderful shape. Not only does this great bureau look great its very functional too. The top opens up to reveal ev...
Chrome
English Antique Oak Secretaire, Arts and Crafts Style, UK, 1910
Located in Leicester, GB
A beautiful solid oak English antique secretaire / bureau. There's a space for a laptop and a slim drawer under the table section. Lovely curved shape with ski feet. Bureaux size...
Oak
Sold
H 59.5 in W 34 in D 14 in
Antique Arts & Crafts Mahogany Five Stack Barrister Secretary & Bookcase c1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
***Reduced Delivery Rates - See Below or Click “Ask The Seller” to Request a Quote*** An antique Arts and Crafts barrister bookcase...
Glass, Mahogany
Sold
H 29.9 in W 75.2 in D 19.7 in
Unique Dutch Arts & Crafts Oak Partners Desk and Filing Cabinet Into One, 1910s
Located in Lisse, NL
Unique and very stylish antique desk from early 1900s Amsterdam. When you don't know much about the history of a unique antique then sometimes you need to look better at it than others have and the answers might come to you that way. When we first saw this piece of furniture, our knowledge about this Style told us it was a typical Dutch Arts and Crafts antique that was hand-crafted around 1915. Apart from the design and the oakwood exterior with the coromandel handles on the drawers it has exactly the kind of patina that ties in with pieces from that era. What makes this piece stand out from any other antique desk that we had ever seen is the design itself. Fully closed this is a relatively small filing...
Brass
Sold
H 62.25 in W 30 in D 17.75 in
Antique Arts & Crafts Mission Oak & Leaded Glass Drop Front Secretary Desk C1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts and Crafts Mission drop-front secretary offers quarter sawn oak construction with upper bookcase having double leaded glass doors opening to shelved interior over sla...
Glass, Oak
40s English Oak Wood Secretaire, Desk, Commode by Aw-Lyn
By Aw-Lyn
Located in Valladolid, ES
Gorgous, refined and practical Arts & Crafts bureau or desk made of oak around the 30s or 40s of the 20th century in the United Kingdom, by Aw-Lyn, a manufacturer of furniture of ext...
Oak
Sold
H 29.7 in W 27 in D 18.1 in
Artistic and Perfectly Hand Crafted Arts & Crafts Oak Fine Ladies Writing Desk
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and practical antique ladies desk from 1890-1910. This fine, Arts & Crafts era ladies desk is another great example of the stylish designs that were hand-crafted and of ...
Brass
Sold
H 29.75 in W 42.5 in D 28.5 in
Antique Arts & Crafts JM Young Mission Oak Library Table Desk circa 1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts and Crafts Mission library table desk offers quarter sawn oak construction with upper drawer, slat sides and mortice and tenon lo...
Oak
Antique Spinet Secretary Desk
Located in New York, NY
Antique Spinet Desk Secretary. This is the perfect small desk having a full lower front drawer with carved fan detail center and scalloped bottom. ...
Poplar, Walnut
Sold
H 62.75 in W 36 in D 13.25 in
Arts & Crafts Mission Paneled Oak & Leaded Glass Barrister Secretary, c1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts & Crafts mission barrister bookcase secretary offers quarter sawn oak paneled construction with upper having leaded glass ...
Oak, Glass
Antique Edwardian Arts & Crafts Mahogany Writing Bureau
Located in London, GB
A lovely antique Arts & Crafts period bureau in solid mahogany, dating from around the 1890-1900 period. This is of excellent quality and has a beautiful design. The writing surface...
Mahogany
Handsome 19th Century Mahogany Butler's Secretary Cabinet
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Handsome 19th century butler's secretary signed and dated by Ja. B. Metz, Norrisville PA 1880. Made in the master craftsman tradition having hand...
Mahogany
Sold
H 43 in W 38.25 in D 25 in
Antique Oak Arts & Crafts Stacked Card Catalog Filing Cabinet, Circa 1910
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique Arts & Crafts library research card catalog filing cabinet offers paneled oak construction with stacked units having an upper with...
Metal, Brass