In its sinuous lines and flamboyant curves inspired by the natural world, antique Art Nouveau furniture reflects a desire for freedom from the stuffy social and artistic strictures of the Victorian era. The Art Nouveau movement developed in the decorative arts in France and Britain in the early 1880s and quickly became a dominant aesthetic style in Western Europe and the United States.
ORIGINS OF ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGN
CHARACTERISTICS OF ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGN
ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW
ANTIQUE ART NOUVEAU FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS
Art Nouveau — which spanned furniture, architecture, jewelry and graphic design — can be easily identified by its lush, flowing forms suggested by flowers and plants, as well as the lissome tendrils of sea life. Although Art Deco and Art Nouveau were both in the forefront of turn-of-the-20th-century design, they are very different styles — Art Deco is marked by bold, geometric shapes while Art Nouveau incorporates dreamlike, floral motifs. The latter’s signature motif is the "whiplash" curve — a deep, narrow, dynamic parabola that appears as an element in everything from chair arms to cabinetry and mirror frames.
The visual vocabulary of Art Nouveau was particularly influenced by the soft colors and abstract images of nature seen in Japanese art prints, which arrived in large numbers in the West after open trade was forced upon Japan in the 1860s. Impressionist artists were moved by the artistic tradition of Japanese woodblock printmaking, and Japonisme — a term used to describe the appetite for Japanese art and culture in Europe at the time — greatly informed Art Nouveau.
The Art Nouveau style quickly reached a wide audience in Europe via advertising posters, book covers, illustrations and other work by such artists as Aubrey Beardsley, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Mucha. While all Art Nouveau designs share common formal elements, different countries and regions produced their own variants.
In Scotland, the architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh developed a singular, restrained look based on scale rather than ornament; a style best known from his narrow chairs with exceedingly tall backs, designed for Glasgow tea rooms. Meanwhile in France, Hector Guimard — whose iconic 1896 entry arches for the Paris Metro are still in use — and Louis Majorelle produced chairs, desks, bed frames and cabinets with sweeping lines and rich veneers.
The Art Nouveau movement was known as Jugendstil ("Youth Style") in Germany, and in Austria the designers of the Vienna Secession group — notably Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffmann and Joseph Maria Olbrich — produced a relatively austere iteration of the Art Nouveau style, which mixed curving and geometric elements.
Art Nouveau revitalized all of the applied arts. Ceramists such as Ernest Chaplet and Edmond Lachenal created new forms covered in novel and rediscovered glazes that produced thick, foam-like finishes. Bold vases, bowls and lighting designs in acid-etched and marquetry cameo glass by Émile Gallé and the Daum Freres appeared in France, while in New York the glass workshop-cum-laboratory of Louis Comfort Tiffany — the core of what eventually became a multimedia decorative-arts manufactory called Tiffany Studios — brought out buoyant pieces in opalescent favrile glass.
Jewelry design was revolutionized, as settings, for the first time, were emphasized as much as, or more than, gemstones. A favorite Art Nouveau jewelry motif was insects (think of Tiffany, in his famed Dragonflies glass lampshade).
Like a mayfly, Art Nouveau was short-lived. The sensuous, languorous style fell out of favor early in the 20th century, deemed perhaps too light and insubstantial for European tastes in the aftermath of World War I. But as the designs on 1stDibs demonstrate, Art Nouveau retains its power to fascinate and seduce.
There are ways to tastefully integrate a touch of Art Nouveau into even the most modern interior — browse an extraordinary collection of original antique Art Nouveau furniture on 1stDibs, which includes decorative objects, seating, tables, garden elements and more.
$5,168Sale Price|20% Off
Art Nouveau Silver Mesh Coin Purse with Elephant Motif, France, 20th Century
Located in Lisbon, PT
An elegant French Art Nouveau silver mesh coin purse dating to the early 20th century, distinguished by a decorative clasp featuring an elephant motif. The finely worked silver mesh...
Silver
Antique Sterling Silver & Glass Vanity Jars, Set of Five
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of five antique sterling silver and glass vanity jars. Various repoussè floral designs. each sterling lid is stamped sterling. Large j...
Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Repoussè Hand Mirror
Located in Stamford, CT
Antique sterling silver repoussè hand mirror. Stamped sterling, as shown in photos. Beveled inset mirror is possibly not original.
Sterling Silver
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
Art Nouveau Sterling Figural 8 Piece Belt by William B. Kerr Silver Company
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Art Nouveau Sterling Figural 8 Piece Belt by William B. Kerr Silver Company USA, circa 1890s This Art Nouveau sterling silver belt by the esteemed William B. Kerr Silver Company st...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Centerpiece Bowl 650A
By Georg Jensen, Harald Nielsen
Located in Hellerup, DK
An early, extra-large Georg Jensen sterling silver centerpiece bowl, design no. 650A by Harald Nielsen, circa 1931. Features elegant curved handles adorned with foliage and berry mot...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Cosmos Sterling Silver Tea and Coffee Service with Tray, No. 45
Located in Hellerup, DK
A large Georg Jensen sterling silver tea and coffee service, design no. 45, known as Cosmos, with its matching tray no. 251C. The design comes from the Georg Jensen workshop's early ...
Sterling Silver
Rare Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Hot Water Urn #32
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
An exceptionally rare and important Georg Jensen sterling silver hot water urn, design #32, designed by Georg Jensen circa 1913. Monumental in both scale and presence, this extraordi...
Sterling Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Art Nouveau Decorative Bowl with Morning Glory Motif
Located in New York, NY
This stunning and sculptural antique decorative bowl was realized in England, circa 1900. It features a scalloped border with an abundance of s...
Sterling Silver
1930 Jean Puiforcat Art Deco Modernist Tea and Coffee Set Sterling Silver
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Art Deco Modernist tea and coffee set in sterling pure silver and rosewood by Jean E. Puiforcat in 1925. Service including: - a coffee pot - a teapot - a milkpot - a sugar ...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver "Octopus" Five-Light Candelabrum, Design #383A
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
A Georg Jensen sterling silver five-light candelabrum, design no. 383A, from a design of around 1920. Five arms curve out from a heavy central body, each covered in grapes, leaves an...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Grape Candlesticks 263A
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
An elegant pair of vintage Georg Jensen sterling silver candlesticks in the Grape design, #263A, designed by Georg Jensen circa 1930. These candlesticks are a fine example of the cr...
Sterling Silver
$475Sale Price|26% Off
Gorham Art Nouveau Sterling Buckle, 1902
By Gorham
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Gorham Art Nouveau sterling buckle, 1902. Marks for Gorham Sterling and B1949 copyrighted with 1902 (year). Beautiful open floral nouveau whiplash des...
Sterling Silver
Salimbeni Table Box Art Nouveau Painting Pre-Raphaelite School Fired Enamel
By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
This rectangular table box is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Crafted from 925/1000 sterling silver and gold-plated, it features a hand-painted fire-enameled miniature by Beatrice Me...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
$285Sale Price|40% Off
Art Nouveau Glass Perfume Bottle with English Sterling Silver Filigree Overlay
Located in Sheffield, MA
The Art Nouveau glass perfume bottle is embellished with an English sterling (stamped and with rampant lion) silver filigree overlay and cap....
Sterling Silver
1925 Jean Puiforcat Art Deco Modernist Tea and Coffee Set Sterling Silver
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Art Deco Modernist tea and coffee set in sterling pure silver and rosewood by Jean E. Puiforcat in 1925. Service including: - a coffee pot - a teapot - a milk jug - a sugar...
Sterling Silver
Cigar Box with Fine Fine Miniature Alphons Mucha's "Amethyst" Poster Salimbeni
By Giorgio Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular rounded cigar box with vertical opening in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with fine miniature hand-painted in tempera on vegetable iv...
Sterling Silver
Rare Crystal Perfume Bottle with Solid Silver Mount, France 1890s
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This rare and refined French perfume bottle dates from the late 19th century and is a beautiful example of the Art Nouveau period, combining elegant materials with delicate, flowing ...
Crystal, Silver
Vintage Sterling Silver “Today” Money Clip / Note Clip with Inscription
Located in San Diego, CA
A sleek and understated vintage sterling silver money clip featuring a minimalist modernist form with softly tapered ends and clean architectural lines. The front is engraved “TODAY,...
Sterling Silver
Georg Jensen "Louvre" Sterling Silver Bowl, Design No. 19B, Large B Model
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
This early vintage sterling silver bowl by Georg Jensen features design #19B, created in 1912. Known as the Louvre bowl, it was acquired by the Louvre museum in Paris in 1914 for the...
Sterling Silver
Exquisite Art Nouveau Silver & Gold Beakers, France circa 1910 - Set of Six
By Edouard Fournemet
Located in Bochum, NRW
Exquisite Art Nouveau Silver & Vermeil (Gold plating) Beakers by Edouard Fournemet, France, c.1910 - Set of Six. An exceptional set of six Art Nouveau silver and vermeil liqueur ...
Silver, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
Antique Art Nouveau Silver Jardiniere / Centrepiece Bowl Germany c. 1900
Located in London, GB
A large Antique Art Nouveau Solid Silver Centrepiece with a removable gilt metal liner. This Silver Centrepiece is a beautiful example of Art Nouveau design with elegant floral and f...
Silver, Silver Plate
Antique Art Nouveau Floral Gorham Sterling Silver Overlay Flask
By Gorham
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Gorham sterling silver overlay flask featuring an 1/8 Pint glass jar with a fancy engraved leafy vine art nouveau silver overlay design, a removab...
Sterling Silver
$42,116 / set
Enormous Georg Jensen Sterling Silver Tea Service 32
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
This exquisite tea set is a remarkable example of Danish art nouveau craftsmanship. Created by Georg Jensen in 1912, it showcases the iconic grape design, characterized by its elegan...
Sterling Silver
Unusual Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Lidded 'with Lion Motif' Powder Jar
By Eastwood-Park Co.
Located in New York, NY
Unusual, Art Nouveau, sterling silver-lidded, cut crystal powder jar, Eastwood-Park Co., Jew Jersey, circa 1909-1915. The lid has a motif of two lions rampant holding a central carto...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
English Sterling Silver Walking Stick with Classical Fluted Finial
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver English Walking Stick with Classic Fluted Finial An elegant English walking stick crafted from sterling silver features a finely crafted decorative...
Sterling Silver
HORTON & ALLDAY 1890 Art Nouveau Enameled Perfume Bottle In Sterling Silver
By HORTON & ALLDAY OF BIRMINGHAM (1888-1933)
Located in Miami, FL
A scent perfume bottle designed by Horton & Allday. This is a superb and very rare scent perfume-bottle created in Chester England by the silversmith company of Horton & Allday, bac...
Silver, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Belt Buckle by Gustav Gaudernack (1865-1914) David Andersen Norway, C.1895-1900.
By Gustav Gaudernack, David Andersen
Located in Valby, 84
Art Nouveau Belt Buckle by Gustav Gaudernack (1865–1914), 830 Silver, Executed by David Andersen, Norway, ca. 1895–1900. Belt Buckle of rectangular form in pierced and cast 830 silv...
Silver
Antique Sterling Silver Repoussé Vesta / Match Safe
Located in San Diego, CA
Elegant sterling silver vesta case featuring flowing repoussé floral and scrolling decoration with a softly asymmetrical Art Nouveau silhouette. The hinged lid opens cleanly and the ...
Sterling Silver
Antique English Clock Diary Carriage Companion in Sterling Silver
By Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Co. Ltd.
Located in Northampton, GB
FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING The carriage companion is designed as a combined timekeeping and stationery accessory, intended for use while travelling by horse drawn carriage. The exterio...
Sterling Silver
Original, Hallmark. Massive Silver Candleholder, Koloman Moser Wiener Werkstätte
By Koloman Moser, Woka Lamps, Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Vienna, AT
Signature: Austrian silver-mark, WW-mark. What is unusual for a Wiener Werkstatte silver-object. The signatures are on the bottom side instead...
Lapis Lazuli, Silver
Sterling Silver Art Nouveau Ring Tray
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We are proud to offer this sterling silver Art Nouveau ring tray by Gorham Silversmiths of Providence, Rhode Island. It has a scalloped rim with aesthetic work around the edge. The...
Sterling Silver
Art Nouveau Silver Cutlery Set For 12 People By V.C. Dub for A. Einspinner, 1915
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant cutlery set made of solid silver for twelve people consisting of 173 Parts in original wooden box. Date of manufactory: circa 1915 Material: Massive silver '800', Stain...
Silver
Large Antique English Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Tray - Reynold's Angels - 1907
Located in Bath, GB
A stunning large Art Nouveau dressing table tray with a wonderful organic shape and the centre featuring the very famous Reynold's Angels, always highly collectible; five charming wi...
Sterling Silver
Table Box 925 Silver translucent Enamel on guilloche and miniature Salimbeni
By Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular table box in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels on the guilloche and, on the corners, miniature of floral shoots hand-painted by the painter Romano B...
Sterling Silver, Enamel
Georg Jensen Blossom Sugar Bowl in Hammered Sterling Silver, Dated 1925-1932
Located in København, Copenhagen
Georg Jensen Blossom sugar bowl in hammered sterling silver. Model 2D. Dated 1925-1932. Measures: 11.5 x 10.2 cm. In excellent condition. Minimal age-related wear. Stamped. Our...
Sterling Silver
Naturalistic 'Leaf' Antique Sterling Silver Set Of Six Clip-On Plates from 1903
Located in London, London
Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1903 by Grey & Co., this unusual, Edwardian, Antique, Sterling Silver Set of six clip on plates, take the form of leaves which can be attached to your saucer or dessert plate by a hinged wishbone clip. Each plate measures 5"(12.5cm) long, by 3.25"(8.5cm) wide. The set together has a weight of 7.9 troy ounces. The clip-on plates carry a registered design number, the original design drawing...
Sterling Silver
Antique Silver Centerpiece
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Silver Centerpiece By Josef Hoffmann for Wiener Werkstätte (signed) Austria, Circa 1910 Sterling Silver 6 ¼”D x 3 ¾"H
Sterling Silver
Natural Pink Opal Cherry Blossom Wine Goblet, Sterling Silver & 24K Gold Vermeil
By Konforti
Located in ראשון לציון, IL
“Cherry Blossom Paradise” wine goblet is handcrafted in 925 sterling silver with 24K gold vermeil, 24K gold gilding, hand-carved pink opal blossoms, and rhodolite garnets. Inspired b...
Opal, Vermeil, Sterling Silver
Silver photo frame in Art Nouveau style, RBB, Great Britain, London, 1986
Located in Rīga, LV
This Art Nouveau Revival silver photo frame was made in London in 1986 by RBB. The frame is made of Britannia standard silver, equivalent to 958 silver, and is fitted with glass and ...
Silver
Antique Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Griffin Vesta / Match Safe, circa 1900
Located in San Diego, CA
Exceptional antique Art Nouveau sterling silver vesta case or match safe featuring an ornate repoussé design with flowing organic scrollwork surrounding a central blank cartouche and...
Sterling Silver
$39,113Sale Price|20% Off
Georg Jensen Cosmos Sterling Silver 8 P Tea & Coffee Set 1920, 45 Tray Denmark
By Georg Jensen
Located in London, GB
A magnificent Danish Georg Jensen 8 piece Tea and Coffee set in the Cosmos Pattern. The set comprises of a Kettle on Stand, Coffee Pot, Tea Pot, two Milk / Cream Jugs and two lidded ...
Sterling Silver
Large Antique Silver Necessaire De Toilette William Comyns & Sons, London 1909
Located in Vienna, AT
Black covered wooden case with original, cream-colored velvet and silk interior. Contents: a small tray, two glass bottles, a powder box on feet, an oval glass box...
Silver
Very rare coffee and tea service. In solid silver by A. Gorham, Art Nouveau.
By Gorham Manufacturing Company
Located in New York, NY
Very rare coffee and tea service. In solid silver by Gorham, Art Nouveau model circa 1908, 7 pieces in total make up this set consisting of a coffee pot, a chocolate pot, a sugar bow...
Silver
$396Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Silver Card Case Aide Memoire Purse Birmingham 1908 William Haseler
Located in Toronto, Ontario
Antique silver card case in form of Aide Memoire Purse, Birmingham 1908, William Hair Haseler. Art Nouveau elaborate border surround, monogram possibly H....
Sterling Silver
Antique Art Nouveau Silver Serving Spoon Copenhagen Danish Christian F. Heise
Located in Greven, DE
Antique Art Nouveau Silver Serving Spoon Copenhagen Danish Christian F. Heise Denmark Silver 1914 Dimensions: H x W: 30cm x 6.5cm This Danish silver spoon, made in 1914, has ...
Silver
Art Nouveau Silver, Crystal, and Pate De Verre Table Centrepiece by Falize
Located in London, GB
Art Nouveau silver, crystal, and pate de verre table centrepiece by Falize, French, 1902 Measures: Height 35.5cm, width 150cm, depth 52cm This...
Crystal, Silver
Art Nouveau Sterling Vanity Instruments, Set of 3
Located in Stamford, CT
Set of 3 Art Nouveau Sterling silver vanity tools. American circa 1900. Each piece features a female figurine. Tools include, button hook, shoe horn with brass horn and roller. Weighted Sterling...
Sterling Silver, Brass
Pendant perfume holder Silver Sterling ivy leaves engraved and fire Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Pendant perfume holder in the shape of a cruet in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with screwed cap and branch with ivy leaves engraved and fire enamelled on both sides. Art Nouv...
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
$20,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
Silver 800 Cutlery Set for 12 People, Düsseldorf, Germany, Late 19th Century
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Silver 800 cutlery set for 12 people. Düsseldorf, Germany, late 19th century. Jugendstil period. Complete for 12 people. A total of 164 pieces: 12 ...
Sterling Silver
Table Box portrait of Natalia Nikolaevna Pushkina Lanskaja Salimbeni.
By Salimbeni, Franco Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Spectacular table box with inward corners in gold-plated 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent enamel fired on guilloche, in Art Nouveau style, and in the center a fine rectangul...
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Gorham Sterling Silver Bookmark
By Gorham CO.
Located in Northport, MI
The bookmark is in very nice condition showing only age appropriate minor wear/scratching. There is a lovely patina to the bookmark. . The bookmark measures approximately 1 7/8" x 2...
Sterling Silver
$17,120 / set
Georg Jensen Beaded Sterling Silverware Set for 12
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
An early and comprehensive Georg Jensen Beaded sterling silver flatware service, designed by Georg Jensen in 1916. This exceptional set exemplifies the early Beaded pattern, notable ...
Sterling Silver
Pair Of 6-Flame Art Nouveau Silver Candelabra, by J.C. Klinkosch Vienna, Ca 1900
Located in Vienna, AT
Simple elegance with that certain something: Two six-flame candleholders on a round, smooth base with fluted stepped rim, trumpet-shaped raised shaft, chalice forming after constrict...
Silver
$4,000Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Louis Kuppenheim Silver Kitten Vanity Compact with Rubies
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Antique Louis Kuppenheim Silver and Rubies Cat Vanity Compact Magnificent antique German minaudière in solid silver adorned with a silver cat engraved in deep relief on the front of ...
Sterling Silver
Viennese Art Nouveau Silver 5-Light Candelabra by Josef Kurzweil, circa 1900
Located in Vienna, AT
Decorative large five-light silver candelabra on a round base, with embossed and chased geometric and floral decor. Finest work of simple elegance by the master Josef Kurzweil, acti...
Silver
Georg Jensen Continental Silverware Service For Twelve
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
An extensive vintage Georg Jensen sterling silver service for twelve in the Continental pattern, Antik in Danish, design no. 4 and the first flatware pattern Georg Jensen ever drew, ...
Sterling Silver
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Picture Frame
Located in VALENZA, IT
Sterling silver photo frame. The frame was made in Italy by the Argenteria Raddi of Florence. The design is typically Libeerty with the characteristic flowers, festoons and ribbons...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Overlay Art Nouveau Decanter
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An impressive cobalt-blue glass decanter by Lenox, lavishly decorated with finely worked sterling-silver overlay. The vessel has a distinctive tapered square-form body with gently fl...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Art Nouveau Purse/Cigarette Holder
Located in Toledo, OH
This beautiful sterling silver purse with chain could also be used as a cigarette holder. The purse is decorated with a flower and swirling ribbon and is in excellent condition. Ther...
Sterling Silver
$1,020Sale Price|20% Off
Art Nouveau German Sterling Fantasy Fish Motif Oil Lamp/Cigar Lighter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Art Nouveau German Sterling Fantasy Fish Motif Oil Lamp/Cigar Lighter German, Late 19th Century, Unmarked, .800 Silver Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Art Nouveau with this captivating German sterling fantasy fish motif oil lamp/cigar lighter. Dating back to the late 19th century, this piece is a true testament to the creativity and artistry of the era. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the lamp is a fantastical, caricature-like fish cast and engraved realistically. The fish rests on its back, supported by its fins and dorsal fin, with wide-opened eyes and an open mouth revealing the oil lamp's wick. The turned-up tail serves as the handle for this ingeniously designed oil lamp and cigar lighter. Made of unmarked .800 silver, this piece embodies the quality and craftsmanship of German silversmithing. With dimensions of 4 inches in height, 3.5 inches in width, and 2 inches in depth, this lamp is a statement piece that will captivate any observer. Weighing 3.5 ounces, it exudes a substantial and luxurious feel. Step into the enchanting world of Art Nouveau with this captivating German oil lamp...
Sterling Silver