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.
Heraldic Crest Framed & Painted on Slate from Borough of Finchley, Coat of Arms
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Heraldic crest framed & painted on slate from Borough of Finchley, coat of arms. The coat of arms is 3 dimensional, it has been carved, painted and gilded, and set in golden b...
Antique Arts & Crafts Apothecary Wood Carving Wall Mounted Brass Mortar & Pestle
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Arts & Crafts Apothecary Wood Carving Wall Mounted Brass Mortar & Pestle. Circa Late 19th Century. Measurements: 18" H x 10" W x 4.5" D.
Brass
$1,850 / set
Antique French Hand Hammered Copper Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a 1900s copper pair of theater sign with big leather A. Bought sign handmade and constructed.
Antique Arts & Crafts Oak Pharmacy Apothecary Bronze Mortar & Pestle Wall Plaque
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Arts & Crafts Oak Pharmacy Apothecary Bronze Mortar & Pestle Wall Plaque. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 18" H x 12.5" W x 1" D.
Bronze
Schweppes Table Waters Oak Trade Sign, Arts and Crafts Style, 1960
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Schweppes table waters oak trade sign board This charming Oak Trade Sign would have been hung on the wall at the entrance to a hotel or bar, it has gold...
Oak
Antique Hand-Painted Wood Advertising Sign, Pocket Watch, Circa 1870
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Antique hand-painted advertising sign in the shape of a large pocket watch showing the name BB Thorp.
Wood
18th Century Apothecary Sign
Located in Napa, CA
18th Century Apothecary sign was created with wrought iron, fer forge. Beautiful details of the medical symbol of a winged staff with two snakes intertwined.
Wrought Iron
$3,800
H 40 in W 30 in D 2 in
Rare 1880s Handmade Copper/Bronze Sign, Plaque "J.W.Williams Drop Forgings"
By E. N. Little & Sons 1
Located in Buffalo, NY
Rare 1880s handmade copper/bronze sign plaque "J.W.WILLIAMS DROP FORGINGS." Monumental sign/plaque salvaged from the turn of the century J W WILLIAMS factory in Brooklyn New York, ex...
Bronze, Copper
1900s Butcher's Pig Trade Sign
Located in Coeur d'Alene, ID
Vintage carved and painted pine butcher's trade sign. Molded frame, insized text reading "Porkies Pen" pig in relief. 33" x 40" Period: First quarter of the 20th century or earlier ...
Wood
Woods Hole Golf Club Antique Sign from Cape Cod
Located in Sandwich, MA
Antique sign from the Woods Hole Golf Club in Falmouth, MA circa 1900. Includes original wrought iron bracket meant for mounting on a square post. Great original surface. Also reads ...
Wrought Iron
Antique Hand-Painted Nantucket Scallop Sign, Wood, 1900
Located in Essex, MA
Excellent old hand-painted antique Nantucket Scallop sign with notched corners on old wood with white hand-painted letting. The back is covered with old newspaper. Old wood shows we...
Wood, Paint
19th Century, Apothecary Trade Sign
Located in Nantucket, MA
Figural trade sign in the form of a mortar and pestle, both the mortar and pestle are hand turned and gilded, with strong ring turnings. The top is capped with zinc and still bears i...
Zinc
English Pub Sign, "Worth Brewery - The Cricketer's Arms"
Located in Austin, TX
An authentic English pub sign (one-sided) featuring a painting of a cricket player with bat and ball, titled: Worth Brewery - The Cricketer's Arms. A very fine example of vintage ad...
Metal
Antique Desbeau Framed Mirrored Advertising Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1920s; Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) Corset Works - Desborough, Northamptonshire Antique oval advertising mirror for Desbeau overalls, a defunct line of women's smocks. T...
Wood, Mirror
Antique Watermans Ideal Pen Trade Sign
Located in Dekalb, IL
c. 1900s-1910s; Waterman's Ideal Fountain Pen - New York, NY Oversized tin trade sign in the form of a fountain pen. This striking lithographed tin display, fashioned as a giant Wa...
Tin
Vintage Hand-Painted No Smoking Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Great vintage hand-painted sign. No smoking and a crossed out cigarette hand-painted on white steel. Good vintage condition.
Steel
$2,092 / set
H 9.85 in W 20.48 in D 1.19 in
Antique Industrial Art Deco Brass Ladies & Gents Toilet Illuminated Sign, C.1920
Located in London, GB
A stunning pair of illuminated glass toilet signs made in England by Burnham & Co, Deptford. c.1920 These original Art Deco-era signs feature solid brass frames with their origina...
Brass
Marvelous Antique Carved Wood Locksmith Trade Sign
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A wonderful early 20th century carved mahogany locksmith trade sign in the shape of a large key. Makes an unexpected piece of wall art as a found object with tons of character.
Wood
16/1700s Brass Mortar and Pestle, France, Primitive Antique, Patina
Located in Skien, NO
Antique French Apothecary Mortar and Pestle, Hand Cast Brass / Bronze, 17th / 18th Century. This rare primitive mortar and pestle, handcraft...
Brass, Bronze
$2,705Sale Price / set|19% Off
H 15.36 in W 83.47 in D 5.91 in
Pair of Original Hand-Painted Wooden Fairground Signage, circa 1950s
Located in Faversham, GB
When in use, the panels were linked together with couplings to form an oval shape and the mechanics of the fairground ride would sit within the centre....
Wood, Paint
Sold
H 26 in W 21 in D 3 in
Vintage Schlitz Beer Sign 1980 Lighted Faux Stained Glass Look Advertising Sign
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Schlitz Beer Sign 1980 Lighted Plastic Faux "Stained Glass" Man Cave Advertising Sign Wall Decor. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 26" H x 21" W x 3" D.
Plastic
Antique Optometrist Double Sided Trade Sign
Located in Carimate, Como
Antique hanging advertising sign for an optician, circa 1920-1930. Double sided big cast zinc glasses with four hand painted eyes on original adjustable iron wall bracket. Collectabl...
Zinc
Large 19th C Cast Iron Painted RESTAURANT Sign This is an Original
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Large 19th Century Cast Iron Painted RESTAURANT Sign This is an original restaurant sign from France, to is made in solid Cast Iron, so very hea...
Iron
Antique Optometrist Double Sided Trade Sign
Located in New York, NY
Antique optometrist double sided trade sign.
Zinc
Vintage Rare “Risky Business” Sign 1980s
Located in San Diego, CA
Fun and original piece of memorabilia to the film “Risky Business”. This piece is a sign that references the title of the movie with the same calligraph...
Metal
Charming Pair of Male and Female Toilet Signs
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A charming pair of male and female toilet signs Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls no home should be without these, painted cast iron Loo signs The ...
Iron
3 Dimensional Large Gilt Letter Wooden Tea Shop Sign
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
3 dimensional large gilt letter wooden tea shop sign A great piece of social history, the large letters are set on long horizontal iron bars and reads “TEAS” The large 3 dimens...
Wood
American Antique Metal Two Side Store Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Antique American sign for the shoe store. Double sided ,wrought iron base and hand painted bout sides all in original condition .
Hardy Bros Ltd, Angling Specialists Large Oak Wall Plaque
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Hardy Bros Ltd, Angling Specialists large oak wall plaque This large wooden wall sign was painted for the London Shop which opened in 1907, it has the R...
Limbert's Holland Dutch Arts & Crafts Furniture Advertising Shoe/Clog
By Limbert Dutch Arts and Crafts Furniture Company
Located in Denver, CO
A wooden clog (shoe) that reads: "Limbert's Holland Dutch Arts & Crafts Furniture" with two hooks for hanging.
Bentwood
Top Hat Trade sign with original iron bracket, late 1800's
Located in Buffalo, NY
19th century American Painted Tin Trade sign,, Consistant wear,rust. Retains original hanging bracket,hand hammered wrought iron,,
Metal, Tin, Iron
Monumental Handmade Pencil Trade Sign
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This giant pencil is all hand made with the original painted surface.Usually these type pencils have a advertisement on the side or end tip however this d...
Vintage Remington Sign
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A rare cast iron sign for the Remington Arms Company in all capital letters, circa 1890.
Iron