Inspired by the Arts & Crafts style in England, which rebelled against the mechanization of the Industrial Revolution with a proud emphasis on handcrafted design, American Craftsman style similarly pushed against the lavishness of the Victorian era. Coined by Wisconsin-born Gustav Stickley, a furniture designer and publisher of The Craftsman magazine, American Craftsman furniture would influence homegrown styles that followed, such as Mission and the Prairie School.
Like the popular early 20th-century Craftsman houses — which feature meticulous woodwork on everything from built-in bookcases in the living room and cabinetry in the kitchen to earth-toned exteriors with exposed rafters — American Craftsman furniture was all about handmade storage cabinets, bedroom furniture, chairs and other pieces built with organic materials. “Simplicity and straightforwardness of construction has always been the leading characteristic of Craftsman furniture,” Stickley stated. And while he is often credited with most of the designs at the Craftsman Workshops in Eastwood, New York, others such as Harvey Ellis were influential in shaping the straight-backed chairs, beds with vertical slats and tables with exposed joinery that came to define the style.
Highly utilitarian with no unnecessary flair, American Craftsman furniture was designed to emphasize the essence of its modest construction and promote the natural beauty of the wood. Solid oak, cherry, walnut and mahogany were all favored by the movement’s principal figures. Another attribute commonly associated with the style is the integration of subtle details like tooled leather, inlaid metal and hammered iron handles.
Owing to the outbreak of World War I, the popularity of American Craftsman style waned as consumer spending dropped and furniture companies shifted to the production of wartime materials and goods specified in government contracts. Yet, by the 1960s, there was a renewed appreciation for this foundational modern American style, with Stickley and his contemporaries in demand for the clean, simple lines and sturdy construction of American Craftsman furniture.
Find a collection of antique American Craftsman chests, nightstands, seating, decorative objects and more furniture on 1stDibs.
Flushmount Texas Lightsmith Style Mica Vintage Drum Fixture - One Pendant
Located in Lomita, CA
Texas Lightsmith Style and Craftsmanship A combination of light and warmth combine to make this flushmount Mica shade drum fixture in wrought iron a great choice for a number of sett...
Wrought Iron
Squiggle Chandelier by Christopher Miano / Hand sculpted Ebonized charred Oak
By Chris Miano
Located in Edgewater, NJ
The Squiggle Chandelier was created through an exploration of shaping solid oak slab lumber. Designed to bring a smile to any space, each light is thoughtfully selected to highlight ...
Oak, Walnut
Squiggle Chandelier by Chris Miano, Hand-Sculpted Walnut & Oak
By Chris Miano
Located in Edgewater, NJ
The Squiggle chandelier was created though an exploration of shaping solid walnut slab lumber. Designed to bring a smile to any space, each light i...
Oak, Walnut
$12,420 / item
Squiggle Pendant Light / Hand Sculpted Bleached Maple
By Chris Miano
Located in Edgewater, NJ
The Squiggle light was created though an exploration of shaping solid Maple slab lumber. Designed to bring a smile to any space, each light is thoughtfu...
Oak, Maple
Macaroni Pendent Light / Hand sculpted Bleached Maple
By Chris Miano
Located in Edgewater, NJ
The Macaroni Light was created through an exploration of shaping solid Maple slab lumber. Designed to bring a smile to any space, each light part is thoughtfully selected to highligh...
Maple
$17,980 / item
Squiggle Chandelier / Hand sculpted Bleached Maple
By Chris Miano
Located in Edgewater, NJ
The Squiggle chandelier was created through an exploration of shaping solid Ambrosia Maple lumber. Designed to bring a smile to any space, each lig...
Oak, Walnut
Macaroni Pendent Light / Hand sculpted Walnut & Red Oak
By Chris Miano
Located in Edgewater, NJ
The Macaroni Light was created though an exploration of shaping solid walnut slab lumber. Designed to bring a smile to any space, each light is thoughtfully selected to highlight the...
Oak, Walnut
Squiggle Pendant Light by Chris Miano, Hand-Sculpted Walnut & Red Oak
By Chris Miano
Located in Edgewater, NJ
The Squiggle light was created though an exploration of shaping solid walnut slab lumber. Designed to bring a smile to any space, each light is thoughtf...
Oak, Walnut
One Green Glass Pendant Light
Located in Antwerp, BE
One green Ufo glass pendant light. The brown lamp has been sold. Green light diameter 50 cm and height 38 cm. Brown light diameter 40 cm.
Glass
Doria Pendant Light
Located in Antwerp, BE
One Doria pendant light. Measures: Diameter 36 cm. Height 17 cm.
Metal
Rainbow Leather Meander Chandelier
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Our Meander Chandelier in glorious ROYGBIV colors. Seven flexible leather wrapped arms allows for playful poses and creative customization. As show...
Brass
$2,210
H 5.91 in Dm 17.72 in
Large Flushmount Faceted Crystal Light Fixture by Kinkeldey, Germany, 1970s
By Kinkeldey
Located in Aachen, NRW
A stunning light fixture by Kinkeldey, Germany, manufactured in circa 1970-1979. A handmade and high quality piece. The fixture is made of gilded brass and with lots of facetted crys...
Crystal, Chrome
Italian Glass Chandelier
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian chandelier with five E14 bulbs and one E27 bulb. Measures: Diameter 50 cm. Height fixture 38 and 67 cm. Total height with the chain 130 cm.
Metal
Poliedri Chandelier
By Venini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Italian chandelier with clear hand blown polyhedron/polyhedral shaped Murano glasses suspended on white metal frame / Made in Italy in the style of Venini, circa 1960s Measur...
Metal
French Art Deco Frosted Glass Pendent Semi Flush Three-Light Gilt Fixture
Located in Roslyn, NY
A wonderful, French Art Deco frosted glass, pendant / semi flush light fixture set with three newly wired candelabra light sockets and wires each taki...
Silver
Large Flushmount Faceted Crystal Light Fixture by Kinkeldey, Germany
By Kinkeldey
Located in Aachen, NRW
A light fixture by Kinkeldey, Germany, manufactured in circa 1970-1979. The fixture is made of a metal frame with lots of facetted crystal glass elements. Measures: Diameter 12.5 in...
Crystal, Metal
Organic Handwoven Pendant Light
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
This whimsical raffia like material is actually a basket weaving natural wood similar to splining. Because each piece is individually crafted allow some natural variation when orderi...
Organic Material
$3,956
H 39 in Dm 23 in
Art Nouveau Style White Alabaster & Bronze Three-Light Chandelier Pendant Light
Located in Lisse, NL
Excellent condition and rare design, 3-light chandelier. If you appreciate the elegant designs from the Art Nouveau era, then this midcentury made, 1970s alabaster, bronze and brass...
Alabaster, Brass, Bronze
Three-Light Meander Flexible Arm Ceiling Mounted Light Fixture
Located in Pound Ridge, NY
Ceiling mounted Meander light featuring three flexible metal arms which allow you to adjust and pose the light fixture; shown here with metal arms in standard black finish, and solid brushed brass fittings; 27 inch arms, 6 inch diameter ceiling mount. Overall measurements depend on how it is posed. Custom finishes, leather wrapping and custom configurations are available, please visit us at Avantgarden in Pound Ridge...
Metal, Brass
Midcentury Sunburst Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1960s Italian hammered iron and blown glass sunburst light fixture with glass inset. Can also be installed as sconces. Measurements: diameter: 18" minimum drop: 6"
Metal
Torpedo Shaped Beveled Frosted Glass and Brass Flushmount
Located in San Francisco, CA
A new, custom fixture made with 1920s Craftsman style, antique, beveled glass; mounted on a stepped, raw brass shade holder. 2 candelabra 40w ceramic sockets. Measures: 9.5” diameter...
Brass