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.
Early 20th Century Cottage Style Bobbin Corner Chairs with Rush Seating
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Corner chair by Stefanus Collé from the 1920s features cottage style bobbin turnings and carved wood frame with original rush seating. Decorative spindles create characteristic verti...
Rush, Wood
$2,566Sale Price / set|20% Off
Antique 20th Century Set of French Arts & Crafts Bobbin Corner Chairs
Located in Casteren, NL
A beautiful seating arrangement of two corner chairs. The chairs were made in solid beechwood with original rush seats. This rustic set of antique double railed chairs with Classic...
Rush, Beech
$2,660Sale Price|20% Off
Antique 20th Century Set of two brown French Arts & Crafts Bobbin Corner Chairs
Located in Casteren, NL
Discover a set of antique Bobbin chairs that captures the essence of mid-19th century France. These corner chairs, each with its own unique chara...
Rush, Beech
Arts & Crafts Patinated Oak Corner Chair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Arts & Crafts patinated oak corner chair.
Upholstery, Oak
$700
H 25.99 in W 16.93 in D 16.93 in
Antique Rural Dutch Carved Corner Bobbin Chair with New Rush Nr2
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Very charming oak Bobbin chair that fits perfect in a corner. The rush of the seat is new and therefore it is still a bit green but that will soon fade. This chair was made in the ...
Rush, Oak
English Oak Bobbin Corner Chair
Located in Faversham, GB
A superb oversized Victorian bobbin corner chair in oak with a freshly upholstered calico seat cushion. The double railed ladder back rest with si...
Calico, Oak
$2,327 / set
H 28.55 in W 16.34 in D 16.15 in
Typical Dutch Pair Antique Rush-Seat Oak Corner Bobbin Side Knitting Chairs 1900
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Pair of Antique Dutch Corner Knitting Chairs – Turned Oak & Rush Seat – ca. 1900 A beautiful matching pair of vintage Dutch corner chairs, each with unique character and slight diff...
Cane, Wood, Oak
Pair of Bobbin Turned Chairs
Located in Greenwich, CT
Good pair of English late 19th Century ebonized and bobbin turned corner chairs with woven rush seats.
Rush, Beech
$3,250 / set
H 36.5 in W 24.75 in D 20.5 in
Pair of Antique Swedish Monk's Corner Chairs in Oak, Circa Early 20th Century
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of rustic Swedish munkstolar, or monk’s chairs, ca. 1910-1920. Their three legged design has its origins in the medieval monasteries of Northern Europe where it was considered a...
Oak
$5,493
H 31.11 in W 33.86 in D 25.6 in
Guillerme et Chambron Oak Tricoteuse Corner Chair, France, 1960s
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare Guillerme et Chambron Tricoteuse lounge chair, oak, fabric, France, 1960s. Edition Votre Maison. Newly reupholstered in Rose Uniacke textured linen. Wood frame in very good...
Oak
19th Century Antique French Bobbin Rush Corner Chair in Carved Oak
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique 19th c. French Bobbin rush corner chair. French rush-seat corner chair, Coin du Feu. 19th Century French Provincial-style carved oak armchair with open backs and rush seat....
Rush, Oak
$1,665
H 31.89 in W 27.17 in D 24.81 in
Vintage Danish 1960s Henning Kjærnulf Oak Corner Chair, Razorblade Back Splats
Located in Store Heddinge, DK
Presenting this exceptional oak corner chair, a definitive example of Danish Mid-Century design by Henning Kjærnulf, likely produced by EG Møbler in the 1960s. Known for his "Bruta...
Fabric, Oak
$1,680
H 31.89 in W 20.48 in D 20.48 in
French Antique Hand Crafted Bobbin Corner Chair with Lambswool, Early 20th C
Located in Odense, DK
A fine French Provincial corner chair in pine with a reupholstered seat in Lambswool. Classic bobbin turned legs, overall in a fine vintage condition. Made in the early 20th century....
Lambskin, Wool, Pine
$1,445
H 32 in W 28 in D 27 in
Antique English Carved Oak Corner Chair Renaissance Arm Throne Chair Upholstery
Located in Shreveport, LA
Direct from England, a gorgeous 19th century carved oak corner chair. Thick, hand carved foliate back rail, with turned and carved lyre shaped supports, ending in dimensional mask handholds. Fully carved straight legs to the sides, with a wide carved apron having carved foliate and lion masks. Front carved cabriole leg with large ball and claw foot. Removable slip seat cushion features a crest flanked by rampant lions on a floral background. Skillfully hand carved design, with a rich, dark patina, this 19th century English oak corner chair...
Oak
$1,977
H 33.47 in W 22.25 in D 20.08 in
Antique Edwardian Style Triangular Corner Chair Rush Seat Knitting Armchair 1900
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Late 19th century Edwardian style wooden armchair with rush seat, ca 1900 Manufactured in U.K. Beautiful English antique knitting chair with t...
Wicker, Wood
$1,685
H 31 in W 27.5 in D 26 in
Antique French Carved Oak Corner Arm Chair Renaissance Louis XIV style
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French carved oak corner arm chair Renaissance Louis XIV style ~Direct from France~ ~Beautiful carving throughout this versatile antique Fren...
Oak
Josef Hoffmann Armchair in Floral Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Josef Hoffmann, armchair, Austria, design 1930s This beautifully shaped bentwood armchair designed by Josef Hoffmann (1870-1956) is characterized by a sculptural construction, fe...
Fabric, Beech
Sold
H 30.75 in W 22.5 in D 15.5 in
Early 20th Century Cottage Style Bobbin Corner Chair and Matching Backless Stool
By Wim Den Boon
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 2 Early 20th Century cottage style bobbin corner chair and matching backless stool. In original condition with visible wear consistent with their age and use. Several other si...
Rattan, Wood
Sold
H 30.5 in W 16.75 in D 17.25 in
Early 20th Century Cottage Style Bobbin Corner Chair with Rush Seat
By Wim Den Boon
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Incredible corner chair has rush wrapped seat and carved wood Wim Den Boon style frames. It's eccentric style makes it an ideal multipurpose accent piece. In lightly refinished condi...
Rush, Wood
Early 20th Century English Corner Chairs, a Pair
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wooden chairs made in early 20th century England. This pair of wooden chairs are both ornate and geometrically playful. The omission ...
Wicker, Oak
Swedish Monk Chair and Triangular Side Table Sweden 1960's
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Triangular Mid-Century Swedish chair and stool in the Manner of Charlotte Perriand, circa 1960s. Set of triangular mid-century chair and stool or side table in oak. Nordic Sweden Arts and Crafts Style triangular chair and side table or stool. Set of Mid-Century Swedish Monk...
Oak
19th Century Stickley Style Distressed Oak Tall Ladder Back Armchair
Located in Southampton, NJ
A stunning accent or corner chair having genuine distressed oak wood with ladder back design in the manner of Stickley circa 1860. Authentic distressed beetle wood throughout make this chair a comfortable and eye-grabbing statement piece. The patina is outstanding. Heavy oak construction with sturdy, strong joinery and buoyant padded spring seat cushion. Seat fabric is also in excellent condition. We absolutely fell in love with this historic chair...
Steel
Arts and Crafts Ebonished Corner Chairs, circa 1900
Located in Faversham, GB
Fabulous ebonised Arts and Crafts corner chair. In original condition with lovely wear to both arms. Complete with the original drop-in woven rush seat. British, circa 1900. Add...
Rush, Beech
Sold
H 26.78 in W 16.74 in D 16.74 in
Typical Dutch Pair Antique Rush-Seat Corner Bobbin Side Knitting Chairs, 1900
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Pair antique rush-seat corner bobbin side knitting chairs in turned wood and cane, Dutch ca 1900, Country Living, farmhouse decor. Lovely couple typi...
Cane, Wood
Set of 3 Corner Chairs with Wool Upholstery
By Jacob Jensen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 3 gilded metal corner chairs. The metal overall tones are bronze & black Abstract bamboo design in the frame These chairs have been newly reupholstered The upholstery i...
Metal
Sold
H 47.5 in W 37 in D 16.5 in
Rare Manner of Charles Rennie Mackintosh Willow Trone Armchair Chair Tall Bench
Located in Wayne, NJ
Rare Chair in the Manner of Charles Rennie Mackintosh Willow Trone Armchair Chair Bench . This is in the manner of the chair from 1904...
Wood
Pair of French Arts & Crafts Turned Oak Corner Chairs
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Pair of French rush-seat corner chairs, Coin du Feu. Pair of antique sturdy useable chair, wood stick and ball craftsmanship corner chair with original rush seat raised on turned le...
Oak
Two Oak Dutch Arts & Crafts Art Nouveau Corner Chairs, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Elegant and rare pair of Dutch Arts & Crafts Art Nouveau corner chairs, 1900s. Solid oak with nicely carved decoration. In good original condition with minor wear consistent with a...
Oak