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.
Set of four Slovenian Maple Continuous Arms Windsor chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
A set two continuous arm and two side Windsor Chairs in solid red maple with high barrel back, made in Slovenia. Great vintage condition. Measure 22.5" in width, 24" in depth and 4...
Maple
An Arts and Crafts Windsor Carver Chair This is a one off piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
An Arts and Crafts Windsor Carver Chair This is a one off piece, the chair back has a large carved roundel and from this the chair spindles join the back hoop, the chair has an upho...
Beech
Pair of handmade Windsor lounge chairs, England, circa 1960
Located in Ludwigslust, DE
This exceptional pair of Windsor lounge chairs combines the centuries-old English tradition of the Windsor chair with the clear design language of Mid-Century Modernism. With high pr...
Oak
A Harlequin Set of 4 Beech & Elm Fiddle Back Chairs
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Harlequin Set of 4 Beech & Elm Fiddle Back Chairs This its a set of 4 Victorian Beech and Elm kitchen chairs, the chairs are a classic design cal...
Beech
Eight Arts & Crafts Glasgow Style High Back Oak Dining Chairs with Leather Seats
Located in London, GB
A set of eight Glasgow style high back oak dining chairs consisting of two armchairs and six singles with professionally re upholstered leather padded se...
Oak
Antique English Arts & Crafts Stick Back Windsor Chair Heals of London
By Ambrose Heal
Located in London, GB
Antique English Arts & Crafts Stick Back Windsor Chair, Heals Of London Oak construction circa 1900 Very good condition commensurate of age.
Oak
Pair Late 20th Century Solid Cherry Spindle Windsor Style Side Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
Late 20th Century Solid Cherry Spindle back Windsor Style Chairs with saddle back seat and with great finishes . Measures 23" in width, 19" in depth and 33" tall. Seat height is 18"
Cherry
Oversize Arts & Crafts Carved Oak Armchair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large Arts & Crafts carved and polished oak armchair. Impressive proportions.
Steel
Pair of Liberty Windsor Chairs Arts And Crafts Shawl Back Leather Art Nouveau
Located in London, GB
A marvellous, extremely rare and strikingly attractive pair of Windsor armchairs in wonderful antique condition. Most likely made in the 1900s and almost certainly sold by high-end r...
Leather, Wood, Beech
Set Of 4 19th Century Windsor Wheelback Chairs
Located in Brussels, Brussels
A fine set of four 19th-century English Windsor chairs in chestnut with a wheelback . Very beautiful model called wheelback with a decoration on the back. Very beautiful set which h...
Oak
$4,000 / set
H 40 in W 20.75 in D 32 in
Blended Set of 8 Complimentary Semi Antique Hardwood Windsor Armchairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An exceptional blended set of 8 Hardwood Windsor Armchairs with fine traditional form and particularly well-grained seats. In a Natural tone with classic hoop backs with spindles and...
Hardwood
$2,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 36.5 in W 17 in D 16 in
18th Century Balloon Back Original Red Painted Windsor Chairs-Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
18th century original red painted bow back Windsor chairs from New England in fine condition. These chairs have a nice deep red painted surface and wonderful patina. Found in Pennsyl...
Wood
$2,648
H 44.49 in W 29.53 in D 27.96 in
SUBLIME FULLY RESTORED GOTHIC WINDSOR STEEPLE BACK BURR YEW & ELM ARMCHAiR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very fine fully restored Burr Yew & Elm Vintage Gothic style Steeple back Windsor armchair Please note the delivery fee list...
Elm, Yew
$6,500 / set
H 36 in W 17 in D 18 in
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts Ladder Back Dining Chairs
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional set of six of Mission or Arts & Crafts dining chairs By Gustav Stickley USA, Early 20th Century Solid quarter sawn oak, with rush seats. Measures: 17"W x 18"D x 36...
Rush, Oak
Set of Six English Windsor Chairs
Located in Antwerp, BE
Six unusual and wonderful aged, worn patina chairs are in good condition.They look fantastic together as a set. The seat height of all seats is 18.5 in. (47 cm) The height of the armrest is 26.77 in. (68 cm) The two high back chairs are 37.79 in. (96 cm) high x 22.04 in. (56 cm) wide and seat height 18.50 in. (47 cm) x 22.04 in. (56 cm) deep. The other four Windsor chairs...
Wood
$6,995 / set
H 38.5 in W 16.63 in D 18.75 in
Gustav Stickley Antique Mission Oak Arts & Crafts H-Back Dining Chairs
Located in South Bend, IN
A rare set of eight Mission oak Arts & Crafts period H-back dining chairs By Gustav Stickley USA, Early 20th Century Solid quarter sawn oak, with rush seats and upholstery. Measu...
Upholstery, Rush, Oak
$2,376
H 48 in W 23 in D 21 in
Liberty & Co. An Arts & Crafts Mahogany Armchair with an Art Nouveau Style Back
By Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo, Liberty & Co.
Located in London, GB
Liberty and Co. A superior quality mahogany armchair in the style of Arthur Heygate MacMurdo with a wonderful Art Nouveau style back and fine Queen Anne style legs.
Mahogany
$1,235Sale Price|29% Off
H 37.8 in W 23.23 in D 22.05 in
19th Century Fine English West Country Comb Back Windsor Chair
Located in Puglia, Puglia
A beautiful 19th century English ash and oak scallop-back Windsor chair with outward facing arms supported by inverted stretchers, turned legs connected by a bentwood stretcher and a...
Oak
$1,995
H 37.5 in W 21.5 in D 22 in
Pair S. Bent & Brothers Ebonized Maple Fiddle / Fan Back Windsor Chairs Half Arm
Located in Germantown, MD
Early 20th Century Pair of S. Bent & Brothers Ebonized Maple Fiddle / Fan Back Windsor Chairs Half Arm Chairs Measures 21.5 " in width, 22 " in...
Maple, Paint
Antique Hand Carved American Windsor Bow-Back Chair, Circa 1790
Located in Elkhart, IN
A beautiful antique hand-carved Windsor bow-back side chair America, Circa 1790 Measures: 19”W x 16.5”D x 36.75”H. Seat height 17.25" Good original vintage condition. Appears to...
Wood
$450
H 39 in W 19 in D 20.5 in
Limbert Style Antique Arts & Crafts Carved Oak Dining Chair, Circa 1900
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Mission or Arts & Crafts period dining chair or side chair In the manner of Charles P. Limbert Co. USA, Circa 1900 Carved quarter sawn oak, with upholstered seat. ...
Upholstery, Oak
Windsor Style Barrel Back Chair
Located in Petworth, GB
Arts & Crafts barrel back Windsor style chair in stained beech Re-upholstered in original Liberty fabric ‘Cottage Garden’ Circa 1895 Height 103cm. Width 56cm. Depth 50cm
Brass
Arts & Crafts Beech Stick-Back Windsor Chair by Liberty & Co.
Located in Petworth, GB
A fine example of a ‘Windsor’ style chair by Liberty & Co. Stylish tall stick-back design. This beech armchair dates from around 1875.
Beech
Arts & Crafts Armchair
Located in Den Haag, NL
Never have seen another one of this armchair in the Arts & Crafts style. Love the bars on this chair, special on the back. Gobelin upholstery.
Fruitwood
Set of 6 Beech and Elm Arts & Crafts High Back English Windsor Chairs
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Set of 6 beech & elm Arts & Crafts high back English windsor chairs, Set of 6, 2 carvers and 4 single chairs The chairs are true set and have superb Saddle shaped solid elm seat...
Elm
English Arts & Crafts Chair by Hugo Erskine Wemyss, circa 1905
Located in Kinderhook, NY
English Arts & Crafts modified Windsor style chair of modernist or contemporary percept having double reversible (either 'sides' functional) 'horse-shoe' form and Circassian Walnut f...
Walnut
Arts & Crafts High Back English Windsor Carver Chair
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Arts & Crafts high back English Windsor carver chair, A superior Arts & Crafts Windsor carver chair The chair has a superb saddle shaped soli...
Beech
Set of 6 Arts & Crafts Gothic Heraldic Lion Back Windsor Chairs
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Set of 6 Arts & Crafts Gothic Heraldic lion back Windsor chairs. A very unusual set of Windsor chairs, the centre splat of each chair has Goth...
Sold
H 38.59 in W 20.87 in D 19.69 in
Pair of Elm Windsor Kitchen Dining Chairs Quality Arts & Crafts, circa 1900
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
A superior pair of antique chairs presented in very good condition Arts & Crafts styling In elm with pleasing color and grain Desirable seat form offering comfortable seating Ris...
Elm
William Morris & Co Ebonized Arts and Crafts Sussex Armchair
By Morris & Co., Ford Madox Brown 1, Philip Webb
Located in London, GB
A Sussex armchair designed by either Ford Maddox Brown or Philip Webb, circa 1860 and made by Morris & Co circa 1875. The turned wood frame is solid beech and the seat woven rush. An original Arts and Crafts piece designed by one of the founding members of Morris & Co established in 1875. Famously used by William and Jane Morris at Red House and Kelmscott House, and by their friends Edward Burne-Jones and Alfred Gilbert. Newnham College...
Rush, Beech
19th Century Arts and Crafts Style Spindle Back Armchair
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare and unusual round-back spindle chair similar to an American fan-back windsor chair. Features a tall back comb and straight tapered legs. Made in the Arts and Crafts style. Uphol...
Wood
Arts and Crafts Windsor Chair by Liberty & Co.
Located in Austin, TX
A fine period Windsor armchair (or library chair) from the Arts and Crafts era by the celebrated English design company, Liberty & Co. With label on ...
Wood
Arts and Crafts Era Windsor Chair
Located in Austin, TX
A fine English period Windsor armchair (or library chair) from the Arts and Crafts era.
Wood