American Craftsman Stools
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.
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Hardwood, Ash, Leather, Oak
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood, Walnut
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Stools
Steel
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Hardwood, Cowhide, Ash
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood
20th Century American American Craftsman Stools
Wood
1980s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Walnut, Hardwood, Hickory
2010s American American Craftsman Stools
Walnut
Mid-20th Century North American American Craftsman Stools
Mahogany
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood
2010s American American Craftsman Stools
Walnut
20th Century American American Craftsman Stools
Maple, Walnut
1970s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Leather, Walnut
1960s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Leather, Wood
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Stools
Oak
1960s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Wood
1970s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Cherry
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary American American Craftsman Stools
Maple
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood, Ash
21st Century and Contemporary American American Craftsman Stools
Maple
21st Century and Contemporary American American Craftsman Stools
Bamboo
21st Century and Contemporary American American Craftsman Stools
Walnut
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood, Ash
2010s Canadian American Craftsman Stools
Wood
1970s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Wood
1980s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Maple, Walnut
Early 1900s Antique American Craftsman Stools
Mahogany
1960s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Walnut
2010s American American Craftsman Stools
Wood
20th Century American American Craftsman Stools
Walnut, Burl
1920s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Leather, Wood
2010s American American Craftsman Stools
Wood, Mahogany
20th Century American American Craftsman Stools
21st Century and Contemporary American American Craftsman Stools
Bronze
2010s North American American Craftsman Stools
Steel
1970s American Vintage American Craftsman Stools
Leather, Wood