American Craftsman Cabinets
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.
1910s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
2010s American American Craftsman Cabinets
Steel
Early 19th Century North American Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Pine, Fir
1990s American American Craftsman Cabinets
Ebony, Walnut
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
1970s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Walnut
Early 20th Century American Craftsman Cabinets
Wood
Early 1900s American Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Sheet Metal, Tôle
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian American Craftsman Cabinets
Walnut
1980s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Marble
1970s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Glass, Wood
1970s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Wood
Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Glass, Mahogany
1970s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Wood
Early 20th Century North American American Craftsman Cabinets
Oak
2010s American American Craftsman Cabinets
Steel
Early 20th Century Unknown American Craftsman Cabinets
Wood
Mid-19th Century North American Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Marble
2010s American American Craftsman Cabinets
Maple
19th Century Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Chrome
19th Century American Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Wood
1960s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Walnut
2010s American American Craftsman Cabinets
Leather, Walnut
1950s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Chrome
1950s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Steel
Late 19th Century Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Glass, Maple
1920s Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Wood
Early 20th Century American Craftsman Cabinets
Oak, Glass
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Glass, Wood, Oak
1960s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Walnut
Late 20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
Early 1900s American Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
Late 19th Century German Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Metal
Mid-20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
1890s English Antique American Craftsman Cabinets
Glass, Mahogany
1930s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Oak
1910s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
20th Century English American Craftsman Cabinets
Oak
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Glass, Mirror, Wood
1930s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
1910s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Oak
Late 20th Century North American American Craftsman Cabinets
Glass, Teak
1920s American Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Metal
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Oak
Early 20th Century American American Craftsman Cabinets
Brass
1970s Vintage American Craftsman Cabinets
Wood, Paint