European Decorative Art

Bidsquare's collection of antique and vintage European decorative art at auction for sale includes glass, ceramics, metalwork, furniture, and textiles from the fifteenth to the twentieth centuries. Some of the items included are from the 18th-century French decorative scenes. Other items also include furniture, tapestries, and Sèvres porcelain, as well as artifacts from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which include works by the William Morris Firm.

The term "decorative arts" refers to a wide range of tangible items and decorations with both functional and aesthetic significance. Decorative art honors any valuable or crafted artifact, such as silverware, ceramics, earthenware, glass, as well as ethnographic objects. Decorative arts are unique from other arts in several ways, including their placement in usage, their manufacturing and materials, and their innovative designs in Europe over the last centuries. European decorative art was also a reflection of trade, within Europe as well as internationally, along with the exotic woods importation including ebony and mahogany, which played a crucial role in furniture production.  European decorative arts have been a popular collection at several online auctions as a fine antique creation of skilled craftsmen. Antique and vintage European decorative arts have also reflected advancements in its manufacturing processes and materials which are now available for sale.

Quick Facts

• From the 17th century Baroque to the late 19th century Modernism, evolvement in methods to artists' style and design concept all had an impact on the European decorative arts.

• The decorative arts offer insight into Europe's social, political, economic, and even cultural history.