Arts & Crafts Movement
January 16, 2023
The Arts and Crafts Movement first started in England then traveled across the world making it a popular style during the 1890s and as well still being popular now. Before the Arts and Craft Movement, was the Victorian Period. The Victorian Period was almost polar opposite to the Arts and Craft Movement due to the Victorian Period being known has cluster designs and exceserizing forms of designs. However, Willam Morris was an artist who was against the Victorian and Industrial Period which is how the Arts and Craft Movement began.
VICTORIAN PERIOD
The Victorian Period occurred during the years of 1837- 1901 while Queen Victoria of England was in reign. While a lot of people were against the Victorian Period due to its "poorly manufactured furniture and materials," cluttered designs, and no thought into the designs; there were positives that were gained from this period. For an example, communication and materials were being created and advanced which allowed furniture to be created as well as having flushing toilets, heating, gas and electric. Most architects and interior designs disagreed with this period the most due to its unthoughtful designs and cluster looks.
In the imagine to the left it is very noticeable of the different styles in this one room as well as it looked like a lot of furniture looks like it had just been thrown in this one room without any thought about placement.
ARTS AND CRAFT MOVEMENT
The Arts and Craft Movement was a time of emphasizing simple hand craft designs, showcasing heavy wood furniture, and exposing hinges and wood joints in cabinetry. As stated early, the Arts and Craft Movement was started in England when the society (especially artist, architectures, and interior designers in the society) rejected the designs against the Victorian Period and Industrial Revolution. While trying to keep the gothic, Victorian look into the Arts and Craft Movements, artists and architects based their designs and decoration on Medieval designs. During the Arts and Crafts Movement, everything was hand- made typical using wood oak.
Pictured to the right is a furniture from the "shaker style" period. The Arts and Craft Movement moved throughout the world and got to the United States by using the "shaker style" in interiors. This style is characterized by clean lines and tapered legs. While the design is minimal, the design was thought out practically.
To the left is Morris Chair during the Arts and Crafts movement. While this chair is most famously common for the wooden and vertical structures; the chair was one of the first to have a reclining back and arm rests. The material of the seating is made out of cloth fabric.
Above is the modern day Morris Chair. The Morris chair had advanced by changing the seating material to leather as well as having more dynamic clean vertical line and not so much of a reclining back. The Morris Chair still has the characteristics of an old-style chair, with arm rests, and tall rectangular reclining back.
It is important to note the Arts and Craft Movement really never went out of style. The rectilinear wood furniture is still very popular today around the world in interior spaces.
Pictured to the left is a modern application kitchen and living space of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Oak wood is still very much a key factor in completing this look as well as the vertical wooden structure beans and columns throughout the space.
Craftsman furniture has changed a little bit since the start of the movement. Although the oak wood is still the main feature in the furniture, designs also incorporate different material such as metal or steal. Additionally, a majority of wood cabinetry is a light tone of brown.
This interior room is very symbolic to the advancement in the Arts and Craft Movement and even how different things have changed since the Victorian Period. This eating space is so minimal with furniture, but yet is a powerful space with how the craftsman furniture is placed and the height of the pieces. It is very common in homes today to have small decor on side tables as well as dinning tables.
ONE STEP FURTHER
With every movement in history, comes a person who is behind it. For the Arts and Crafts Movement, an architect and artist, William Morris, is to be acknowledged for the transition of the Victorian Period to Arts and Craft Movement.
Morris studied at the Oxford University where he then got into an apprenticeship in architecture. From there, he made crafts in church decorations, textiles, and furniture. When creating these items, he focused on using solid wood frames, and showing hinges on cabinetry, and most importantly used rectilinear form with thought behind his creation.
Pictured to the right, is Morris's work in furniture. There is big emphasis on wood that he built the bed stand and cabinet out of. While this movement came after the Victorian Period, he can still see the colors used in the Victorian Period; however, the space is a lot more open and meaning to having the furniture and decoration to being placed where it is located.
EXTRA SOURCES
Video on William Morris achieving the Arts and Crafts Movement -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYPCkwHRrdA
Video on History and Start of the Arts and Craft Movement -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBq73yxha0o
Izzy,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you went into detail about the Victorian era and Art and Crafts movement. Specifically how the furniture evolved from 1890 to todays era. I agree that communication and materials have helped evolved over time with the looks of furniture. The use of heavy wood such as Oak was very propionate back then as said in your discussion . I think the use of photos from the 19th century to showing how furniture designed , really gave me a better understanding of how the design has evolved. In my post I mentioned how the designs of rooms were very cluttered and chaotic to the eye, as now we would not find that appealing . The application of heavy wood used throughout the space , yet its still modern has been contributed from the Arts and Crafts movement. I do enjoy seeing the use of these two eras used in homes and spaces. Overall your post was very enjoyable to read and got a better understanding of your view on the era and what you took away from the readings.