The Arts and Crafts Movement (Design)

"Detail from a season ticket for The Arts &
 Crafts Exhibition Society,
 by Walter Crane, England,
UK, 1890. Museum no. E.4164-1915. ©
 Victoria & Albert Museum, London"

“The Arts and Crafts Movement was one of the most influential, profound and far-reaching design movements of modern times.” This movement started in Britain during the Victorian period in the 1880s. It spread across America and Europe. In this movement were born new ideas in art. Some of its characteristics are simplicity of form, plain linear lines, handmade, looks more geometric and abstract, has influences from nature, has rejection of industrialization and traditional crafts. The Arts and Crafts Movement improved the standards of decorative designs. The two main founders of the Arts and Crafts Movement are William Morris and Ruskin. Its name emerged from ‘The Art and Crafts Exhibition Society’ founded in 1887.

William Morris

William Morris

William Morris was born on 24 March 1834 in Walthamstow and died 3 October 1896. From 1852 till 1855 he went to the Exeter Collage in Oxford to become clergyman and earned a degree and after worked as an architect. From the 1860 ha spent two years working to decorate the interiors and furnishings. Morris was a reformer like Pugin and wanted to reform society. He was an educationist, theorist, writer and lecturer. He created art in different way such as in textiles, wallpaper, furniture, stained glass, book design and tapestry. He was a founder of the Arts and Crafts Movement and he was also associated with the Pre-Raphaelites brotherhood. His main concern and dedication was to produce beautiful things with a lot of decoration and detailed work. He lived during the Victorian era. some of his inspirations were Medieval Art, natural motifs, colours, figuration and high pattern.

William Morris’s well known quote: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

St George Cabinet

St George Cabinet

Designed by Webb Philip and painted by William Morris. Materials used for this cabinet are gilded mahogany, pine and oak wood with some copper mounts. It was made between 1861 and 1862. This painted work by Morris on this cabinet is very rare because he is more popular for textiles and nature motifs. Its inspiration is from Medieval Art. An interesting fact in this artwork is that it is a 3D structure and has art painted as a 2D on its flat surfaces. This decoration gives us the idea of Morris's pattern designs that he started to do later.  

Bibliography:

Class notes

V&A, n.d., The Arts & Crafts Movement. [online] Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/t/the-arts-and-crafts-movement/ [Accessed 15 April 2014].

V&A, n.d., Biography of William Morris. [online] Available at: http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/b/biography-of-william-morris/ [Accessed 15 April 2014].

Primary Facts by James, 11 July 2012, William Morris Facts. [online] Available at:  http://primaryfacts.com/143/william-morris-facts/ [Accessed 15 April 2014].

V&A, Anon, n.d., St George Cabinet. [online] Available at: http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O8144/st-george-cabinet-cabinet-webb-philip-speakman/ [Accessed 15 April 2014]