While learning about this movement, it was very interesting to see that, like me, others did not find the Victorian era to be all that great. As Charles Francis Annesley Voysey said, "Too much luxury is death to the artistic soul." I liked that the Victorian era encouraged the display of seemingly random items, because I like to display objects that conjure memories for me. However, the Victorian era is almost too ornate and the meaning of the design gets lost.
The Arts and Crafts movement fought to reduce this problem. The reformists wanted to be a little more practical with their cause. Objects made in this movement were meant to highlight the natural abilities of the artist thus they were made handmade. Showing the wood joints and intricately carved designs, these reformists hoped to counter the Victorian design with these humble objects.
The Arts and Crafts movement also sought to counter the Industrial Revolution with its reproduction of cloned products without quality. This created a contemporary design with its medieval roots. The overall design was intellectual yet populist, urban yet sophisticated, and down-to-earth.
The central artists of this period were: William Morris, Philip Webb, Rossetti, Edward Godwin, and Charles Eastlake. The central artists of the second generation of the Arts and Crafts movement were: Charles Francis Annesley Voysey, Edwin Lutyens, C.R. Ashbee, M.H. Baillie Scott, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Some of these artists, architects, and designers were more forward thinking with their styles however they all kept that small aspect of Gothic in their works.
I found it very interesting that it seemed all of these designers seemed intertwined. Some created partnerships with each other or others just simply looked to one another for inspiration.
Design Examples:
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| The Sussex Chair pictured above was brought about by Philip Webb. |
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This wallpaper was designed by William Morris.
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Current Applications:
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This living room has floral patterned wallpaper and textiles,
looking back to the Arts and Crafts. |
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This hallway has a bench that has a design inspired
by that of the Arts and Crafts movement. |
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This living room has a combination of the familiar floral pattern and
handcrafted furniture that is of the Arts and Crafts movement. |
One Step Further:
Philip Webb (12 January 1831 – 17 April 1915) an architect from England was a influential figure that intrigued me this chapter. His works were of great quality but very ahead of their time, with aspects still gracing furniture and design today.
Webb studied at Aynho in Northamptonshire and was then contracted to firms in Berkshire. He moved to London, where he met William Morris and started his own firm. In 1859, he designed the Red House for William Morris and it is noted as one of is greatest works. After this commission, Morris, Edward-Burne Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti went into business together to form Morris & Co., an interior decorating and furnishing firm.
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This chair's design was thought of by Webb, but it is
upholstered in Morris's fabric. |
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This picture is of the drawing room in the Red House.
Designed by Webb, the interiors ultimately reflect
the quality of the Arts and Crafts movement. |
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This sideboard was a piece designed by Webb for his
partnership with Morris & Co., formerly,
Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Co. |
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ReplyDeleteHey Amber, I think it is interesting how you like to display objects that bring up memories. I think what makes this different from the Victorian design style is that these thinks are meaningful to you; whereas in their case it was just for decoration. I also thought it was interesting how the designers worked together. I did research on Philip Webb as well, and liked how he and William Morris worked together.
DeleteI really like your post Amber! You described well the movement and their main goal that they wanted to achieve. Victorian design was viewed through these people as superficial because it seemed that the house was a place to collect things and display just for the purpose to maybe brag about it. Through your summary, we get that the house is a place were things that we display should be meaningful such as something that brings up good memories. Therefore the house is simple, charming and most importantly personal. Keep up the good work Amber!!!
ReplyDeleteAmber,
ReplyDeleteExcellent summary of the Arts and Crafts movement. The Victorian era was about status and flaunting ones status through objects in the interiors. It was also an era where various design styles were mixed together- in a random fashion.
I appreciate how you summarized the Arts and Crafts movement as focusing on artistic integrity and originality vs. mass production of the former design eras.
Phillip Webb was a great architect to focus on. His signature style was painting paneling white.
This clearly defined a new era in the designing of interiors. The visual examples that you displayed are the most important examples of Webb's work as a designer.
As you mentioned, disdain for the Victorian Era created the movement towards a new notion of what was important in the design of interiors .