| ||
| ||
|
Interior Decorating Information | |
|
|
The Arts & Crafts Movement for Beginners
If you like clean, simple, oak furnishings, you're likely an Arts & Crafts aficionado. In this month's column, we'll talk about the history, the early champions and the variety of disciplines within the Arts & Crafts movement. Sometimes, you'll hear the terms Arts & Crafts and Mission used interchangeably. The English call the movement Arts & Crafts and the American's call it Mission. They're both talking about the same thing. History The Arts & Crafts period (circa 1850 -1930s) developed in reaction to the Victorian era that preceded it. The late 19th century saw the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. The mass produced merchandise resulting from assembly line production was distressing to artisans who continued to value individually, hand crafted, quality items. These artisans advocated a return to simple, well made items. The movement encompassed not just furniture but also architecture, ceramics, metal work, wallpaper and stain glass. Brown, green, black, yellow tones were prevalent across all fields; as was an emphasis on quality workmanship. There were many Arts & Crafts artisans. William Morris, Gustav Stickley and Frank Lloyd Wright are the most known. Today reproductions continue to be sold by a variety of retailers. William Morris Britain's William Morris (1834 - 1896) is one the earliest champions of the movement. Morris and a group of likeminded artisans started Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. Later the company was renamed Morris & Co. The company produced work in a number of areas including architecture, stain glass, fabric, ceramics and wallpaper. Morris' marital home Red House, designed by Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co., is one of earliest examples of Arts & Crafts architecture. Because Morris is one of the forefathers of the movement, it's not surprising that anything made by him is highly collectible and valuable. His finest work is now found only in museums. Anything made by Morris is usually stamped "Morris & Co." Gustav Stickley In the United States, the movement developed around the 1870s with furniture maker Gustav Stickley (1857 -1942) and his family leading the way. In 1900, this New York state based architect and designer introduced his Craftsman line of furniture. The company continues to produce furniture today. In 1997, Barbra Streisand, a pre-eminent collector of Arts & Crafts furniture sold a Gustav Stickley sideboard for $596,500 (USD) in a Christie's auction. Frank Lloyd Wright American Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) was instrumental to the Arts & Crafts movement. He is most well known for his work as an architect and was generally commissioned to design a home and all of its furniture. His work rarely comes up for sale and commands a very high price when it does appear. The residential home, Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum in New York are two of his most famous architectural works. Furniture The furniture of this period is solidly constructed simple furniture that frequently was made of quarter sawn oak and ash wood. Rush seating is prevalent. Spindle-back and sides, horizontal and vertical slat-back and sides are customary design elements. Upholstery is often done in green, brown or black leather. Because this furniture is so well constructed, you'll see antique pieces receiving regular use today. Ceramics Potters also reacted against the mass produced wares of Victoria era. Craftsmen began to create ceramics influenced by the graceful Japanese style of the Aesthetic movement. New types of glazes and more creative forms opened up new avenues to potters. In North America, the Arts & Crafts movement led to a fundamental change in the perception of ceramics. Up until this period, ceramics were perceived as utilitarian, not decorative. The new wealthy class could afford to splurge on superfluous decorative objects. Design subjects often included flowers, dragons, flora and fauna and were commonly applied in brown, yellow, green glazes. Metalwork The move to hand crafted workmanship affected artisans who worked with silver, brass, pewter and copper. Companies such as Liberty & Co. and Tiffany & Co. produced pieces using hand and machine production methods. Characteristics include hammered surfaces and green or brown enamels. Martin Swinton owns Take-A-Boo Emporium located in Toronto, Canada. He has appeared on a variety of television programs; does furniture restoration; caning and rushing repairs; appraisals and has taught courses on antiques at the Learning Annex. Martin can be reached at http://www.takeaboo.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Interior-Decorating - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Bar and Wine Cabinets: Entertain in Style Do you love to entertain in your home? Do you want to treat your guests to a truly sophisticated and luxurious experience each time they attend one of your gatherings? If so, perhaps you should consider incorporating the use of a bar or wine cabinet into your home's dcor.Far from being just ornamental furnishings, bar and wine cabinets are very practical when it comes to entertaining a large group of friends. Tips for Taking Care of Fine Wood Furniture Now that you have purchased some fine wood furniture, it is important to take proper care of it. With some basic care, your fine furniture can last for years, and stay just as beautiful as the day you bought it. Pizzazz Your Front Door and More! Want your front door to really "sing?" Then paint it a color to make it the outside focal point of your home.Now, just what color would that be, you ask?Here's the way to know: Look at the color scheme you are using in your entry, living and dining room. Home Dcor for First Timers (no matter what your age) If you're like most people home dcor is a puzzling subject. Unless you are innately artistic and have an eye for color and texture, home dcor can become quite a challenge. The Benefits of Electric Adjustable Beds Electric adjustable beds are adjustable beds that can be automatically adjusted at the touch of a button. The user himself can operate them without assistance. Use A Wallpaper Border For A Budget Backsplash You can add some splash to your kitchen without spending a lot of money by applying a simple wallpaper border for a backsplash. You can get a pretty good bargain on borders in the closeout bin at your wallpaper store or home improvement center, but make sure they have enough of the border to go around the area you want to cover as these bargains are usually close outs and you might not be able to get more!Since most wallpapers come pre-pasted, applying the border is easy. Kitchen Island Design Ideas - The Look, Size, And Features Kitchen island design ideas not only include choosing the right look for your kitchen but choosing the correct size for your floor plan and the correct features to satisfy your needs.Fortunately, because 80% of all home buyers consider kitchen islands to be essential, manufacturers offer islands in a design and style to suit nearly every taste. Decorating The Bathroom - Dress Your Mess For Less The bathroom may be the hardest room to decorate. Its use and nature make the room decorative uninspiring, and its limited size and necessity of function make it difficult to add very much. Jazz Up Your Room With Folding Screen Room Dividers Using a room divider or folding screen can be a great way to create interest in an otherwise dull area. Contrary to what many believe, a room divider need not actually be used to divider a space. Home Interior Decorating Your house is something special. It's the place where you live, where you find warmth and safety, shelter and so much more. Three Ways to Add Charm and Style to Your Kitchen I like decorating my kitchen with a cozy, warm, inviting, homey feeling to it. Usually I'm fighting for all the space I can get in my kitchen too. Buying Parsons Chairs - What You Need to Know Parsons chairs are commonly seen in homes around the dining room, adding a simplistic type of elegance. The great thing about using parsons chairs is that their design blends in with just about any home dcor. Wrought Iron Baker's Rack: Beautiful and Elegant When it comes to home accessories, baker's racks have long been a favorite of consumers due to their versatility, beauty, and practicality, and the wrought iron baker's rack stands out as a favorite. In addition to adding that special element of style, wrought iron bakers racks are also very practical in that they can be used for extra shelving, storage space and/or as a work center. Childrens Furniture Children's bedroom furniture and nursery furniture can help turn a bland and boring bedroom into a fun and cozy retreat. Since there is a wide range of designs and materials available, you can find the perfect children's furniture for your child's bedroom, whether you prefer a whimsical decorating style or practical, sturdy pieces. An Introduction to Air Purifiers Air purifiers have been around in various forms since the 1940s, when the first HEPA filter was designed to protect workers from airborne nuclear material. Since then, air purifiers have been used in hospitals, work sites, and homes to protect against viruses, mold, bacteria, pollen, pet dander, tobacco smoke, dust mites, and a great number of industrial and household chemicals. The Benefits of Ceiling Fan Lights One of the first improvements that ceiling fan inventor Philip Diehl made on his invention was the addition of an electric light. Back in 1882, when the ceiling fan was first created, this was a big deal. Decorate Your Home for Joy Using Design Psychology What Is Design Psychology?Design Psychology exceeds "traditional" interior design practice by considering the effects of design elements on our five senses, as well as our emotions. Rather than decorating to impress or to follow a certain style, you can choose specific lighting, color, patterns, and other design elements to support your happiness and well-being. A Look at Plantation Shutters When potential buyers are looking at a home, many upgrades get their attention. Floor tile, fireplace, and tile backsplash are some popular additions to a home. How to Install a Wood Stove "There are a number of factors that must be taken into account when installing a wood stove. It is important to make sure that the stove is set on a proper type of flooring. Dont Just Clean, Organize Instead of cleaning, decorateTrying to maintain both a beautiful interior, and a neat and organized home, can be a daunting endeavor. One of the worst mistakes that you can make when planning the design of your residence is to arrange it in such a way that your decoration actually gets in the way of maintaining tidiness.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
