A Definitive History of the Arts and Crafts Movement

The Arts and Crafts Movement was a design movement and philosophy that developed in England during the late Victorian era, roughly from the 1860s to the 1880s, and is still active today. Originally known as the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society in England, it was founded in 1887 and has retained its name ever since.

Industrialization was in full swing in England at the time of this writing. More and more people were migrating away from the countryside to the city, and larger and larger factories produced an increasing number of mass-produced goods. In a nutshell, the world was changing, resulting in significant shifts across all aspects of society. Art and Crafts Movement members were concerned about the growing mass-production of low-cost goods, as well as the increasingly unhealthy urban environments, in response to this societal upheaval. Both social reform and a specific style of design were important aspects of the Arts and Crafts Movement.

William Morris, who lived from 1834 to 1896 and was a poet, designer, and reformer, was a founding member of the movement and one of its most prominent figures. Morris tended to look back to mediaeval times and the tradition of guilds, or workshops, of skilled craftsmen as inspiration for his work. He hoped to rekindle appreciation for craftsmanship through the use of a similar system, believing that good design can be a positive force that encourages a good society to flourish. Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. was an interior design firm that specialised in beautiful, simple design for applied goods that served a practical purpose in the home. Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co. He attracted a large number of followers who adopted his beliefs and ideas, and they became active participants in the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Movement of the Arts and Crafts: Design

The Arts and Crafts Movement was about reform philosophy as much as it was about a specific type of design, and as a result, there is no single set of unifying characteristics that distinguish Arts and Crafts works. However, we can look at some of the characteristics that are common to the work of those who agreed with Morris.

The Arts and Crafts Movement was a movement that included some fine artists; however, the majority of examples of the style can be found in areas such as architecture and decorative arts. Ceramics, stained glass, textile arts, wallpaper, furniture, and household goods are examples of what is included in the latter category.

High-quality materials and a well-thought-out, but not overly-complicated design were important to Morris and those who followed in his footsteps. Those who followed the Arts and Crafts Movement drew inspiration from a variety of sources, the majority of which dated back to earlier periods of history. You can see elements of mediaeval art, particularly Gothic and Celtic art; Japanese art, with a focus on linear quality and a flattened sense of space and form; and Islamic art, with a focus on ornament and patterned surfaces, all of which are represented.

Art and Crafts works often have a natural theme to them, but they are simplified and stylized in a way that is appealing to the viewer. In addition, those who created the furniture, ceramics, and other goods used traditional methods of manufacturing, such as wood carving and block printing. They were opposed to modern technology, believing it to be one of the factors contributing to society’s ills and failings.