THEORY OF DESIGN

Arts and Crafts Movement

322106101002 – B. Prasanna
322106101018 – Gayathri
322106101026 – G. Siva Sree
322106101033 – Nikita Battarai
Content
• INTRODUCTION

• Birth of Arts and Crafts Movement

• Ket Characteristics

• Major Figures

• Materials used

• Examples
The Arts and Crafts Movement was a significant social and artistic movement that emerged in Britian in the late
19th century. It flourished in Europe and North America between about 1880 and 1920. It emphasized traditional
craftsmanship, natural materials, and simple, functional designs, rejecting mass production. This movement
aimed to bring art back into everyday life and improve the aesthetical quality of the environment.

William Morris – Strawberry Thief

Registered in 1883
BIRTH OF ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT
• Arts & Crafts (1875-1915)- The Arts & Crafts
movement began in Britain as a reaction to the
de-humanizing effects of the late 19th century
industrialization.

• It was inspired by the ideas of architect

Augustus Pugin (1812-1852), writer John Ruskin
(1819-1900), and artist William Morris (1834-
1896).

• It was a social and artistic movement of the

second half of the 19th century. Emphasizing a
return to handwork, skilled craftsmanship, and
attention to design in the decorative arts, from
the mechanization and mass production of the
Industrial Revolution.`
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Simplicity and Functionality:

• Designs were often simple and functional, avoiding

excessive ornamentation or artificiality.
• Objects were meant to be both beautiful and useful, serving
a practical purpose in everyday life.
• The construction of objects was often visible, showcasing
the joinery and craftsmanship involved.
Interior of – The Gamble House

Nature-Inspired designs:

• Nature was a significant source of inspiration, with many

designs incorporating floral motifs, leaves, and other organic
forms.
• The patterns used were inspired by the flora and fauna of the
British countryside.

William Morris – Lodden Wallpaper

Honesty of Materials:

• They used natural materials like wood, metal, and textiles,

showcasing their inherent beauty and avoiding artificial
finishes.
• Preserving and emphasized the natural qualities of the
materials used to make objects was one of the most
important principles of Arts and Crafts style. Gustav Stickley – Library Table

Revival of Traditional Crafts:

• The movement helped to revive interest in traditional

crafts like woodworking, pottery, and textile weaving.

Paul Revere Pottery vase

Major Figures
WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896):

• often considered the father of the arts

The Red House
and crafts movement. Morris was a
designer, writer, poet, and socialist.
He was deeply critical of
industrialization and its impact on
craftsmanship and society.

Key Contributions: Founded Morris & Co., a design firm

that produced beautiful textiles, wallpapers, furniture, and
stained glass. His designs were inspired by nature and
medieval art. He also established the Kelmscott Press,
which produced exquisite handcrafted books.

Diasy (1864)
 Green dining room:

The Green Dining Room is one of the best surviving examples of the
aesthetic of William Morris, designer, poet, socialist, and preservationist.
The room was commissioned in 1865 as a refreshment room in what was
then called the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert
Museum). It is a nature-inspired spot for museum patrons to enjoy a cup of
tea.

Morris & Co:

Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. (1861–1875) was a

furnishings and decorative arts manufacturer and retailer founded by the
artist and designer William Morris with friends from the Pre-Raphaelites.
With its successor Morris & Co. (1875–1940) the firm’s medieval-inspired
aesthetic and respect for hand-craftmanship and traditional textile arts had
a profound influence on the decoration of churches and houses into the
early 20th century.
Charles Robert Ashbee (17 May 1863 – 23 May 1942)

• He was an English architect and designer who was a prime mover of

the Arts and Crafts Movement, which took its craft ethic from the works
of John Ruskin and its co-operative structure from the socialism of William
Morris.
• Ashbee was defined by one source as "designer, architect, entrepreneur,
and social reformer". His disciplines included metalwork, textile design,
furniture, jewellery and other objects in the Modern style(British Art
Nouveau Style) and Arts and Crafts genres.
• He founded the Guild of Handicraft, a workshop that produced a wide
range of handcrafted goods, including furniture, metalwork, and jewelry.

Covered bowl, designed by Ashbee, 1900

JOHN RUSKIN (1819-1900):

• A highly influential art critic and

social thinker, Ruskin
condemned the dehumanizing
effects of industrialization and
championed the beauty of
medieval craftsmanship. His
writings inspired many in the
Arts and Crafts movement.

Key Ideas: Emphasized the importance of truth to

materials, honest construction, and the moral value of art.
He believed that art should be accessible to all, and that
work should be a source of joy and fulfillment.
MATERIALS USED:
The Morris Chair

The textile piece named

‘Bainbridge Blues’, likely a
woven rug

• Wood – Oak, Walnut(hand-crafted furniture)

• Stone – Used in buildings
• Metal – wrought iron, copper, and brass in lamps,
gates
• Glass – stained glass windows
• Textiles – Handwoven fabrics, embroidery Stone carver carving stone, at the
Cathedral of Saint John the Divine,
New York, 1909.

Baptism of Christ, panel, designed by

Edward Burne-Jones, made by Morris, Exquisite floral door handle by Carl
Marshall, Faulkner and co, Albert Close Jr., Hammersmith Studios
Museum, London
NOTABLE EXAMPLES OF ARTS AND CRAFTS DESIGN:
Red House (1859):
• Designed by Philip Webb for William Morris, this house is
considered one of the earliest and most influential examples of
Arts and Crafts architecture. It features a simple, functional
design with natural materials and handcrafted details.
• Webb rejected the grand classical style and instead found
inspiration in British vernacular architecture.
• The Red House is built in a simplified Tudor Gothic style. This
style is characterized by its use of traditional materials and
construction methods, as well as its emphasis on craftsmanship.
The house features a number of elements that are typical of the
Tudor Gothic style

Architectural style:
• Red brick exterior:
The house gets its name from the use of exposed red brick,
a hallmark of the Arts and Crafts style.
 • Steeply pitched roofs: The roofs of the house are steeply pitched,
which helps to keep the rain out.

• Prominent chimneys: The house has a number of prominent

chimneys, which are a feature of the Tudor Gothic style.

• Cross gables: The gable roof is a roof design consisting of two

sloping sides that meet at a ridge, forming a triangular shape. The
house features a number of cross gables, which are another
characteristic of the Tudor Gothic style.

• Exposed-beam ceilings: The ceilings of the house are exposed,

which shows off the craftsmanship of the builders.

Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_House,_Bexleyheath
Overall style:

• Emphasis on craftsmanship: The interiors showcased the beauty of

handcrafted work, with exposed structural elements like beams and
rafters, highlighting the joinery.

• Natural materials: A focus on using natural materials like wood, brick,

and stone was paramount, reflecting the Arts and Crafts philosophy.

• Bold colors: Morris was known for his use of rich, vibrant colors
inspired by medieval and Pre-Raphaelite sources.

• Handcrafted textiles: Textiles played a significant role, with

handwoven carpets, tapestries, and embroideries adding warmth and
texture.

• Stained glass: Morris collaborated with Edward Burne-Jones on

stained glass windows for the house, adding a touch of medieval
inspiration.

• Wallpapers and fabrics: Morris's iconic wallpaper and fabric designs

adorned the walls and furniture, bringing nature-inspired
patterns into the home.
The Glasgow School of Art (1896-1909):

• Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, this building showcases

his unique blend of Arts and Crafts principles with Art Nouveau
and Japanese influences. It features a distinctive style with
geometric forms and stylized floral motifs.

• Emphasis on craftsmanship: Like the broader Arts and

Crafts movement, the Glasgow School valued
handcrafted work and the use of natural materials.
• Integration of art and design: The Glasgow School
blurred the lines between fine art and design, with artists
working across various media, including painting,
sculpture, textiles, and furniture.
• Nature-inspired motifs: While the Glasgow Style had its
own unique aesthetic, it still drew inspiration from nature,
albeit in a more stylized and abstract way than some
other Arts and Crafts expressions.
• Geometric forms: Mackintosh's architecture and design
often featured strong geometric shapes and clean lines,
a departure from the more organic forms of some Arts
and Crafts work.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Barrell chair Book Post Card by Annie
window in a door at Glasgow French, a painter and
School of Art illustrator from the
Glasgow school of art.