Blast From the Past: Arts and Crafts, the Artists' Movement

The Arts and Crafts Movement is one of the most influential design philosophies in the modern Western world; this distinguished style has yet to fade from public interest more than a century after its' conception. The style, which can be identified by its' simple forms and use of natural material, was developed in the late 19th Century by a handful of artisans who had become disenchanted with the growing mechanization of the furniture industry. What began during the late industrial period of Britain, soon spread to Europe and North America. The growing popularity of the Arts and Crafts Movement mirrored the growing industrialization of the Western world.

William Morris was the leading designer and philosopher behind Arts and Crafts and he in turn was influenced by the writings of John Ruskin, an art critic who espoused the ills of industrialization, especially in regards to art and architecture. Adopting this socialist, anti-industrial approach, Morris developed a style of furniture and architecture that highlighted the use of natural materials using simple forms or patterns derived from nature. This emphasized the technique of the artist, specifically the signature left by human machining. John Ruskins' argument that all art should contain a moral purpose is central to the philosophy of Arts and Crafts and this is signified by its' hand-made look.

Arts and Crafts is a design philosophy that spans trades beyond art and architecture, its' ideas where translatable to every medium and is attributed with inspiring such movements as Art Nouveau, Bauhaus and Modernism. The Arts and Crafts movement is credited with reviving traditional techniques and keeping the knowledge of hand tooling alive in an age that saw industrialization eradicate many classical forms of crafting.

In this modern age of mechanization, there is still a strong desire in the marketplace for such a clean style. Just visit any antique market or auction house to discover how hungry the public is for furniture that was made during a time where craftsmanship and quality meant more than mass production and cost.

As a recent graduate of a woodworking program, I receive many requests to build furniture and I have observed that most people prefer the clean, geometric lines of Arts & Crafts furniture, whether the customer knows the style they are referencing or not. This look translates easily from magazine pages to the home, making it a great design choice.

They say that trends go in and out of fashion in the blink of an eye, but when a style defines what it is to be "classic" it transcends the term "trend" and enters the pantheon of styles that endure.

To check out my work, including a few examples of Arts & Crafts design, go to my blog http://amandagallimore.wordpress.com/.

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