by Brooklyn Museum

Arts And Crafts History: Origins 1830-1860

The Arts and Crafts movement was a reformist movement Inspired by the writings of John Ruskin and a romantic idealization of the craftsman taking pride in his personal handiwork. It was at its height between 1880-1910. In the United States, the terms American Craftsman or Craftsman style are often used to denote the style of architecture, interior design, and decorative arts that prevailed between the dominant eras of Art Nouveau and Art Deco, or roughly the period from 1910 to 1925.

The Arts and Crafts movement basically began as a search of authentic and meaningful styles for the 19th century and a reaction to the eclectic revival styles of the Victorian era and to the "soulless or heartless" styles of machine made "Industrial Revolution". Considering the machine to be the root cause of all repetitive and mundane evils, some of the protagonists of this movement turned entirely away from the use of machines and towards handcraft, which tended to concentrate their productions in the hands of sensitive but well-heeled patrons.

In 1861, the Arts and Crafts movement got its' biggest support when Morris founded Morris, Marshall, Faulkner and Co., a furniture, design and decorative accessories company that stressed time-honored craftsmanship and natural materials. The timing was perfect for in 1862 the London International Exhibition showcased never-before-seen Japanese arts and Crafts, which had an immediate effect on design. England quickly became enamored with this new look and began shedding the layers of Victorian clutter from its homes.

Ruskin also preached that work was meant to be joyous -- an idea that was lost on the growing multitude of factory workers who spent long hours toiling in poor conditions. This noble idea had its roots in the past when one's work was one's life and it was to become one of the Movement's basic tenets.

The Arts and Crafts soon died out but influentially conveyed the idea that craftsmanship and creativity can never be overpowered by the advent of machines and technology.

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