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

---

Google News Updated : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:25:22 GMT Oil Rises in New York as Gustav Threatens US Gulf Platforms - Bloomberg Sify Oil Rises in New York as Gustav Threatens US Gulf Platforms Bloomberg - 50 minutes ago By Alexander Kwiatkowski Aug. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Crude oil headed for its biggest weekly gain in almost two months and natural gas rose as producers evacuated rigs before the arrival of Gustav, forecast to be the largest hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico ... Oil rises to $117 on storm threat to US output Forbes Oil rises on fears Gustav will hit Gulf The Associated Press guardian.co.uk - AFP - Reuters - MarketWatch all 2,765 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:34:36 GMT (UPDATE 1) Texas Leads US In Number Of Uninsured Residents - dBTechno Ontario Now (UPDATE 1) Texas Leads US In Number Of Uninsured Residents dBTechno - 41 minutes ago Houston (dbTechno) - This week, the US Census Bureau released a report which found that overall, the number of uninsured Americans has decreased. Update2: Number Of Americans Without Health Insurance Drops eFluxMedia Real world issues for graduates include health insurance Bolingbrook Sun UT The Daily Texan - Bizjournals.com - Chillicothe Gazette - KOMO News all 353 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:43:47 GMT New Orleans gets jump on Gustav to avoid 2005 repeat - USA Today New Orleans gets jump on Gustav to avoid 2005 repeat USA Today - 9 hours ago By Lee Celano, Reuters By Rick Jervis and Donna Leinwand, USA TODAY NEW ORLEANS - As Gustav threatened to pack a wallop, local leaders and emergency workers unfurled plans and readied evacuation tactics Thursday to avoid a repeat of the deadly mistakes ... FEMA Says Weaknesses Remain In Its Ability to Respond Quickly Wall Street Journal Not Ready for Gustav New York Times Boston Globe - Houston Chronicle - Monroe News Star - Bloomberg all 45 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 03:24:38 GMT Garden Grove man with West Nile virus dies - Los Angeles Times dBTechno Garden Grove man with West Nile virus dies Los Angeles Times - 3 hours ago By Stuart Pfeifer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer A Garden Grove man has died after being infected with West Nile virus, the second death in Orange County from the mosquito-transmitted disease this month, the Health Care Agency disclosed Thursday. West Nile case reported in Missouri Belleville News Democrat Did the aerial mosquito spraying work? phillyBurbs.com Newsday - Meadville Tribune - Great Falls Tribune - dBTechno all 501 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:04:32 GMT Thai protesters, police scuffle as turmoil escalates - AFP Times Online Thai protesters, police scuffle as turmoil escalates AFP - 39 minutes ago BANGKOK (AFP) - Thai protesters scuffled with police Friday as tensions flared at the besieged Bangkok government compound, with signs of escalating turmoil in the kingdom testing the premier's peaceful resolve. Police clash with Thai protesters BBC News Thai protesters, police scuffle over court order The Associated Press ABC Online - Xinhua - CNN International - Monsters and Critics.com all 2,314 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:45:45 GMT Zimbabwe poll crisis talks resume - BBC News AFP Zimbabwe poll crisis talks resume BBC News - 1 hour ago Talks to resolve Zimbabwe's election crisis have resumed in South Africa after a two-week break, officials say. The negotiations broke up over how to share power between Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who both claim victory in ... Africa: Continent's Biggest Transport Company Eyes Zimbabwe AllAfrica.com Zimbabwean Crisis Talks Will Resume in South Africa (Update1) Bloomberg AFP - Monsters and Critics.com - Xinhua - Reuters South Africa all 302 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:14:29 GMT Meeks: Boycott is on - Chicago Sun-Times WBBM780 Meeks: Boycott is on Chicago Sun-Times - 3 hours ago BY MAUDLYNE IHEJIRIKA AND ROSALIND ROSSI Staff Reporters State Sen. Rev. James Meeks calls on Chicago parents to keep their children home on the first day of school on Tuesday. Back-to-school rally held near church of state senator who is ... Chicago Tribune Meeks likely to leave Denver with no school deal Clout Street - Chicago Tribune Blog NBC5.com - Pioneer Press Online - TIME - Wilmette Life all 47 news articles Publ.Date : Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:04:12 GMT RSS feeds Increase Website Traffic

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

A Review of Popular Massage Chairs

With so many massage chairs available on the market, where... Read More

Tribal Persian Rugs

Tribal or nomadic rugs are produced by nomadic and semi-nomadic... Read More

Discover the Designer Within

Limperts Academy of Design, an international awarding body for design... Read More

Freestyle with Metal and Format: The Milan FuoriSalone 2005 event.

This Italian lifestyle project, underlined by the aroma of espresso... Read More

Carlton Ware: A Colourful Collectible

These vibrant collectibles are as charming today as they were... Read More

How to Clean Mini Blinds

Mini-blinds are very convenient and attractive window treatments. They typically... Read More

Decorating Frugally

The trend these days is to discover extremely innovative ways... Read More

All About Closet Organizers

Most people like you love to keep everything in its... Read More

Quick And Easy Bathroom Decor Changes

Are you tired of the way your bathroom looks? Don't... Read More

Transitional Lighting - What Is It?

Anyone perusing through the websites looking for lighting fixtures to... Read More

1950s Home Decor Redesign

The styles of the 1950's are coming back and there... Read More

Getting The Most From Your Candles

I love burning candles and have them all around the... Read More

Create the Right Splash With Bathroom Accessories

When decorating your bathroom, it is important to choose practical... Read More

A Guide to Interior Shutters

We've all heard of exterior shutters. We see them on... Read More

Bathroom Vanities and Cabinets Come in Many Different Styles

Modern bathroom vanities and medicine cabinets come in a huge... Read More

Creating A Cozy Spot

Having a warm & cozy spot to snuggle up is... Read More

The Convenience of the Portable Massage Chair

Human resource officers have, over the past decade or so,... Read More

The Stress-Free Way to Add Color to Your Walls

Looking for the most impact from a small decorating budget?... Read More

Persian Area Rugs - Tabriz Rugs are a Fine Choice to Enhance Your Room?s Décor

Tabriz rugs are made in the north western part of... Read More

Buying a Bakers Rack

Bakers racks are a perfect enhancement to any kitchen, whether... Read More

The Benefits of Laminate Bamboo Flooring

Bamboo, a grass once conjuring up images of Pandas and... Read More

Fruit Basket Delivery

Probably the single most important component responsible for making the... Read More

The Benefits of HEPA Air Purifiers

The military designed the first HEPA filter in the 1940s... Read More

The Benefits of Bamboo Roman Shades

Roman shades are inexpensive and elegant window treatment to block... Read More

How to Kickstart a Good Bedroom Design Project?

Dear friends,Any room in your home is primarily a space... Read More