Arts and Crafts furniture has clean lines and little ornamentation.
The Arts and Crafts movement, which originated in England in the late 19th century and soon made its way to the United States, developed in response to the ornate, fussy styles of the Victorian Era. Arts and Crafts design emphasized simple forms and decorating motifs that are drawn from nature. The movement celebrated the craftsman as artist, and prized carefully crafted furniture over shoddy, mass- produced wares. Does this Spark an idea?
Mission
Arts and Crafts furniture is sometimes referred to as Mission Style furniture. This style is characterized by simple lines, thick heavy arms and legs, and slatted backs with little or no ornamentation. Quarter sewn oak and other hardwoods were favorite materials for this furniture. Gustav Stickley and his brothers Albert and George are some of the best known producers of Mission Style furniture. You can still find chairs, tables, bookcases and bedroom sets in the Mission Style being manufactured today.
Aesthetic Movement
In England, the Arts and Crafts movement took the form of the Aesthetic movement. Reformers like John Ruskin and William Morris rebelled against mass produced factory goods and promoted the idea of craft guilds to produce carefully made and aesthetically pleasing furniture. The furniture drew from many styles and influences, including Gothic, Asian and Etruscan forms. A chair in this style might feature a Gothic arch on the back, while table legs might have an Etruscan urn motif.
Art Nouveau
Closely related to the Aesthetic Movement was Art Nouveau, which developed in Belgium and France around the same time that the Mission and Aesthetic styles were emerging in the United States and England. Art Nouveau design is characterized by flowing curves, asymetrical arrangements and themes drawn from nature. Tiffany lamps, Lalique glassware and furniture by Charles Voysey are ideal representations of the Art Nouveau movement.
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