This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.
“Thoughts, silent thoughts, of Time and Space and Death…” When thirty-six-year-old Walt Whitman self-published Leaves of Grass in the summer of 1855, having poured the whole of his being into this unusual and daring labor of love, it fell upon unreceptive and downright hostile ears — a rejection that devastated the young poet.
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Calling All Creatives: Share Your Insights on Encyclopedia.Design
Encyclopedia.Design aims to illuminate and celebrate Decorative and Applied Arts, inviting enthusiasts to contribute original insights, engaging stories, practical guides, and visual narratives. Join us in sharing your expertise.Read More →
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Menuisier: The French Joiner in the Hierarchy of Furniture Making
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the French menuisier crafted essential furniture from solid wood, distinguishing their work from the ébéniste’s veneered pieces, reflecting skilled craftsmanship and collaborative production.Read More →
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Eugène Grasset | Art Nouveau Ornament, Botanical Design & Theory
Eugène Grasset, a pivotal Art Nouveau figure, combined nature-inspired ornamentation with modern functional design principles, significantly influencing decorative arts and design education by the early twentieth century.Read More →
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Hard Paste Porcelain | Decorative Arts Dictionary
Hard paste porcelain, developed from kaolin and petuntse, offers exceptional durability and translucency. Originating in China, it influenced European ceramics after successful replication in 1709.Read More →
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Tabako-ire: Japanese Tobacco Containers in Edo and Meiji Material Culture
Tabako-ire are Japanese tobacco pouches from the Edo period, reflecting social status and craftsmanship. They served practical purposes and symbolized refinement within urban merchant culture.Read More →
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Fritz Heckert Glass Factory (Bohemia)
Fritz Heckert, a late 19th-century Bohemian glass factory, specialized in enamelled neo-classical and Altdeutsches glassware, merging historical motifs with innovative craftsmanship for international markets.Read More →
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Wolfgang Hoffmann (1900–1969) | Austrian Modernist Designer
Wolfgang Hoffmann, an Austrian-born designer, significantly influenced 1930s American modernism through architecture, furniture, and lighting, blending European functionalism with local needs and aesthetics.Read More →
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Introduction to the Stockholm Exhibition 1930
The Stockholm Exhibition of 1930 established Functionalism as Sweden’s design language, promoting a vision of modern life through rationality and aesthetics, significantly impacting architecture and design.Read More →
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Essential Reading in Applied & Decorative Arts
The post presents a curated reading list on applied and decorative arts, emphasizing foundational texts that offer scholarly insights and historical context for design as material culture.Read More →
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Guéridon: The French Pedestal Table and Its Origins in Decorative Art
The Liberty-style table, crafted by Gianotti, and the guéridon both exemplify Italian Art Nouveau and French decorative furniture, showcasing elegance, adaptability, and fine craftsmanship.Read More →
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British Passport a Symbol to Expolore
The British passport symbolizes identity and history, featuring a distinct navy cover and Royal Coat of Arms, providing access to numerous global destinations and adventures.Read More →
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William Caslon: Authority in Type
William Caslon’s eighteenth-century type specimen sheet asserts visual authority through disciplined design, integrating various scripts to convey seriousness and establish trust in printed knowledge.Read More →
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Omega Workshops: Modern Art Comes Home
The Omega Workshops, founded by Roger Fry, aimed to integrate modern art into domestic design, challenging traditional aesthetics and emphasizing visual coherence over individual authorship.Read More →
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Bauhaus Posters: Graphic Design as Applied Art, Pedagogy, and Public Communication
Bauhaus posters symbolize modern graphic design’s evolution, merging art, architecture, and education. They prioritize clarity, structure, and ideology, impacting graphic communication and contemporary design significantly.Read More →
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Historic Interiors: Syrie Maugham and the Theatre of Light
Syrie Maugham’s interiors blend historical and modern elements, emphasizing white as structural design, reflective surfaces, and cohesive aesthetics, creating spaces that prioritize atmosphere and sociability.Read More →
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Indonesia Traditional Weaving Beyond Clothing
Traditional weaving in Indonesia blends cultural heritage with contemporary relevance, adapting to modern interiors while promoting sustainability and economic empowerment without compromising its historical significance.Read More →
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The Polo Shirt: How a Sporting Essential Became the Most Loaded Garment in Modern Style
The polo shirt’s evolution from functional sportswear to a cultural icon reflects its adaptability, symbolizing status, rebellion, and enduring relevance in fashion across various social contexts.Read More →
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Inscriptions as Decorative Composition in Central Asian Applied Arts
The article by Alijon Turdaliev redefines epigraphy in Central Asian architecture as a key decorative element, emphasizing its compositional significance beyond mere textual function.Read More →
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Paolo Pininfarina: Design Leadership, Legacy, and the Modern Evolution of Italian Industrial Design
Paolo Pininfarina transformed Pininfarina from a traditional automotive firm into a multidisciplinary design consultancy, emphasizing sustainable practices and collaborative design while influencing international design culture.Read More →
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Jean Pascaud: Architectural Discipline and Luxury Craft in French Art Deco Furniture
Jean Pascaud, a notable French Art Deco designer, uniquely blended engineering and craftsmanship, emphasizing structural clarity and material richness in his influential furniture designs.Read More →
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Van Cleef & Arpels illustration – Encyclopedia of Design
I love this illustration for Van Cleef & Arpels that I discovered in a copy of Harpers Bizzare, Singapore. The jewellery adorns the tree and does not overpower the image. Van Cleef & Arpels is one of the most recognisable names in the French and American jewellery world.
Beautiful Butterfly and Moth Illustrations from Dru Drury 1837 Book on Etymology – Encyclopedia of Design
A selection of beautiful butterfly and moth illustrations from Dru Drury Book on Etymology (1837). Dru Drury (4 February 1724 – 15 December 1803) was a British collector of natural history specimens and an entomologist. He had samples collected from across the world through a network of ship’s officers and collectors, including Henry Smeathman.
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