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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Artek Collection 2026: Timeless Modernism for a Beautiful Everyday
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Helvetica and the New York City Subway System: The True Story (The MIT Press)
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Danish Porcelain: History, Makers, and Design Significance
Danish porcelain, originating from the Royal Copenhagen in 1775, blends craftsmanship and industrial design, reflecting cultural identity and modern aesthetics through its enduring quality and tradition.Read More →
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Cheesequake Pottery: American Stoneware and the Amboy Clay Tradition
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Worcester, England and the Decorative Arts: A Centre of Porcelain, Craft, and Industrial Design
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Soho Tapestries: English Tapestry Production in the 18th Century
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Calamobio by Alessandro Mendini: Postmodern Narrative in Furniture Design
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The George Hunt House (1924): An English Cottage Ideal in California
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The Kebab Lamp by Committee
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Michel de Klerk: Architect of Expression and the Spirit of the Amsterdam School
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Gilbert Watrous: Industrial Designer of Kinetic Modern Lighting
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Wakefield Rattan: Industrial Innovation and the Rise of American Wicker Furniture
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Paolo Parigi: Italian Industrial Designer of Functional Elegance
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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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