Decorative & Applied Arts

150 Years Of Decorative And Applied Arts have brought forth a plethora of artistic movements and styles that have shaped the way we perceive and appreciate art today. From the ornate designs of the Art Nouveau movement to the sleek lines of Art Deco, decorative art has been a reflection of society’s values and tastes. Applied art, on the other hand, has focused on the functionality and practicality of design, with examples ranging from furniture to fashion.

Throughout history, artists have used various mediums to express their creativity, including ceramics, glassware, textiles, and metalwork. The influence of decorative and applied art can be seen in many aspects of our daily lives, from the architecture of buildings to the products we use. As we continue to evolve as a society, so too will our appreciation for these forms of art.

Plateelbakkerij Ram featured image

Plateelbakkerij Ram (1921 – 1969) was an Arnhem-based Dutch ceramics company. Ram was founded in 1921 to produce high-quality ceramic bodies. At Ram 1921—25, Thomas A.C. Colenbrander was the designer for whom the company was established at the age of 80. Ram wares were sold at exhibition auctions as art rather than craft.Read More →

LC2 chair - The Square and Furniture Deisgn

Squares have influenced furniture design, enhancing aesthetics and functionality, with their roots in ancient Greek architecture and modernist furniture. The square shape is a timeless influence in furniture design, offering versatility, modularity, and sustainability through its equal sides and right angles.Read More →

Lepower Metal Desk Lamp featured image

This lamp features a high-quality metal lampshade and base that is heavy-duty, long-lasting, and attractive, brightening your living space, bedroom, or study room.Read More →

Institut d'Esthétique Industrielle French promotional organization

The Institut d’Esthétique Industrielle, founded in 1949, is a crucial institution in French design, promoting good design and fostering innovation. It emphasizes functionality, sustainability, and aesthetic value in industrial production, contributing to the rich tapestry of French design and enhancing user experience and quality of life.Read More →

Exit Sign - Ubiquitous Design

Discover the vital role of the ubiquitous exit sign in our everyday safety. This blog post illuminates how these often overlooked signs, engineered with precision and backed by stringent regulations, guide us to safety during emergencies. Unveil the science, legalities, and evolution behind the humble exit sign, our unsung hero.Read More →

Île-de-France ocean liner

The Île-de-France, launched in 1926, was a grand dame of French ocean liners, showcasing elegance and craftsmanship. Designed by top designers, it showcased French decorative arts, opulence, and practicality, making it a symbol of the golden age of transatlantic travel.Read More →

International Symposium "Art Sciences on the Border of Science and Art: GAKhN and Aesthetic Experience of the 1920s"

The GAkhN, active from 1921 to 1934, was a crucial chapter in Russia’s intellectual and artistic history, fostering artistic culture and innovation. It served as an academic hub, fostering innovative thinking, and shaping public understanding of the arts.Read More →

slipware pottery

Slipware is pottery known by its primary decorating method in which slip is added before firing by dipping, painting or splashing on the leather-hard clay body surface. Slip is an aqueous clay body suspension that is a combination of clays and other minerals, such as quartz, feldspar, and mica.Read More →

Kyohei Fujita Glassware

Kyohei Fujita, born in 1921, gained exposure to glass art through apprenticeship with Toshichi Iwata. He developed a unique style and established the Japan Glass Artcrafts Association in 1972. Kyohei Fujita, a prominent Japanese artist, combines traditional Japanese elements with modern spirit, creating a lasting legacy in the international studio glass movement.Read More →

Oceano Oltreluce - Cover Page

Oceano Oltreluce, founded in 1981, is an Italian lighting manufacturer specializing in innovative design and craftsmanship. The company’s philosophy is “Italian light workshop,” with in-house production, local sourcing, and authenticity. They embrace eco-sustainability and strive for continuous improvement.Read More →

Ernest Chaplet featured image

Ernest Chaplet (1835 – 1909) was a French ceramicist, an early studio potter’ who mastered slip decoration, rediscovered stoneware, and conducted copper-red studies. From 1882 to 1885, he was the director of Charles Haviland’s workshop to study decorative processes, where he collaborated with artists such as Paul Gauguin. He eventually moved to Choisy-le-Roi, where he focused on porcelain glaze studies.Read More →

Japonisme style of decorative arts

A French term used to describe a variety of European borrowings from Japanese art was Japonisme.

With the opening of trade with Japan following the expedition of the American Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853. The interest in Japanese art in the West, particularly in France, had started to develop. The artist Félix Bracquemond, a friend of the Goncourt brothers, were among the first interpreters of the style.Read More →

A picture of Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dancing

I saw La La Land this weekend and Damien Chazelle musical is brilliant and emotional tribute to the 1950’s musical. Visually stunning eye candy for my inner graphic designer. Not so much a visual re-imaging of Los Angeles as a opportunity to see it through an artists eye. Chazelles last film, “Whiplash”used Jazz as a tool to explore ambition, the price of achieving excellence. Read More →

Light Saber Duel featured image

The lightsaber, an iconic design icon in the Star Wars franchise, represents a blend of technology, mythology, tradition, and innovation. Its sleek, minimalist design contrasts with its vivid energy blade, symbolizing the Jedi Order and the Force’s mystical power. The vibrant colors of the lightsaber’s blades carry symbolic weight, indicating character alignment and intent. The lightsaber’s legacy has inspired real-life innovations and reimagined various forms across media, showcasing the power of design in creating meaningful objects.Read More →

Murphy Radio Featured Image

Murphy Radio revolutionized radio and television design with innovative designs by R.D. Russell, focusing on veneered plywood cabinets and post-war collaboration. R.D. Russell and Murphy Radio collaborated on radio and television cabinets, introducing modern aesthetics and functional elements, shaping electronics design and inspiring contemporary designers.Read More →

High-Tech Design

High-Tech architecture emerged in the 1970s, focusing on technological innovation, industrial aesthetics, and functionalism, reshaping the built environment. High-Tech architecture emphasized utilitarian aesthetics, flexibility, and adaptability, influencing interior design and sustainability, and influencing modern green and minimalist styles.Read More →

Hille Poly Chair featured image

Hille, a British furniture manufacturer, is known for its Modernist chairs and has collaborated with renowned designers like Robin Day and Fred Scott. The Poly Side chair, introduced in 1963, is renowned for its innovative use of materials and functional, minimalist design. Made from molded polypropylene, it is durable, lightweight, and easy to clean. The chair’s timeless design and innovative materials have made it a popular design classic, winning the Design Centre Award in 1963.Read More →

French Art Deco Fashions

French pochoir prints from Art Deco era showcase women’s fashion designs, influenced by famous designers like Charles Worth and Jean Patou, showcasing their artistry and creativity.Read More →

Ornamo Book of Finnish Design

The 1962 Ornamo Book of Finnish Design showcases mid-century modernism in Finland, featuring sleek furniture and playful textiles, with light age browning on upper edges.Read More →

Peter Opsvik chairs

Peter Opsvik is a Norwegian furniture designer. In the 1960s, studied ergonomics under Ulrich Burandt and in design schools in Bergen and Oslo. In the 1970s, in Britain and Volkwangschule filr Kunstgewerbe, Essen. 1965-70, he was a designer at the Tandberg Radio Factory.Read More →