The Decorative Arts Dictionary is a comprehensive guide that covers 150 years of the decorative and applied arts. These articles provide an in-depth exploration of the evolution of decorative arts from the mid-19th century to the present day. It covers various topics, including furniture, ceramics, glassware, textiles, metalwork, and jewellery.
It offers a fascinating insight into how art movements have influenced decorative arts over time and how they continue to shape contemporary design today. Whether you are a collector, designer, or art enthusiast, these articles will surely provide you with a wealth of knowledge on this fascinating subject.
The synthetic plastic Bakelite, patented in 1907, revolutionized product design. Its impact on industrial design and jewelry made it a significant material in the 1930s.Read More →
Act of Parliament clocks emerged due to Pitt’s 1797 tax on clocks, featuring large, readable dials and striking mechanisms, commonly found in public spaces like taverns.Read More →
Nottingham earthenware, popular from the thirteenth to eighteenth centuries, includes decorative “loving cups,” affordable salt-glazed ceramics made for middle-class celebrations and anniversaries.Read More →
Dovetail joinery features interlocking, wedge-shaped cuts that provide strength and beauty in woodworking, notably in furniture and cabinetry, representing skilled craftsmanship.Read More →
Anchor Blocks, a German building system, influenced Frank Lloyd Wright’s design philosophy. Precisely engineered with durable materials, they were popular toys and collector’s items.Read More →
Achievement is a symbol that only belongs to one family, and can be engraved or enamelled to establish provenance and date.Read More →
A low seat with a cushion that became popular in the late 1700s. They simplified sitting. READ MORERead More →
Brazilian partridge wood is said to have dark streaks that resemble partridge plumage. This timber has a distinctive figure, occasionally with lighter stripes that resemble the markings on a partridge’s wing. It has a trunk diameter of at least 30 inches and grows to a height of 90 to 100 feet.Read More →
Regarding silverware, the design can be found on several hollow pieces that are repeatedly employed to create a band around the calyx of the piece. It was a well-known aspect of the RENAISSANCE STYLE, and later of the neo-classical style, the Adam style, and once more the regency style. The leaf, whose form changes over time, can be found as either applied or embossed decoration.Read More →
The Old Masters silverware service by Gorham features an Academic Style that emerged in the U.S. during the 1880s, reflecting earlier English and French influences.Read More →