Decorative Arts & Design Bookshop 📚 (Page 23)

Explore a curated selection of books about the decorative arts featuring museum-quality publications from some of the world’s most prestigious design institutions, including MoMA and the V&A. Available through our partner stores, these books offer rich insights into historical and contemporary decorative arts, covering furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, and more.

This collection celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship behind the ornamental design, material culture, and applied arts, from exhibition catalogues and scholarly analyses to inspirational coffee table books. Whether you’re a collector, historian, designer, or enthusiast, these books provide a comprehensive and visually stunning look at the evolution of decorative arts across cultures and periods.

Mid-Century Modernism - Featured Image

The period after World War II saw a surge in optimism and creativity in furniture design. With the use of new materials and production techniques, Modernism evolved into a more relaxed and mass-produced style. Recovering economies and the availability of varied materials led to a diverse range of designs, including the incorporation of natural elements in “Soft Modernism.”Read More →

Gothenburg 1923 Exhibition Reconstruction

The Gothenburg Exhibition of 1923, held in Sweden, played a pivotal role in design history, showcasing Swedish creativity and marking a shift towards modernist, functional designs. Influencing modern practices, it emphasized societal improvement and industrial progress through design.
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Neue Sachlichkeit - Design Term

The New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit), a movement in 1920s German art, was a reaction against expressionism. Coined by Gustav Hartlaub, it featured figurative, cynical art without pre-war idealism.Read More →

Dante Gabriel Rossetti reading proofs of Sonnets and Ballads to Theodore Watts-Dunton

19th-century Aestheticism departed from Victorian utilitarianism and instead valued beauty in art. Originating as a counter-movement to industrialization, it emphasized sensory appeal, luxury materials, and intricate design details. Influences included Eastern design and the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Its principles continue to inspire contemporary design, stressing individual expression and diverse cultural integration.Read More →

Giant pencil made of wood, painted cream and printed in brown with the words 'Cadbury's BOURNVITA FOR SLEEP AND ENERGY'.

The centuries-old pencil, with its roots in 16th century England and evolution by innovators, remains a vital tool in education, art, and modern creativity.Read More →