American Decorative Arts (Page 23)

The American Decorative Arts and Design tag covers the evolution of furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, and other functional objects crafted in the United States. This category explores the influence of indigenous traditions, colonial craftsmanship, industrial innovation, and modernist movements on American design. From the Federal and Shaker styles to Mid-Century Modern and contemporary trends, this tag highlights significant designers, materials, techniques, and cultural shifts that have shaped American decorative arts.
Topics include:

Colonial and Federal-Era Craftsmanship – The impact of European traditions on early American furniture and decorative objects.
Shaker and Mission Styles – Simplicity, utility, and handcrafted integrity in American design.
Art Deco and Streamline Moderne – American interpretations of early 20th-century modernism.
Mid-Century Modern and Postmodernism – The emergence of iconic designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nakashima, and Frank Gehry.
Contemporary Craft and Sustainable Design – How modern artisans and designers redefine decorative arts with eco-friendly materials and innovative techniques.

Red Ball Rocking Horse by Creative Playthings

This rocking “horse” was provided by Creative Playthings, an expensive educational toymaker, in the 1960s. This toy reduces the rocking horse to its bare essentials in a design that mimics Modernism, a prominent aesthetic in the mid-twentieth century. Read More →

Safety Bicycle for 19th Century Women

The “safety” bicycle, initially introduced in 1887, propelled the late-nineteenth-century bicycling mania to new heights. While the regular bike needed great skill due to its giant front wheel and small rear wheel, safety bicycles could be ridden by anyone.Read More →

Edward Wormley (1907 – 1995) American furniture designer

American modern furniture designer Edward Wormley worked for Dunbar Furniture and later his studio, achieving renown for his unique synthesis of historical design and modern innovation. His works featured prominently in the Good Design Exhibitions, with his tile-topped tables being particularly successful.
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