Decorative Arts

The Decorative Arts collection encompasses the design and craftsmanship of functional and ornamental objects, including furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, metalwork, and more. Spanning historical and contemporary movements, this category highlights the artistry, techniques, and cultural significance behind decorative arts worldwide.

Topics include:

Historical Decorative Arts Movements – From Baroque and Rococo to Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
Regional Traditions – Italian, French, British, American, and Asian decorative arts.
Craftsmanship and Materials – Exploring wood carving, porcelain, glassblowing, textiles, and metalworking techniques.
Influential Designers and Makers – Featuring artisans, workshops, and manufacturers who shaped decorative arts.
Modern and Contemporary Innovations – The intersection of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design and technology.

'Brownies' stained glass window by Selwyn Image

The Art and History of Stained Glass

Stained glass, evolving from ancient practices to modern applications, transforms light into vivid forms and patterns, enriching spaces in religious and contemporary architecture alike.Read More →

Craft workbench with wooden bowls, leather, woven baskets, and hand tools

A Guide to Australian Decorative Arts: Techniques and Materials

Australian decorative arts encompass ceramics, textiles, furniture, jewellery, glass and designed objects. Explore their history, materials, techniques and influential Australian designers.Read More →

Colonial living room with fireplace, two antique armchairs, wooden furniture, and blue walls

Federal Style: The Refined Neoclassical Language of Early American Design

Federal Style refers to the refined American phase of Neoclassical design that flourished after the American Revolution, broadly between the late 1780s and about 1820.Read More →

Interfraternity Club Chicago interior with plaster walls and ceiling unified by grey henna and black colour treatment

Ceiling Design in Interior Architecture: “The Top of the Room” in 1932

Carleton B. Ryder’s 1932 article advocates for treating ceilings as significant architectural elements, emphasizing their roles in proportion, acoustics, and overall room unity in interior design.Read More →

Geometric cement tiles in a bathroom interior used to define a patterned floor with timber vanity and neutral wall tiles

The Decorative Power of Cement Tiles in Interior Design

Cement tiles enhance interior design by combining functionality and artistry, creating memorable spaces with geometric patterns, colour variety, and practical zoning without adding physical barriers.Read More →

Colefax and Fowler Olander Collection interior with rose curtains, striped sofa, floral cushions and patterned ottoman

Colefax and Fowler Olander Collection: Pattern, Texture and English Interior Elegance

The Colefax and Fowler Olander Collection blends contemporary decor with traditional English style, showcasing textiles that harmoniously combine comfort, pattern, and historical significance.Read More →

American Colonial architecture illustration of Hutchinson House in Boston with symmetrical facade and classical detailing

American Colonial Design: Architecture, Furniture and Decorative Arts

American Colonial design reflects a unique blend of British influence and local adaptation, shaping furniture, architecture, and decorative arts before the Federal period, emphasising practicality and regional character.Read More →

Chair Design: Innovations in Material and Style

The thematic hub explores chair design’s historical evolution, functionality, cultural significance, and material innovation, reflecting its impact on society and architecture through various eras.Read More →

Japanese tabako-ire leather tobacco pouch with carved kiseru-zutsu pipe case and ojime, Edo period

Kazari: Japanese Ornament and Spiritual Design

Explore kazari, the Japanese art of ornament, display and symbolic decoration across lacquer, textiles, ceramics, festivals and interiors.Read More →

ugendstil brooch with opal, enamel wings and gold Art Nouveau insect form

Art Deco Jewelry: Modernist Masterworks and Their Makers

Art Deco jewellery transformed modern adornment through geometry, bold colour, platinum settings and cosmopolitan influences, creating some of the most distinctive designs of the 1920s and 1930s.Read More →

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Decorative Arts