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Decorative Arts

In contrast to the fine arts of painting and sculpture, this

term refers to the design of everyday objects that are

turned into works of art. These objects are often

purely ornamental. The decorative arts include

textiles, jewellery, glasswork, and ceramics.

WHO ARE THE GREAT DECORATIVE ARTISTS?

The most famous is probably William Morris (1834–1896).

He believed that the craftsmanship of decorative art

improved the lives of those who made everyday objects

and those who used them. His firm produced furniture,

tapestry, stained glass, fabrics, carpets, and wallpapers –

all still popular today. Other famous names include Clarice

Cliff (1899–1972) and Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933).

WHY IS SOME POTTERY CALLED CHINA?

People sometimes use the term china to mean crockery,

but china is a special type of ceramic called porcelain.

First produced in China in the 7th or 8th century it is hard

and translucent (light can shine through it). Europeans did

not discover how to make it until the 18th century, at

Meissen, Germany, which is still famous for its china.

WHAT IS ART DECO?

This decorative style spread through all areas of decorative

art between World Wars I and II – from jewellery to

ceramics, from furniture to architecture. Combining varied

influences from Cubist paintings to ancient Egyptian and

Aztec jewellery, Art Deco’s vivid style was characterized

by sleek lines, bold colours, and geometric forms.

Illustration depicts

one of the 12

Labours of Hercules

Shape of the
vase is both
beautiful and
functional

STARBURST WALL CLOCK, 1953 3

This clock by American designer

George Nelson has 12 colourful

rays, each representing an hour.

Materials used are

beech, metal, and

acrylic lacquer

1 Ceramics: Ancient Greek painted vase. 2 Ceramics: This Art Deco plate was
hand painted by Clarice Cliff in a pattern called Autumn. 3 Textiles: Finnish
designer Maija Isola created this flowery fabric pattern in the 1960s. 4 Textiles:
William Morris’s 19th-century wallpaper is still manufactured in the 21st.

5 Textiles: Detail from a Persian Bidjar rug c. 1890. 6 Jewellery: Art Deco enamelled brooch c. 1925.

7 Metalwork: The Artichoke lampshade was designed by Paul Henningsen in 1958. Manufactured from

copper and steel by Louis Poulsen, it is still popular today. 8 Glasswork: This beautiful glass table lamp

with Poppy motif was designed in the Art Nouveau style by American glass designer Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Minute hand

Bold simplicity of

line and colour are

part of the appeal

that keeps this clock

in production today

3 5

4

1 2

6 7 8

decorative

arts