Arts & Crafts Movement - 1880 through 1920

    

THE ARTS & CRAFTS MOVEMENT

1880 ~ 1920

    The Arts and Crafts Movement was formed right after the Victorian period and the Industrial Revolution. The Victorian period, from 1837 to 1901, marked the beginning of consumer culture. While this period offered elaborate decor, stylish details, and the act of collecting accessories, the furniture and materials were poorly manufactured. This became a problem for furniture and textile companies because people stopped purchasing their products.

    There was an architect named William Morris who stood against the Victorian period and the Industrial Revolution. He wanted to put an end to mass production and revert to the real and authentic nature of simplicity. Morris then started a movement in Britain, which later became known as the Arts and Crafts Movement, and spread quickly across the world. Some characteristics of this movement included that everything was handmade, based on medieval design, and was influenced by Shaker furniture. During this movement, oak wood became very popular and was used in almost every design. The Arts and Crafts style focused on handcrafted wood products as well as exposed wood joints. Morris took a turn away from the busy, colorful, and clustered appeal of the Victorian phase and created a well-known style of design that people use to this day. 

                    Philip Webb - Bexleyheath house for William Morris and his bride, Red House

                                                    Voysey - The Orchard entrance hall 

Mackintosh - Glasglow school of art 
William Morris - Morris Chair


CURRENT APPLICATIONS 

Cherishing wood as wainscotting and dining room furniture 

                                                Exposed wood joints in modern-day furniture 

                    Emphasis on wood by not painting trim, baseboards, or structural beams/columns

                                            All wood interior to bring simplicity into a space 


ONE STEP FURTHER
 

    Philip Webb was a British architect who was a reformist and strongly opposed the Industrial Revolution. He wanted to make a dramatic change and started to design elegant country homes with a simple and clean design. His first commission was The Red House, built for William Morris. Webb wanted to dedicate this design to the beginning of the Arts and Crafts style and placed emphasis on the exposed hardware and white paint.
    When I look at this image, I assume that this interior was designed somewhere between 2021 and 2025. The white paint, old furniture, and rug look very similar to a design trend that happened a few years ago called "cottage core". It shocked me to know that this interior was built in 1860. I find it very interesting that the design that Webb did for this house is timeless. I wasn't expecting that interior to look as 'modern' as it does. 


EXTRA CREDIT

Everything you need to know about The Craftsman Style - https://youtu.be/QFGR--xVRZw?si=Y827HaETdwdruJy4 

Arts & Crafts Explained (William Morris) - https://youtu.be/AYPCkwHRrdA?si=5FmK72k-qzNFajEo 

Building with History - https://youtu.be/2upEATV0SMY?si=N33JUtxVsIRt96Qq 






Comments

  1. Makayla OlarJanuary 23, 2026 at 2:16 PM

    Hey Bianca! I really like your image of the Voysey Orchard Entrance Hall. That space is a perfect example of the simplistic design of this Arts and Crafts period and is one of my favorites that you chose in your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Professor VanderNoordaaJanuary 24, 2026 at 11:10 AM

    Bianca,
    What a great Blog post! I love your summary of the Arts and Crafts period. You chose beautiful images to support your text. I appreciated your "modern day" examples of arts and crafts". Also,
    Phillip Webb was a great person to look into further. Your extra credit examples were great! I love
    d the "Better Homes and Gardens" article. Remember next time to include a general reflection at the end of each Blog! 50/50 points

    ReplyDelete
  3. Allyssa PotterJanuary 25, 2026 at 4:31 PM

    I really like your one step furthere section! The image you chose is beautiful and represents the arts and crafts era very well.

    ReplyDelete

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