Author Description

The Arts and Crafts Movement embodied the late—nineteenth century desire to - create beautiful yet functional objects that would improve the lives of craftsmen and their customers alike. Based on writings by esthetes such as Pugin and Ruskin, followers of the Arts and Crafts creed were nostalgic for the works of ancient artisans, whose creations denoted hard work and original craftsmanship, rather than the uniform items being mass-produced at the time. Despite this, many of those at the forefront of the movement fully utilized modern innovations. The influence of Arts and Crafts can be seen in an extraordinarily broad range of work, from furniture and metalwork, textiles and interiors, to glass and pottery. Looking at the creations of such major proponents as Charles Rennie Mackintosh, William Morris, and Philip Webb, Arts and Crafts Movement charts the eclectic output of the movement, as well as its intriguing historical and intellectual development. Beautifully illustrated throughout, and with clear and accessible text, Arts and Crafts Movement is an essential guide to this fascinating and culturally signifcant movement.