The Arts and Crafts Movement

The Arts and Crafts Movement

'Tulip and Willow' sketch by William Morris 1873 

The arts and crafts movement was one of the most influential periods in design history. It changed design and saved it from becoming a machine made process in mass production. It began in Britain and later on spread across America and Europe. The arts and crafts movement included of artists, architects, craftsmen and writers. Before the industrial revolution happened, craftsman dedicated a lot of time to perfecting a skill, but when mass production arrived, everything changed. Thar art and crafts movement was a reaction to the poor quality and design during the industrial revolution.

William Morris 

William Morris, was an important contributor and had a lot of influence on the arts and crafts movement. William was a designer, painter, poet and social activist. He was also inspired by John Ruskin and Walter Crane. William didn’t want to reject the machine, he wanted to make it better and apply the values of fine art to the production of commercial design. In 1861 William Morris founded his first company which produced a wide range if decorative objects which included furniture, fabrics, wallpaper and stained-glass. Morris and Co is still exists, the company is now under the hands of fabric house Sanderson, his prints are still being produced and work is still being sold.

The patterns for the wallpaper and fabrics were mostly inspired from nature. The patterns show medieval influence because it has links to illuminated manuscripts and tapestries. William thought that nature was the perfect example of God’s design. William wanted to combine artistic skills with strong political beliefs. Some characteristics of the arts and crafts design included of simple forms with a function.  The work being produced during the movement was sometimes highly decorated but most of the time it was in simple forms with the joining methods kept visible. Materials used were kept to a really good quality, real leather and Applewood materials were used and the work was done with a craftsmanship finish. Bright colors, rich patterns and textures are seen in many works during this movement.

House of Hackney

House of Hackney is a clothing and interiors label founded by Frieda Gormley and her husband Javvy M Royle . They create designs that have a mix of modern style with some inheritance from iconic designs.  William Morris is major influence to this company. They have created wallpapers and fabrics that have a strong connection to Williams designs. They have bold designs that link to Morris’s patterns, but with a modern touch. The Designers of the work were also invited by the William Morris Gallery to collaborate and remake some of his works.   They had to choose some of Williams work and re-design it and give it a touch of bright colors. These print have been printed on dresses, sofas, lampshades and wallpapers. The idea of William Morris Gallery was to get William’s work back to life to a new generation with some differences.

  William Morris's Print - Blackthorn                             

 House of Hackney's Print

William Morris's Print - Hyacinth

 House of Hackney's Print

Reference -

The Industrial Revolution (no date) Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution (Accessed: 10 May 2016).

Eagleton, C. and Manolopoulou, A. (no date) The industrial revolution and the changing face of Britain. Available at: https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/publications/online_research_catalogues/paper_money/paper_money_of_england__wales/the_industrial_revolution.aspx (Accessed: 10 April 2016).About the arts and crafts movement (1951) Available at: http://www.artsandcraftsmuseum.org.uk/Arts_and_Crafts_Movement/The_Arts_and_Crafts_Movement.aspx (Accessed: 10 April 2016).

http://www.artsandcraftsmuseum.org.uk/Arts_and_Crafts_Movement/The_Arts_and_Crafts_Movement.aspx (Accessed: 11 April 2016).

(No Date) Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Morris (Accessed: 10 May 2016).

Choudhry, T. (2015) William Morris redux-telegraph. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/luxury/design/80536/william-morris-arts-crafts-designs-are-revived-by-house-of-hackney.html (Accessed: 11 April 2016).

About the arts and crafts movement (1951) Available at: http://www.artsandcraftsmuseum.org.uk/Arts_and_Crafts_Movement/The_Arts_and_Crafts_Movement.aspx (Accessed: 10 April 2016).

Our story (no date) Available at: http://www.houseofhackney.com/our-story (Accessed: 11 April 2016).