Arts and Crafts Design Lecture Notes

Flashcards covering the aims, influences, characteristics, and key architectural works of the Arts and Crafts Design movement.

What values and period did Arts and Crafts design celebrate in its aims?

It celebrated good moral Christian values, order, stability, and simplicity of life that had been part of the Medieval/Gothic period.

Why did Arts and Crafts designers return to the art of the Mediaeval/Gothic times?

They returned to it in an effort to improve society.

What conditions of the Victorian industrial era provoked the rise of the Arts and Crafts movement?

It was a reaction against poor taste, overly ornate designs, and poorly made mass-produced goods that resulted in bad craftsmanship.

Which specific architectural features were adopted from Gothic architecture into Arts and Crafts design?

Symmetry, pointed arches, and pointed roofs.

How was the influence of the English cottage style reflected in Arts and Crafts design?

It was reflected in the use of natural, locally sourced materials.

What colour schemes and tones were characteristic of Arts and Crafts design?

Flat areas of bold colour in different shades of blue, yellow, and red, as well as earth tones.

Why was balance in Arts and Crafts design generally symmetrical?

Because of the medieval Gothic influence emphasizing stability and order.

What typical subject matter and medieval motifs were incorporated into Arts and Crafts design?

Plants, animals, birds, and Gothic-influenced medieval motifs such as the trefoil and quatrefoil.

What did William Morris's idea of 'truth to materials' entail for design and ornamentation?

Designs were kept simple and unadorned, often showing where parts were joined, using the natural grain of wood as part of the design, using decoration only to enhance the basic design, and keeping ornamentation to a minimum.

Which traditional crafts experienced a revival during the Arts and Crafts movement?

Weaving, embroidery, lace-making, and tapestry.

What range of products was produced by Arts and Crafts designers?

Textiles, furniture, ceramics, leather bound books, metal work, and architecture.

Who designed The Red House, when was it commissioned, and for whom?

It was designed by Philip Webb in 1860, commissioned by William Morris for his new bride, Jane Burden, in Kent, England.

What architectural style and key stylistic elements characterize The Red House?

A Gothic Revival style featuring typically simple lines, pointed Gothic arches, plain brick walls, slender windows, and a roof of many pointed roofs and chimneys.

What locally sourced materials were used to construct The Red House?

Locally sourced red brick and locally sourced slate for the roof tiles.

How was the 'honesty' of the construction process demonstrated in The Red House?

Beams were left exposed rather than hidden behind superficial decoration, paired with a focus on function rather than aesthetic.