Arts and Crafts Era: Artisans of the Day
March 2023
Arts and Crafts Era: Artisans of the Day
I’ve always been a fan of the Arts and Crafts Movement and March is a month to celebrate because this is when its leading light, William Morris, was born (24th March 1834).
In a recent episode of George Clarke’s Channel 4 series, Amazing Spaces, we were fascinated to see inside the David Parr House, Cambridge. Hand-painted in the Arts and Crafts style, it reveals how a little creativity can transform even the most modest of spaces. (See Series 11, Episode 6 – available on All 4.)
We too have been decorating at home and chose this gorgeous wallpaper for our own ‘amazing space’.
‘Ruskin’ from the Originals Brantwood Wallpaper Collection by G P & J Baker, is a captivating mix of flora and fauna. It is named after prominent Victorian, John Ruskin, who built the foundations of the Arts and Crafts movement. Brantwood was his Lake District home.
Both Amanda and I are on a journey of discovery as we learn more about other artists and designers who were engaged by the leading wallpaper manufacturers of the period. Our appreciation of the artwork and craftsmanship behind so many heritage designs continues to grow. Sections from A History of English Wallpaper, 1509 - 1914 by Alan Victor Sugden is helping to build our knowledge and another good resource is this V & A article on Wallpaper Design Reform.
Owen Jones
William Morris was influenced by, (among others), Owen Jones, an architect and designer who was one of the most influential design theorists of the 19th century. Inspired by the art of the Islamic world, he set out a manifesto of design principles in ‘The Grammar of Ornament’, 1856.
Owen Jones quote, “Form without colour is like a body without a soul.”
Dr Christopher Dresser
Owen Jones was also instrumental in the formation of the South Kensington Museum, now the world-famous Victoria and Albert Museum (V & A). He had a protégé, Dr Christopher Dresser, an expert in botany who became a celebrated architect and industrial designer associated with the Design Reform Movement, working in a range of mediums including ceramics and metalwork. Dresser created some early Lincrusta designs, including a floral design from a surviving Lincrusta-Walton red catalogue, a fragment of which – first installed in the New York Mansion of J D Rockefeller – is now preserved at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
Photo: Decorative Lincrusta-Walton Screen with a mahogany frame, designed by Dr Christopher Dresser c.1900.
(photo credit: Obsoleteinc.com)
Lewis Foreman Day
Thanks to Carl Burgess, @cbfinepainting, and his nose for collecting historical decorating magazines, books etc, I have acquired some items for my own collection, including this wonderful early Lincrusta-Walton advert from The Journal of Decorative Art, 1887, along with this 1902 edition of Decorator magazine which gives an account of the Ninth Annual Convention of the National Association of Master House Painters and Decorators. Mr Lewis W Day gave the address: ‘The Art and Trade of The House Painter’. His discusses how in theory ‘art’ and ‘trade’ are two opposites but in practice the two things are inseparable. “In all the work of a man’s hand, in which it is possible for him to take a pride, there is an element of art.” Lewis W Day.
Day was another important figure in the Arts & Crafts Movement.
Lincrusta-Walton Advert c.1887
The Decorator Magazine 1902
Also in the 1902 Decorator magazine, I spotted some interesting Art Nouveau-style Lincrusta-Walton designs by George C Haite. An internet search for Haite led me to another historical gem that was for sale in a Spanish bookshop – a trade catalogue for the 1900 Paris Exhibition.
‘The Anaglypta Decoration in Relief, Paris 1900: Special Designs, Modern English Style by George C Haite, President of the Society of Designers’, including designs by other well-known designers.
We are now the happy custodians of this book.
George C. Haite
George Charles Haite RBA, was a Fellow/President of numerous art societies, including Institute of Decorative Designers, and National Association of House Painters & Decorators and the Japan Society, London.
When The Strand magazine launched in January 1891 Haite provided the pen and ink illustration for the cover. This magazine included the very first Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle. Being ‘Holmes’ ourselves we like to think of Sherlock as our eccentric great-uncle!
The Strand Magazine cover illustrated by Haite.
Three generations of Holmes’ on a hot day.
A Victorian home renovator who follows us on Instagram sent us this photograph (below) recently. She wanted some advice on saving her dado. Recognising the style, Amanda went straight to our little green book and found it – ‘Anaglypta No. 369’ by George C Haite. I will visit and make a mould of a panel to add to my collection, which can be used for potential future repairs, or to reinstate missing sections as required.
Victorian Anaglypta Dado c.1900 designed by George C. Haite
Anaglypta no.369 from our personal archives, Frank Holmes Ltd.
To see more about how I can replicate and repair Victorian raised relief papers, such as Anaglypta or Lincrusta, read our previous Perfectly Frank blog post: ‘Period Property Décor- Always in Style’.
We are not academics, yet there is so much we could write about the Arts and Crafts era. We have barely touched the surface in this post, mentioning just a few key designers. My hope is that we can shine a light on some of the gems people may have in their own homes, and help them pause and think about how to preserve period features, retaining that timeless elegance and soul that I personally see as snapshots of history – historical pieces of art.
Can you suggest more books/articles, or places to visit for Amanda and me in our journey of discovery?
Please comment below or email us at email@frankholmesltd.com
If we have sparked your interest see the links below for further reading.
Until next time,
Frank
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