Arts and crafts is a social and aesthetic movement that emerged in England at the end of the 19th century, which sought to rescue the importance of craftsmanship in the face of increasing mechanization and mass production. Its denomination comes from the "Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society" founded in 1888, but the artistic movement had its bases in the ideas of John Ruskin (1819-1900).
In the Arts and Crafts movement are ethical and political philosophical principles, as well as aesthetic. I highlight some of his ideas:
• Rejection of the separation between art and crafts.
• Rejection of industrial methods of work.
• Proposal of a return to the Middle Ages, in all applied arts.
• Architecture as the center of all design activities.
• Grouping of artisans in guilds and workshops, following the medieval model of collective work.
• Work well done, well finished and satisfaction for both artist and client.
• The artisan is an artist and a creator of works of art.
Designers representing the arts and crafts movement
PHILIP WEBB (1831-1915), British architect was one of the main exponents of the movement "domestic revival".
William Morris (1834-1896) Writer, painter, designer, craftsman and English social reformer. Morris undertook the task of recreating a manual industrialist in the era of the machine, producing his company "Morris and Company" fabrics, tapestries, wallpapers and furniture.
MACKAY HUGH BAILLIE SCOTT architect soon assumed the directives of the movement "arts and Grafo" and influenced in its beginnings the ideas of William Morris and Ruskin. He then forged his own distinctive style, especially as a result of his marriage to Florenze, his design is a reaction to the rapid changes of the moment, mass production and industry. Inspired by Gothic art and craftsmanship
Baillie Scout described her clientele as "people with artistic sensitivity but modest income"
Chairs, tables, cabinets, nightstands, consoles and style arts and crafts