Let’s talk about houses. I love old houses; always have. I grew up in a new house,but always yearned to live in an old one.
But I’m lucky, I now live in a traditional Arts and Crafts Bungalow built in 1916 with wonderful original woodwork and hardwood floors. The craftsmanship in my house is exceptional.
The Arts and Craft movement started in Victorian Britain, around 1880. It was more a philosophy rather than a style. This movement came about because of an uneasiness with industrialism and a refocus on the worker, the artisan. Arts and Crafts valued the craftsman artist over the capitalist factory worker, and it shows.
So many artistic forms were affected during this period: painting, architecture, textiles, metal works and furniture. The era lasted about 60 years.
I am all for preserving what this period gave us. I still have my original kitchen cabinetry-1916 cabinetry in 2010! Amazingly well built!
If you have a spare weekend, head to the Art Institute of Chicago and see the exhibit Apostles of Beauty Arts and Crafts from Britain to Chicago. Not to be missed and you won’t be disappointed.
Leave a Reply