Design and the Decorative Arts [Hardcover]

Michael Snodin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2001

Published to celebrate the reopening of the newly refurbished British Galleries in the Victoria and Albert Museum. This work tells the story of design and decorative art in Britain from the time of Henry VIII to the reign of Queen Victoria. It shows how Britain's rise during this period to become the most powerful nation on earth was reflected in her art, architecture and design, in the way that people lived, and in the increasing quantity and quality of things made in Britain, from furniture to fashionable textiles and from porcelain to elegant silverware. Matching the royal dynasties of the period, the book is divided into the three major sections: Tudor and Stuart Britain; Georgian Britain and Victorian Britain, each looking at the achievements of British design in different and revealing ways. Key themes - "Style", "Who Led Taste", "Fashionable Living" and "What Was New" - form a framework for each section, within the broader historical context. Separate chapters deal with not only what things looked like, but also how they were made and how they fitted into daily life, who decided what was fashionable, and how key technical innovations changed the world. The text sets out to provide a fascinating picture of the changing nature of British design from the time of the Tudors to the Victorian period when Britain was seen as "the workshop of the world". The illustrations are taken chiefly from the V and A's collections of British art and design.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This abundantly illustrated book offers a fascinating history of the evolution of British design over four centuries. Efforts by the Victoria & Albert Museum to clarify and substantiate the importance of decorative arts have culminated in the opening of its new British Galleries. Snodin (department of prints, drawings, and paintings, V&A) and Styles (head of postgraduate studies, V&A) have produced this accompanying catalog, the definitive work on the evolution of British design. Divided into three historical sections Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian the book deals with those objects that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing, reflecting the needs and tastes of the time, as well as the social and historical processes that took place in their creation. Covering every topic from the decorated halls of Hampton Court Palace to Wedgwood china to fashion magazines, this is, perhaps, the most complete resource in the field. Drawing upon the splendid design resources of the V&A, the authors have done a great service to the study of artistry and innovation of design. They also offer the reader an elegant look at the role of changing tastes and technology in the objects of everyday life. Highly recommended. Paula Frosch, Metropolitan Museum of Art Lib., New York

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Michael Snodin is Head of the Designs Section of the V & A's Department of Prints, Drawings and Paintings. Publications include Sir William Chambers (V & A Publications, 1996) and Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style (V & A Publications, 1997). John Styles is Senior Tutor of the V & A / RCA History of Design course. Widely published, he is a historian specialising in the eighteenth century, and is currently historical advisor to the V & A's British Galleries team.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: V&a Publications (October 31, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 185177338X
• ISBN-13: 978-1851773381
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 10.2 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,439,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Comparison With Similar Books, March 24, 2011

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This review is from: Design and the Decorative Arts: Britain 1500-1900 (Victoria and Albert Museum Studies) (Hardcover)

Design and the Decorative Arts: Britain 1500-1900 covers a broader spectrum owned by the V&A but only those items designed and produced in Britain. Additionally, historical houses are included. The book is broken down into eras and categories. I learned a lot from the commentary about why the British Decorative Arts differ from their European cousins.

A Grand Design: The Art of the Victoria and Albert Museum features 200 items from ancient to modern in color and usually full page. The commentary reveals details to enhance the experience. The first part of the book is mostly B&W photos from the past and some drawings.

When I toured the Victoria and Albert Museum in London I was disappointed that the available books were limited to specific genres. These two books have given me at least some coverage of this vast museum.

I also own Judith Miller's Decorative Arts which is spectacularly visual and covers just about everything found in aristocratic homes and museums. It does not include architecture, clothing, or paintings. It provides multiple examples of specific styles from many countries. While the text gives a brief description, it is the photos of individual pieces that trumps every other book I have seen with the exception of those devoted to a single manufacturer.