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Thank you.

Not too long ago, I received an email containing the following:

I found a wealth of information on this topic, and while trying to write something for you, found I would be plagiarizing a lot of wonderful writers by going too far.  I condensed this horribly, and hope you'll find what you're searching for in the links at the bottom of the page.

So, mystery email person, here you go:  :)

The Arts and Crafts Movement in America

First of all, this movement's beginning is recorded as having started in England.  (Where else?)  The name most closely associated with this movement is arguably William Morris.  Yep, he and several others formed a home furnishings company called Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. Their ideas and conceptions of good taste made the rounds in this world at the end of the 19th century in the form of wallpaper, furniture covers and "useful embroideries".

Morris felt embroidery should resemble embroidery and not try to precisely imitate nature.  His work was largely inspired by plants and gardens, herbals that he collected, and Medieval crewelwork embroideries.  His work was definitely two dimensional.  He used natural dyes which produced muted tones and were much easier on the eyes than the gaudier aniline dyes that were currently being used.  Above all, quality was most important.  Nothing slip-shod was acceptable.  I believe this was the main theme of this time period, held by all of those who promoted the movement.  (see: "A Message To Garcia" ©Elbert Hubbard, March, 1899 http://www.retroactive.com/artsncrafts/garcia1.html )

Morris' embroidery kits were drawn on linen and worked with silks and wool, frequently with a corner already worked as a guide to the buyer, often by his wife and daughter.  He called it "gardening with silk and gold thread."   His company began selling their wallpapers in 1873 in Boston.

Some others who were associated with this movement were John Ruskin, the first professor of art history at Oxford, Thomas Wardle, Morris' chief dyer, C.F.A. Voysey, an architect interested in interior design, Frank Lloyd Wright, William De Morgan, Tiffany, painter Edward Burns-Jones, Philip Webb, and others, more numerous than I can hope to count.  {I've attempted to compile an extensive list of links, for those interested in pursuing this line of history, at the bottom of this page.}  These and many others contributed to the arts and crafts movement with their designs, ideas, and lectures.

Now, the American connection:

The work that Morris and his group did became so popular that the Royal School of Needlework in London had him teaching his style and philosophy of work and sent items to its branch schools in Boston and Philadelphia.  Copies of his lectures made it to American libraries.  Other schools were interested in promoting handwork for ladies needing useful employment, including the New York Society of Decorative Art, the Newcomb College, and the Kensington School of Needlework, Massachusetts Normal Arts School.  Many famous lecturers were instrumental in advocating the Arts and Crafts movement, notably Oscar Wilde.  He lectured on the philosophy of art manufacture in over 120 towns in North America.

The suffrage movement was very closely linked to the Arts & Crafts Movement, for women were keenly interested in improving their education and opportunities for employment were limited.  They greatly promoted Morris' work, and at least two schools of design were founded by women. 

In 1876, the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition was held, displaying many Oriental themes as well as work from Morris & Co.  This provided a lot of inspiration to him as well as home designers all over the world.  "So influenced was he by the Exposition that he enrolled in classes at the Rhode Island School of Design just one month after its organization..."  

Needlework, pottery, bookbinding, wallpapers, and many other art forms were influenced by this philosophy of simplicity and quality.  

Suggested links:

http://store.wellsfargoestore.com/store.asp?m=548344&n=14&k=124&s=About+William+Morris 

I'd be glad to add more links if you'd care to send them, as well as suggested reading!

I referred to Beth Russell's Traditional Needlepoint and her Victorian Needlepoint.  She has done extensive work in reproducing designs from this time period, and her books are full of patterns, history, wool color conversions, instructions, and fun.

Bits and pieces came from Thomasina Beck's The Embroiderer's Flowers

and her Embroiderer's Garden.  and   Victorian Embroidery by Freda Parker.

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Whiteworks Christening Gowns

2008

5220 US Hwy 6
Rome, OH  44085

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