The English art critic and social reformer, John Ruskin (1810-1900), was one of the first to question the destructive influences of industrialization on artistic and social values. He believed that mechanization was dehumanizing, that it ruined the quality of life of workers, and beyond that was causing the demise of craftsmanship itself. Ruskin believed that a return to handcraftsmanship would be the salvation of workers tied to the 'slavery of the machine.' He advocated a return to the medieval guild system, when in his words, 'all craftsmen were artists.' Ruskin's influential book, 'The Stones of Venice,' published in 1851 laid the philosophical basis for what would come to be called the 'Arts and Crafts Movement.' The main tenets of this movement were: 1) a return to simplified, functional design, devoid of the elaborate embellishment of the Victorian era, 2) the use of natural, local materials when possible, 3) the reinstatement of the role of the craftsman, i. e. that the designer and the maker should be the same person, and 4) that art should encompass even everyday objects, meaning that beauty should pervade all aspects of daily life, and 5) that art and craft can not be separate. William Morris was born into a prosperous middle class family and came to be influenced by Ruskin's theories. Morris was more interested in action than theory however. When he found it difficult to find suitable furnishings for his own home, Morris decided to take action, and set up a company, Morris, Marshall, and Faulkner in 1862 to design and produce 'decorative art,' which he defined as 'that great body of art, by means of which men have at all times striven to beautify the familiar matters of everyday life.'
By 1877, Morris had bought out his partners, and set up his own company,
Morris and Co. His retail showroom not only sold his own designs, but also
works by other craftsmen, such as the potter, William de Morgan. Morris
realized the commercial importance of marketing the complete room concept
of interior design and sold not only furniture and ceramics, but also wallpaper,
textiles, rugs, curtains, etc. He became involved in embroidery and tapestry
design and experimented with natural vegetable dyes, shunning as gaudy the
synthetic aniline dyes common to other manufacturers. He worked with the
weaver, Louis Brezin, and used the revolutionary Jacquard loom to create
subtle and beautiful tapestries. The 'Peacock and Dragon' carpet seen here
shows the restrained color palette obtained by using vegetable dyes, and
Morris' interest in Persian design. While Morris was no Arts and Crafts
purist (he had no problem with using a mechanical loom, for example), his
example of producing a wide range of well designed handcrafts as well as
his extensive publications and lectures made him the true founder of Arts
and Crafts movement.
William Morris and Co.
Woven Twill Carpet with Peacock and Dragon Pattern,' 1878
