Decorative arts

The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose aim is the design and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional. This includes most of the objects for the interiors of buildings, as well as interior design, but typically excludes architecture.

Ceramic art, metalwork, furniture, jewellery, fashion, various forms of the textile arts and glassware are major groupings.

The decorative arts are often categorized in distinction to the "fine arts", namely painting, drawing, photography, and large-scale sculpture, which generally produce objects solely for their aesthetic quality and capacity to stimulate the intellect.

Distinction from the fine arts

The idea of separating decorative arts from fine arts began in Western art after the Renaissance. This separation doesn't make much sense when looking at other cultures or earlier times. For instance, Islamic art often focuses entirely on decorative styles, using geometric shapes and plant designs. Traditional cultures also value decorative arts highly.

In early Medieval Europe, the most prized works were often made from gold, bronze, or ivory, rather than paintings or large sculptures. Tapestries were once considered very important and expensive. Over time, views have changed. In the 1970s, some writers began to question why decoration was seen as less important. By the late 20th century, interest grew in many kinds of art, including street art and decorative traditions from different cultures. The Pattern and Decoration movement in the 1980s helped bring more attention to the value of decorative objects.

Influence of different materials

Different materials affect how we see art from the past. Art made from metal, especially valuable metals, was often melted down when it went out of style or when people needed money. On the other hand, books with special drawings, called illuminated manuscripts, survived better because they were kept safe, especially in churches, and the materials weren't very valuable.

Renaissance attitudes

During the Renaissance, Italian thinkers like Vasari helped change how people thought about art. They focused on the creativity and skill of great artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci. These artists were valued for their imagination and unique style, not just for the cost of materials or how much work went into their pieces.

Before this, in the Middle Ages, European art often showed off rich materials and tricky techniques. In China, both styles existed together. For example, ink wash painting of landscapes was made by scholar-bureaucrats to show creativity. But other arts, like important Chinese ceramics, were made in large workshops with different goals.

Arts and Crafts movement

The Arts and Crafts movement helped people see decorative arts as just as important as fine art. It began in England in the 1800s, inspired by writers like Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin, and William Morris. This movement spread across Europe and led to more respect for decorative arts.

Because of this movement, laws changed too. Before 1911, only fine art was protected from copying. But the Copyright Act 1911 changed that, saying decorative arts were also important and should be protected.

Mass production and customization

When many things are made the same way for everyone, some people like to make their own changes. They pick items and change how they look to fit their own style and choices, instead of using them just as they are. This can mean decorating items in special ways, like using cut-out pictures, painting cars, decorating trucks in special styles, or changing furniture from stores to make it look unique.