Arts and Crafts Antique Furniture: A Return to Simpler Times

When we think of names like Augustus Welbyand other household items being manufactured during
Northmore Pugin (1812-52) and William Morristhe Victorian era.
(1834-1896) today, we think of these men asBoth these men wanted a return to simpler hand
decorators; Pugin being responsible for the insides ofcrafted forms of production. For Pugin it was the
the Houses of Parliament, and perhaps rathermedieval designs of Gothic furniture and honesty in
unkindly, Morris for wallpaper, tiles and placemats.construction, where joints were shown on the
However, both these men were ardent reformers ofsurface of pieces. A famous design of his, an armoire
their day and were in part responsible for themade by J. G. Crace for the 1851 Great Exhibition,
beginnings of the Arts and Crafts Movement, whichwas purchased directly by the Victoria and Albert
reacted against low quality mass produced furnitureMuseum where it remains today.