Explore the history and craft of decorative arts across textiles, pottery, metalwork, furniture, printing, and painting.
This compact, illustrated guide surveys how people made and used fabric, ceramics, metal objects, and printed pages from ancient times to the 19th century. With a clear narrative and practical glossary, it helps readers understand materials, techniques, and the evolution of design in a single, accessible volume.
This edition presents a concise overview of key forms, from embroidery and tapestry to oriental carpets, bronze and inlay work, enamel, and early printing. It emphasizes how material properties shape form and decoration, offering readers a solid grounding in both the making and the meaning of decorative arts. The book is ideal for students, collectors, and anyone curious about how historical craft informs today’s aesthetics.
- Foundational discussions of textile arts, weaving, embroidery, and tapestry, including their historical context and terminology.
- Introduction to metal work and decoration, covering bronze, silver, inlay, cloisonné enamel, and related techniques.
- Accessible primers on ceramics, pottery, and the evolution of printing and book production.
- Glossary of terms that clarifies language used by dealers, collectors, and craftsmen in the decorative arts.
Ideal for readers of art history, design enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a compact reference on how decorative arts developed and how to identify key techniques and materials in old and traditional works.