Decorative arts

The decorative arts are arts or crafts that make objects which are both beautiful and useful. This includes many things we see inside buildings, as well as interior design, but not architecture.

Big groups of decorative arts include ceramic art, metalwork, furniture, jewellery, fashion, different kinds of textile arts, and glassware.

The decorative arts are often different from the "fine arts" like painting, drawing, photography, and big sculpture. Fine arts usually make things just for how they look and to make us think.

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 example, 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 change how we see old art. Art made from metal, especially valuable metal, was often melted down when it was no longer popular or when people needed money. Books with special drawings, called illuminated manuscripts, survived better because they were kept safe, especially in churches. The materials in these books were not very valuable, which helped them stay safe.

Renaissance attitudes

During the Renaissance, Italian thinkers like Vasari changed how people saw art. They praised artists like Michelangelo, Raphael, and Leonardo da Vinci for their creativity and skill.

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

Arts and Crafts movement

The Arts and Crafts movement helped people see decorative arts as important as fine art. It started in England in the 1800s. Writers like Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin, and William Morris inspired it. The movement spread across Europe and made people respect decorative arts more.

Because of this movement, laws changed. Before 1911, only fine art was protected from copying. The Copyright Act 1911 changed that. It said decorative arts were important too 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. 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.