Illustration: Christopher Dresser. Decorative example from Studies in Design, 1876.
Christopher Dresser as well as being an innovative and often ground-breaking designer and critic, is probably just as well known today for a series of books he wrote and published, starting in his early twenties and stretching throughout his career.
The titles, mostly dealing with decorative and ornamental design, tended to correspond with his frequent lecture tours throughout the UK during the latter half of the nineteenth century and were often used to publicise not so much his career, but his strong belief in the benefits of fundamental design reform in Britain.
The titles, mostly dealing with decorative and ornamental design, tended to correspond with his frequent lecture tours throughout the UK during the latter half of the nineteenth century and were often used to publicise not so much his career, but his strong belief in the benefits of fundamental design reform in Britain.
Illustration: Christopher Dresser. Decorative example from Studies in Design, 1876.
In 1857, he wrote a series of six articles entitled Botany as Adapted to the Arts and Art-Manufacture that appeared in the prestigious British Art Journal magazine. These articles were the start of a highly successful and influential writing career.
By 1862 when he published the Art of Decorative Design, his written work had become more like a manifesto in its character, than an observational exercise. Dresser had never intended to merely sit back and dispassionately comment on contemporary and historical decorative styles without any form of engagement. He was a born reformer and had a number of fundamental and wide-ranging issues with Britain's often-difficult relationship between manufacturing and design.
By 1862 when he published the Art of Decorative Design, his written work had become more like a manifesto in its character, than an observational exercise. Dresser had never intended to merely sit back and dispassionately comment on contemporary and historical decorative styles without any form of engagement. He was a born reformer and had a number of fundamental and wide-ranging issues with Britain's often-difficult relationship between manufacturing and design.
Illustration: Christopher Dresser, Decorative example from Studies in Design, 1876.
A number of volumes in a largely educational tone appeared in the next few years, one of which Principles of Decorative Design published in 1873, had originally appeared as a series of articles in the monthly Technical Educator magazine.
Dresser was by no means unusual in producing educational books, articles and lectures dealing with decoration and design. There was a genuine interest in expanding the educational knowledge of the educational establishment, industry and indeed that of the general public. Both student and professional designers were encouraged to concentrate on all aspects of design thinking in order to try to produce mass produced work that could be seen as both rational and functional, rather than that of decoration and flippancy for its own sake. As far as the public were concerned, it was thought that a consumer with at least a rudimentary knowledge of good design techniques would be better placed to make wise decisions when purchasing goods. This, it was hoped, would pressurise manufacturers and retailers into producing consumer goods that were both better styled and better manufactured.
Illustration: Christopher Dresser. Decorative example from Studies in Design, 1876.
Probably Dresser's most famous and successful book was Studies in Design published between 1874 and 1876 from which these illustrations are taken. Originally published in twenty parts, Dresser himself felt that this title was his most prestigious publication. He summed up his intention with this particular publication, by explaining that the book was "to bring about a better style of decoration for our houses", though this explanation could equally apply to many of the titles published by him throughout his career.
After the publication of Studies in Design Dresser's ideas about design, decoration and manufacturing were to change direction fundamentally when in 1876 he made his first trip to Japan. Dresser had been dealing in Japanese goods for a number of years and was well aware of Japanese styles of decoration and ornamentation, as can be seen in the images shown here from his Studies in Design. However, it was the four months that Dresser stayed in Japan, travelling widely, visiting and observing every aspect of Japanese life, which changed his thinking on fundamental aspects of both decoration and design.
Illustration: Christopher Dresser. Decorative example from Studies in Design, 1876.
Dresser began to lecture and write on subjects that dealt with the use of materials and the simplicity of form. His trip to Japan put in place ideas about form and function that were to lead inevitably towards the twentieth century's mantra of form follows function, a concept that was to be at the very core of Modernism.
In the 1880s, Dresser published a series of books that dealt with Japan and contemporary ideas on decoration and ornamentation. In 1882, he published Japan, its Architecture, Art and Art Manufactures which did much to popularise, not only Japanese styles of decoration, but more importantly, the fundamental ideas that lay behind Japanese ideas on design and the manufacturing of consumer goods.
Dresser is often classed today as a pioneer of Modernism through his work as a designer. However, he was also a great educator who believed that to progress within design you needed to bring the general population along with you, and this could only be done through education. His books helped many to understand the design and manufacturing ideals of the nineteenth century, but also helped to prepare many for the coming century where new ideas about the use of materials, form, style and function were to change design dramatically and fundamentally from all that had gone before.
Further reading links:
Christopher Dresser : A Pioneer of Modern Design
Dresser's Victorian Ornamentation: 150 Designs (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)
Shock of the Old: Christopher Dresser's Design Revolution
Christopher Dresser: A Design Revolution
Christopher Dresser
Christopher Dresser 1834-1904
Pomegranate Christopher Dresser Standard Boxed Note Card Set (Pack of 2)
Studies in Design
Alessi Christopher Dresser Tray
christopher dresser oil & vinegar set by alessi
Japan : its architecture, art, and art manufactures (1882)
christopher dresser cheese cellar by alessi
Principles of Victorian Decorative Design
Pomegranate Dresser Design Square Embossed Boxed Note Card Set (Pack of 2)
christopher dresser small footed bowl by alessi
Tea-Service with Gilt Interiors, Manufactured by James Dixon & Sons, 1880 (Electro-Plated Silver) Giclee Poster Print by Christopher Dresser, 18x24
Language of Ornament : Style in the Decorative Arts
A Fine Clutha Solifleur Vase Giclee Poster Print by Christopher Dresser, 18x24
Dresser is often classed today as a pioneer of Modernism through his work as a designer. However, he was also a great educator who believed that to progress within design you needed to bring the general population along with you, and this could only be done through education. His books helped many to understand the design and manufacturing ideals of the nineteenth century, but also helped to prepare many for the coming century where new ideas about the use of materials, form, style and function were to change design dramatically and fundamentally from all that had gone before.
Further reading links:
Christopher Dresser : A Pioneer of Modern Design
Dresser's Victorian Ornamentation: 150 Designs (Dover Pictorial Archive Series)
Shock of the Old: Christopher Dresser's Design Revolution
Christopher Dresser: A Design Revolution
Christopher Dresser
Christopher Dresser 1834-1904
Pomegranate Christopher Dresser Standard Boxed Note Card Set (Pack of 2)
Studies in Design
Alessi Christopher Dresser Tray
christopher dresser oil & vinegar set by alessi
Japan : its architecture, art, and art manufactures (1882)
christopher dresser cheese cellar by alessi
Principles of Victorian Decorative Design
Pomegranate Dresser Design Square Embossed Boxed Note Card Set (Pack of 2)
christopher dresser small footed bowl by alessi
Tea-Service with Gilt Interiors, Manufactured by James Dixon & Sons, 1880 (Electro-Plated Silver) Giclee Poster Print by Christopher Dresser, 18x24
Language of Ornament : Style in the Decorative Arts
A Fine Clutha Solifleur Vase Giclee Poster Print by Christopher Dresser, 18x24
