Revivals of historical styles: increasing emphasis on heavy decoration and carving: deeply buttoned upholstery; mass production; new materials; novelty designs; over-ornamentation
HISTORICAL INFLUENCES
Reign of Queen Victoria
First department store – Bon Marche Department store opening in Paris 1838 giving people more access to styles
Mail order catalogs begin - Civil War in America popularizing much of Victoria’s mourning and black jewellery
MOTIFS
Derived from historical styles; motifs and elements from different periods often used together (eclecticism)
ORIGINS AND DEVELOPMENT
The Great Exhibition in London (1851) and later international exhibitions stimulated an interest in historical styles that became fashionable throughout Europe and North America; a burgeoning population and the increased wealth of the middle-classes encouraged consumerism and a demand for inexpensive mass-produced goods.
THE AESTHETIC MOVEMENT
Flourished in Britain during the 1870’s – 1880’s, instigating a lively debate about the nature of art. It had a considerable influence on the emerging arts and crafts movement.
