Arts and crafts is a term used to describe the skilled design and making of decorative objects and furniture. This includes furniture building, woodwork, pottery, jewellery and many more crafts. Some arts and crafts are recent discoveries and some are traditions which have been continued for centuries. Arts and crafts can teach us a lot about our heritage through learning some of our national trades.

The Industrial Revolution

Arts and crafts have been practiced throughout Britain's history with many influences along the way. Celtic people had developed their own individual style of arts and crafts. With the introduction of Roman occupancy in Britain arts and crafts was then further influenced.

Throughout the dark ages into the medieval era Britain steadily continued to advance in arts and crafts production. During this stage of Britain's development the arts and crafts were much more revered and were used for more than commercial purposes.

A structured guild system allowed craftsmen to develop their skills and earn a living. Teenagers would find employment with skilled craftsmen and take up apprenticeships to learn a trade. They would study under their master until they had gained enough knowledge to set up their own business. As domestic items such as pottery and furniture were not mass produced these items were much more sought after. This allowed craftsmen to exchange their produce for goods and services from other members of the community.

This kind of exchange was commonplace in many communities throughout Britain up until the mid eighteenth century and the beginning of the industrial revolution. Gradually over the following century Britain became steadily more industrialised and became a strong centre for industry. Mills were introduced to perform increasingly more complex tasks as the role of craftsmen in industry started to diminish. Time consuming tasks such as weaving and spinning could be conducted on a much larger scale with more economic results.

The introduction of the industrial revolution changed the arts and craft trade in Britain for good. With the decline of craftsmen's produce art and crafts became simply a hobby to many people and arts and crafts produce started to cater solely for tourists.

The Arts and Crafts Movement

As the industrial revolution swept through Britain people had little time to take stock of the changes. The arts and craft movement was a loose collective of individuals who became disgruntled with an apparent lack of innovation in British Design. Many see socialist and poet William Morris as being one of the key figures in a movement intent to influence and improve creativity.

The arts and craft movement surfaced towards the close of the nineteenth century and continued into the early twentieth century. The principle claim of the movement was that mass produced items and processes were starting to kill off the creative processes involved in design and developing products.

The movement made an impact on designers who were rehashing Victorian designs and went on to inspire future generations involved within arts and craft production.