American 19-20th Century Decorative Arts

American 19-20th Century Decorative Arts

(above: Civilian Conservation Corps tinsmith, Tinware desk lamp, late 1930s, Bandelier National Monument)

Introduction

This section of the Traditional Fine Arts Organization (TFAO) catalogue Topics in American Art is devoted to the topic "American 19-20th Century Decorative Arts." Articles and essays specific to this topic published in TFAO's Resource Library are listed at the beginning of the section. Clicking on titles takes readers directly to these articles and essays. The date at the end of each title is the Resource Library publication date.

After articles and essays from Resource Library are links to valuable online resources found outside our website. Links may be to museums' articles about exhibits, plus much more topical information based on our online searches. Following online resources may be information about offline resources including museums, DVDs, and paper-printed books, journals and articles.

We recommend that readers search within the TFAO website to find detailed information for any topic. Please see our page How to research topics not listed for more information.

(above: Louis Henri Sullivan (United States, 1856-1924), Winslow Brothers Co. (United States, Illinois, Chicago, 1887-1921), Adler & Sullivan (United States, active 1883-1895), Elevator Surround from the Chicago Stock Exchange Building, c. 1892-94, electroplated copper finish over cast iron, wrought iron, painted, 118 x 74 x 5 1/2 in. (299.72 x 187.96 x 13.97 cm), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of the 2012 Collectors Committee, M.2012.32a-i. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

63 Resource Library articles and essays honoring the American experience through its art:

(above: Louis Henri Sullivan (United States, 1856-1924), Winslow Brothers Co. (United States, Illinois, Chicago, 1887-1921), Adler & Sullivan (United States, active 1883-1895), Elevator Surround from the Chicago Stock Exchange Building, c. 1892-94, electroplated copper finish over cast iron, wrought iron, 118 x 74 x 5 1/2 in. (299.72 x 187.96 x 13.97 cm, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of the 2012 Collectors Committee, M.2012.32a-i. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Other online information

American Craft Council Library Digital Collections Web page says: "An open-access online compendium containing thousands of unique images, documents, and media, the ACC Library Digital Collections detail the history of contemporary craft in America. From ACC newsletters and photographs to firsthand documentation of major national craft exhibitions, the digital collections offer makers, scholars, and craft appreciators a glimpse at some of the ACC Library's most invaluable resources." Accessed August, 2015.

Cooper-Hewitt Museum, The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Design provides several historical publications online. Accessed August, 2015.

The Games We Played: American Board and Table Games from the Liman Collection, an exhibit held September 20 - December 11, 2005 at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. Note: This website does not provide URLs for past exhibits. Accessed October, 2014

Gorham Silver: Designing Brilliance 1850-1970 is a 2019 exhibit at the RISD Museum which says: "Gorham created some of the most exceptional works ever made in silver, forever changing the landscape of American decorative arts." Also see 9/3/19 Wall Street Journal article Accessed 1/20

Quest of Beauty - Louis Comfort Tiffany's Life and Art was an exhibit held November 6, 2007 through January 24, 2011 at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. The museum says: "Reflecting on his artistic career at a celebration of his 68th birthday in 1916, Louis Comfort Tiffany characterized his work across various media as a lifelong "quest of beauty." Few artists have been as energetic or as successful as was Tiffany (1848-1933) in establishing that aesthetic ideal in the American home. Quest of Beauty - Louis Comfort Tiffany's Life and Art examines through art objects and artifacts Tiffany's astonishingly diverse work in the decorative arts over the course of his lifetime." The article includes a 4-page Exhibition Object Guide (PDF, 5-page Gallery Guide (PDF), and Highlights. Accessed July, 2016

Stories in Sterling: Four Centuries of Silver in New York, an exhibit held January 28 - April 20, 2014 at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. Includes press reviews. Note: This website does not provide URLs for past exhibits. Accessed June, 2014

Vignette: The Art of Fountain Pens was an exhibit held February 12, 2013 through January 11, 2015 at the The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. The museum says: "Developed in the late 19th century, fountain pens - the kind filled from a bottle of ink - were ingenious, often beautifully designed and handcrafted, and ubiquitous until the 1970s. Today, though still used by a few, they are collected and cherished as little works of art. In this vignette, the Morse presents its collection of fountain pens dating from 1875 to 1975, giving these beautiful, functional objects much-deserved attention." Included in the article is a link to a .pdf file with more information." Accessed August, 2016.

The White House Collection of American Crafts is an ongoing online exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum which says: "Assembled in 1993, the White House collection of American crafts features seventy-two works by seventy-seven of America's leading craft artists of today." Accessed 8/17

(above: New England Glass Company (United States, Massachusetts, East Cambridge, 1818-1888), Kerosene Table Lamp, c. 1850, glass, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, purchased with funds provided by Michael J. Connell Foundation, M.85.32. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Online audio and video

April, 2023 screenshot via Google video search:

Cooper-Hewitt Museum, The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Design provides online numerous videos on the design process and intervews with designers. Accessed August, 2015.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum provides streaming media programming. Some videos are available through the Museum's website section Online Exhibitions for selected exhibitions, and others through a YouTube channel. The virtual exhibition The White House Collection of American Crafts contains several streaming videos. The Introduction section features three videos with introductions by Dr. Elizabeth Braun, Director, SAAM, Hillary Rodham Clinton, First Lady, and Michael Monroe, Curator-in-Charge, Renwick Gallery. .Accessed May, 2015.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum provides the virtual exhibition The White House Collection of American Crafts which ontains audio clips by Michael Monroe, Curator-in-Charge, Renwick Gallery. Mr. Monroe conducts a ten-part tour of the collection with both audio and video elements. Many objects in the collection are accompanied by audio clips. Accessed May, 2015.

(above: Kiapkwa, Polychrome Water Jar, c. 1840-50, earthenware and pigments, Height: 14 1/2 in. (36.83 cm); Diameter- 14 in. (35.56 cm), Los Angeles County Museum of Art, gift of Camilla Chandler Frost, M.2008.113.1. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons*)

Go to Crafts and Decorative arts: 18-19th Century, 19-20th Century, 20-21st Century

Return to Topics in American Representational Art

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