Oriental Rugs Dictionary

Arts and Craft

A design movement of the last quarter of the 19 Century and the early 20th Century originating in Great Britain. Supporters of the movement were committed to craftsmanship in the applied arts and the production of domestic furnishings. They rejected the elaborate decorative styles of manufactured goods then popular on the continent. A guiding concept was that of the designer artisan who executed his or her own designs. The Arts and Crafts movement fostered Art Nouveau. Arts and Crafts rugs were designed by William Morris and C.F.A. Voisey. Hand knotted Arts and Crafts rugs were woven and may others were designed for production as power loomed Axminsters. Large scale or out-sized floral motifs were dominant and some pictorial designs were used.