A Craftsman Home Companion
Interior of the Gamble House designed by Greene & Greene, 1908
The Arts & Crafts movement in Southern California begun in earnest in the late 19th and early 20th century. The movement originated in the United Kingdom as a reaction to the industrialization of the furniture and decorative art industries which dwindled the hand-craftsmanship of the furniture making process in favor of mass production. Practitioners of the movement wanted to get back to the human element of designing and making. Arts & Crafts designs often have minimal ornament and organic design features as compared to their Victorian counterparts. By the latter half of the 19th century, Arts & Crafts reached American shores with many artisans taking up the mantel. From architecture to silver, furniture to metalwork, the movement gained steam here for the same reasons as it did across the pond. Like Britain, American furniture and expansion were also taking over the furniture making markets.
Craftsman houses are notable for their informal, asymmetrical approach to the home design. In a time when architecture was dominated by revival styles and gingerbread Victorian homes, Craftsman houses were something different. The deep porches, exposed rafters, and gabled roofs were just some of the features that typified the Craftsman bungalow. There are two types of Craftsman homes you will find in Southern California. Custom “Ultimate Bungalows” designed within the ethos of the Craftsman movement and pre-cut homes that could be ordered from a catalog. Both met the needs to the new residents of Southern California, which saw an explosion of population in the early 20th century and was in dire need to housing to support it.
Figures
Glass
Ceramics
Metal Work
No Craftsman home would be complete without warm bronze or copper accessories. From the desk to the tabletop, many firms provided pieces that would suit the more casual style of Arts & Crafts.
Furniture
Often made of oak with contrasting wood details, Arts & Crafts furniture are defined by handmade touches with minimal adornment, letting the functionality of the piece and beauty of the materials do the talking.
Lighting
The warm glow of a glass or mica shade defines the Arts & Crafts light fixture. Whether a Dirk van Erp table lamp or Tiffany Studios Stained glass chandelier, stylized forms and a tie to nature are common themes in these lights.
Silver
A nod to the simplicity and elegance of Japanese design is most acutely felt in Arts & Crafts silver. Here the silversmith uses hammered silver and flowing lines to define the shapes of the vessels and uses less ornament than their Victorian counterparts.
