Decorative arts and design
Function and artistic decision can be inseparable.
Key ideas
Ceramics, textiles, furniture, jewelry and books convey knowledge about the body, status and everyday practices. The division between “high art” and craft is historical and not universal. Technological skill can be as significant as image or ornament.
Looking deeper
Design considers the object in a system of use, production and communication. Convenience, accessibility, material and manufacturing method are important. A single handcrafted item and a mass-produced item require different questions about authorship, labor, and distribution.
Compare a ceramic bowl, a woven rug, and an industrial chair.
Find the work in the museum's official catalog and start with a description of the visible details.Name three artistic solutions in an everyday object and their practical role.
External educational material or museum catalogue. The above review is not a literal translation of the source.