What Is Considered Decorative Art
Decorative art, any of those arts that are concerned with the design and decoration of objects that are chiefly prized for their utility, rather than for their purely aesthetic qualities. Objects associated with the decorative arts include ceramics, glassware, jewelry, furniture, and clothing. The decorative arts are arts or crafts whose aim is the design and manufacture of objects that are both beautiful and functional.
This includes most of the objects for the interiors of buildings, as well as interior design, but typically excludes architecture. Today, the word "art" is often associated with genres like drawing, painting, and sculpture. However, in addition to these subgroups (collectively referred to as "fine art"), there exists another important art form: decorative art.
Comprising crafts that pair form with function, decorative art has played a pivotal role in the history of art, whether materializing as ancient wares. Decorative art, often perceived as a purely aesthetic pursuit, is in reality a multifaceted discipline intersecting art, design, and technology. From intricately designed microchips to user interface elements, the principles of decorative art are deeply embedded in the digital world.
This article will provide a rigorous examination of decorative art, its historical context, its diverse []. Decorative art encompasses a wide range of artistic creations, including paintings, sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and other ornamental objects. Unlike collectible art, which may be valued for its rarity or historical significance, decorative art is valued primarily for its visual appeal and ability to enhance the aesthetics of a space.
The definition and category of decorative art includes the creation of furniture and accessory furnishings, rugs and carpets, tapestry, embroidery (see, for instance, the Bayeux Tapestry - actually an embroidery), book illustration, floral decorations, ceramic pottery (earthenware, stoneware, porcelain and raku), basketry, goldsmithing. The main function of decorative art is to embellish something other than itself: an object, a room, a building facade, etc. In this sense, the word decorative can be applied to purely ornamental work, such as embroidery; to narrative representation, such as a mural painting cycle; and to illusionistic ceiling paintings and the like.
The term "decorative arts" was developed in the 1800's by English and American art historians to distinguish pottery, weaving, woodworking, and similar arts from what they considered the "fine arts," such as painting, sculpture, and architecture. Applied arts largely overlap with the decorative arts, and in modern parlance they are both often placed under the umbrella category of design. The decorative arts are often categorized in distinction to the " fine arts ", namely painting, drawing, photography, and large-scale sculpture, which generally produce objects solely for their aesthetic quality and capacity to stimulate the intellect.
Historically, decorative arts included common fine art forms such as paintings and sculptures because these items could be, and were, used to decorate interior spaces.