The Arts & Crafts movement—and her corresponding “cousins” in other countries—was at full-flourish in the 1910’s, the same decade that brought us “The War to End All Wars.” Wars have a way of changing everything: populations, hierarchies, habits, even the decorative arts. During wartime, “frivolous indulgences” are usually relegated to the back burner while all hands are busy with the war effort. Austerity and rationing usually meant precious resources were distributed sparingly—leaving little room for extravagance.
After World War I, the Arts & Crafts movement was pretty much finished; the world was ready for The Next Great Thing—Art Deco. Interestingly, after World War II, the world again was ready for a change, in this case to Mid-Century Modern. Great wars have the ability to curtail aesthetic trends—and a public deprived during the war years often are ready for a change, once the conflict has ended.
The frames above, cast in iron and painted, were made right after The Great War. They would have likely held pictures of a soldier—perhaps fallen, perhaps home safely. Please click on the photo above to learn more about the pair.
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