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FeedCult of Beauty
Four modern riffs on one historic design
By Alyssa Ford
Photo by Haslam & Whiteway
Aesthetic Movement
1872 charger, painted by artist Charlotte Spiers, $16,976. Available through Haslam & Whiteway antique shop in London.The Aesthetic movement of the late 1800s was supposed to be different from typical decorative art trends, which gain favor briefly, and then recede into the back bins of antique shops. Its adherents proclaimed it a “philosophical” lifestyle that rejected prudishness, Victorian discipline, and glory-be-to-God designing. Christopher Dresser, Edward William Godwin, James Webb, and Candace Wheeler were among the first to fuse Gothic and Japanese ornamentation with dramatic sensual effect—perfect for, say, an extravagant opium den. Aestheticism followed the admirable credo of “art for art’s sake,” but its glory days didn’t last. By Oscar Wilde’s 1895 trial, the “movement” was wasting away like an underfed poet. Today, modern companies such as Agnes & Hoss recapture the best of the Aesthetic look and drain away the darkness.
1. Lyre-shaped accent table by Wayborn, $308
2. “Eucalyptus” patterned silk pillow by Agnes & Hoss, $150
3. “Palomar” lamp by Shine Home, $495
4. “Iggy” heron statues by JC Cody, $750 each.
Photos from left provided by Wayborn, Agnes & Hoss, Shine Home, JC Cody
For more information on featured products and suppliers, please see our Buyer's Guide.
11 ISSUES (1 YEAR)
