Definition, Examples, & Facts

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. Ceramics, glassware, basketry, jewelry, metalware, furniture, textiles, clothing, and other such goods are the objects most commonly associated with the decorative arts. Many decorative arts, such as basketry or pottery, are also commonly considered to be craft, but the definitions of both terms are arbitrary. It should also be noted that the separation of decorative arts from art forms such as painting and sculpture is a modern distinction.

The decorative arts are treated in several articles. For treatments of particular decorative arts, see basketry, enamelwork, floral decoration, furniture, glassware, interior design, lacquerwork, metalwork, mosaic, pottery, rug and carpet, stained glass, and tapestry. For a discussion of clothing and accessories, see dress and jewelry. For treatments of decorative arts in particular cultures, see art, African; arts, Central Asian; arts, East Asian; art and architecture, Egyptian; arts, Islamic; arts, Native American; art and architecture, Oceanic; arts, South Asian; and arts, Southeast Asian. See also folk art.

The Middle Ages in Europe brought several types of decorative arts to prominence, including tapestry, stained glass, and mosaic creation. Famous textile art pieces of the period include the Norman Bayeux Tapestry (c. 1,070 CE) and the French The Lady and the Unicorn (c. 1,500 CE).

The Rococo art movement of France in the early 18th century produced an immense amount of decorative art, particularly furnishings, textiles, and paintings. The movement had a strong basis in interior design, and therefore, the style defined such famous interiors as King Louis XV's Palace of Versailles.

The Arts and Crafts Movement of the late 19th century was another landmark in decorative arts history. This movement was a backlash against the generic and cheap items, particularly furniture, that were mass-produced for the first time due to the technological advances of the Industrial Revolution. The artist William Morris was at the center of the movement and championed the philosophy of handcrafted, quality pieces for all classes.

Culturally significant examples of decorative art are collected at major museums across the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in England.

Though paintings are typically the purview of fine arts, using paintings and prints in interior design has a decorative arts component. Wall art can help create a focal point for a space, where the eye is drawn immediately to the artwork, making the space feel more inviting. Decorative paintings, which are sometimes original pieces and other times cheaper, print copies of the original painting can also help make the space feel finished. An interior designer may choose to design the space first and then add finishing touches by selecting decorative paintings, or if the client has a beloved art collection they wish to feature, they may design the color scheme and style of a room around the paintings themselves.

Decorative Posters

Cheret used his color lithography to create posters advertising cabarets, theatrical performances, and household products.

The use of posters as decorative art surged in popularity in the 19th century due to the work of French lithographer Jules Cheret. Cheret's work in advancing the chromolithography process, by which mass-produced, full-color images could be created, was largely responsible for making posters a desirable art piece for decorating interior spaces. How Cheret depicted joyful, uninhibited women in his posters led many to call him the father of female liberation as well as poster art. However, other famous artists, such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Aubrey Beardsley, also significantly contributed to the landscape of decorative poster art. Throughout their history, decorative posters have been used for an array of purposes beyond the purely aesthetic, including for advertisement and political propaganda.

Today, poster art ranges widely in quality and style. Cheap, mass-produced posters are available in almost any style and feature any subject, such as photographs of popular film and television characters. Handcrafted posters, still produced using techniques such as lithography and woodblock printing, are also popular decorative items.