This guide contains library and web-based information related to decorative arts in Europe and the Americas from the 18th century to the late 20th century. The guide includes recommendations for Starting Decorative Arts Research, finding Article Databases, tips for finding SpecialIzed Resources, quick links to Museum & Digital Collections, and more!
The Theory of Decorative Art: An Anthology of European & American Writings, 1750-1940 by
This anthology contains significant writings on the theory of the decorative arts from the mid-18th century to the 1940s. It offers a history of decorative art as it emerged in the west, and reconstructs the debates over how to define this type of art and distinguish it from fine art.
Image Credit: London: Crystal Palace int. hardware exhibit. 1850-1. Artstor, library.artstor.org/asset/ARTSTOR_103_41822000190643