An Enquiry into Industrial Art in England

This book was created to provide a survey of the conditions and artistic value of design in British industries.

Nikolaus Pevsner (Author)

9780521170659, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 14 April 2011

250 pages
24.6 x 18.9 x 1.3 cm, 0.45 kg

Originally published in 1937, this book was created to provide a survey of the conditions and artistic value of design in British industries. Through interviews with manufacturers, managers of department stores and shops, principals and teachers of art schools, commercial designers, artists, and architects, principally in the Midlands area, a composite portrait is developed. This portrait emphasises the interaction of seemingly disparate elements in the production of quality design, and shows the complexity of the process whilst remaining concise and accessible. The text is also well presented, containing a large number of illustrative examples. This is a fascinating volume that will be of value to anyone with an interest in the history of British design.

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I. Data: 1. Survey of trades investigated
2. Metalwork
3. Electric and gas fittings
4. Furniture
5. Textiles 1: furnishings (and dress) materials
6. Textiles 2: carpets
7. Wallpapers
8. Pottery
9. Glass
10. Silver and electro-plate
11. Hollow-ware
12. Plastic mouldings
13. Wireless cabinets
14. Jewellery
15. Leather goods
16. Packaging
17. Printing
18. Motor-cars
19. Art schools visited
20. The British Institute of Industrial Art
21. The Industrial Art Committee of the Federation of British Industries
22. The Gorell Committee
23. The Pick Council
24. The Design and Industries Association
25. The Society of Industrial Artists
26. The Royal Society of Arts
27. The Royal Academy and the Exhibition of British Art in Industry at Burlington House
28. Other exhibitions
29. Periodicals and books
Part II. Conclusion: 30. Ration between good and bad in England and abroad
31. Sequence of trades according to artistic quality of products
32. Reasons for differences of artistic quality
33. Size of manufacturing unit
34. Organization of manufacturing unit
35. Old and new industries
36. Objects for use and objects for adornment
37. Hand-made and machine-made articles
38. Boom and slump
39. The creator of designs
40. The aesthetic value of cheap and expensive articles
41. The taste of the public
42. The social problem
43. Suggestions for improvement
(i) art education
(ii) exhibitions - prices - registration of design
(iii) Other public institutions - private institutions - publications
44. The duties of the consumer
45. The duties of the manufacturer and the retailer
Addenda.

Subject Areas: The arts: general issues [AB]