The Aesthetic movement held that art needed no useful or moral purpose — “Art for Art’s Sake” was the slogan of the time. In furniture it meant flat pattern, ebonized surfaces, and a strong current of Japanese and Far Eastern influence.
Design Elements
- Simple lines
- Natural inlay, marquetry, and cloisonné
- Asymmetrical decoration
- Bright accents of blue, green, and yellow against dark grounds
- Ebonized surfaces with gilt highlights
- Motifs of flowers, birds, ginkgo leaves, and peacock feathers