Dutch Decorative Arts

• 1880-1940

  Nieuwe Kunst - Amsterdam School - De Stijl - The Hague School - Functionalism

  edited by ELIENS (Titus M), GROOT (Marjan) and LEIDELMEIJER (Frans)

  Published 1997

  $60.00 ISBN 0-9627110-2-0

This book covers the important and innovative period and the Dutch contribution to the decorative arts from 1880 to 1940. It highlights the finest and most distinctive examples of furniture, glass, pottery, silver and fabrics covering art nouveau, arts and crafts, art deco, de stijl and modernism, represented in public and private collections in both Europe and North America.

The first part of the book comprises four thematic essays on the various aspects of the innovative period and the Dutch involvement with Nieuwe Kunst (1880-1910), written by Titus M. Eli�ns, head of the decorative arts department of the Haags Gemeentemuseum (The Hague). His contribution explores the influence of 19th century historical styles by among others, the architect P J H Cuypers, the creator of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum and Central Station, on the emergence of a new art.

The multiple aspects of Nieuwe Kunst is very much geographically defined so here it is considered from the viewpoint of leading centres like Amsterdam, The Hague and Delft. Other forces worked in combination with regional styles in creating Nieuwe Kunst which is evident from the leading position architect H P Berlage had within the movement.

The history of the Amsterdam School is explained by Dr Marjan Groot, lecturer at the Art History Institute of Leiden University. This school, to which architect Michel de Klerk belongs, is a decorative and expressionist movement in Dutch architecture and design from 1915 to around 1925. Like Nieuwe Kunst it also has various offshoots.

The Hague School, de Stijl and Functionalism are explained by Dr Timo de Rijk who is currently preparing a PhD on Industrial Design at Delft Technical University. More than anyone else, designers of The Hague School were successors to Berlage and incorporated the ideas of American Architect Frank Lloyd Wright and the British arts and crafts movement into a popular, often extravagant style.

De Stijl's abstract language of form, exemplified by internationally renowned designers like Theo van Doesburg and Gerrit Rietveld, was partly responsible for the universally intended ideas of Dutch functionalist designers J Druiker, J A Brinkman and L C can der Vlugt who used a program of demands and modern technology as a starting point for their designs.

The second part of the book comprises a biographical dictionary and lexicon. Compiled by Dr Marjan Groot with contributions from A Krekel-Aalberse, writer on modern silver; M Singelenberg-van der Meer, writer on modern pottery and glass; Frans Leidelmeijer, decorative arts specialist/dealer; and other contributors.

The striking photography in the book was executed by award-winning photographer, Erik Hesmerg.

"One of the most useful parts of the book is its extensive directory, an alphabetical listing of major architects, designers, artists, companies, and associations. This is a wonderful reference book to study, but also a beautiful book that's a pleasure to read through". - Maine Antique Digest, July 1997

"Dutch Decorative Arts 1880-1940" fills a significant gap in the documentary history of design and decorative arts of our century. Not only is this volume an invaluable resource for information about the most important designers and movements in the Netherlands in the early twentieth century, it is lavishly illustrated with superbly photographed examples of Dutch furniture, metalwork, glass, and ceramics. This book should be found on the bookshelf of all collectors, scholars, and aficionados of modern design". - David Revere McFadden, Decorative Arts Historian