Art Nouveau, a French term meaning "new art," refers primarily to a style of art, architecture and sculpture that originated in Western Europe at the turn of the 20th century and was gone by the eve of the First World War.
In many ways, the movement was a response to the Industrial Revolution and aesthetic opportunities created by technological advances. Some proponents, however, rejected the idea of mass-produced designs and sought to apply the highest standards of craftsmanship to everything from buildings and furniture to textiles and pottery. Effectively blurring the line between the fine arts and the decorative arts, artist-architects such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh would design everything in a structure, from art-glass windows and furniture down to the silverware.
This exuberant style was a favorite for fireplaces on both sides of the Atlantic because they were considered the symbolic heart of the house. Wood or cast-iron surrounds might include hand-carved or curvilinear plant shapes in relief, along with art tiles depicting abstract, stylized natural forms, such as tulips, birds, roses and lotus leaves. These curvilinear forms flourished between about 1890 and 1910 in France, Germany and Belgium, and to a much lesser extent in the United States and Britain.
Nature-inspired motifs: The flowing forms and figures often took their inspiration from the plant and animal world. Recurring themes included nymphs with streaming hair, peacocks, dragonflies and moths. Botanical forms arranged in abstract patterns often appeared in pottery, art glass, ceramic tiles and metalwork. Famous practitioners, such as Louis Comfort Tiffany, created stained-glass lamps and panels with brilliant colors and asymmetrical forms, including Tiffany's celebrated morning glories. In the United States and Britain, the style was often incorporated into the Arts and Crafts movement as an individual design detail, unlike the more unified approach of continental Europe.
Heart of the home: Many leading Art Nouveau designers embellished their fireplaces with built-in surrounds, which might include shelves and cabinetry. Mackintosh, the style's most famous practitioner, liked to repeat colors and patterns found in the room, often using botanical motifs, including the famous Mackintosh rose, which is also widely associated with Arts and Crafts.
Materials: Painted or stained wood fireplace surrounds were common, as were ornate cast-iron surrounds. The cast-iron designs tended to incorporate the most detailed designs, with flowing lines featuring plants and birds. Some models were painted white to better blend with more understated, conventional interiors. Custom designs might include hammered copper or lead, favored by such well-known practitioners as George Walton or Charles F.A. Voysey.
A tile lover's dream: The fascination with rich colors and intricate designs offered tile designers and manufacturers ample opportunity to showcase their work. Both mosaics and larger tiles were popular additions to wood and cast-iron fireplace surrounds.
Text: Ruth Mullen: 503-294-4059; email@example.com
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SOURCE: The Elements of Style: A Practical Encyclopedia of Interior Architectural Details from 1485 to the Present, edited by Stephen Calloway and Elizabeth Cromley