During the second half of the 19th century a new style was developing, alongside
traditional jewellery, under the influence of Pre Raphalite artists, and later
, William Morris.
The designer May Morris, the daughter of William was an
embroiderer and jeweller and donated her collection to the Victoria and Albert
Museum where it can be admired to this day.
Individual gilds of designer craftsmen formed around the country and started
making innovative, colourful, hand made articles, using natural lines and
They continued until 1930 and were known as the Arts and Crafts Movement.
They encompassed Art Nouveau and Art Deco (decorative) styles. Many original
and beautiful pieces were made during this period.