Victorian
VICTORIAN
THE PHILOSOPHY OF FURNITURE
By Edgar Allan Poe
In this delightfully opinionated essay from 1840, Poe hands out furnishing tips backed up with his notions of good and bad taste. Read more
THE IDEAL BOOK
By William Morris
Typographical advice from 1893 with beauty and legibility at its core. Morris points to some fine 15th century precedents. Read more
HOUSE DECORATION
By Oscar Wilde
Appalled by American interiors, Wilde gave a lecture on furnishings, everyday objects and the value of craftsmanship in 1882. Read more
HUMOUR IN ORNAMENT
By Christopher Dresser
A brief analysis of the application of humour in design, a surprisingly neglected subject, in Dresser's 1873 work Principles of Decorative Design. Read more
THE GRAMMAR OF ORNAMENT
By Owen Jones
With his attempt to abstract decoration, Jones was arguably more influential on Victorian aesthetics than any other designer. Read more