The Victorian Era In Europe - Until the 19th century – the middle class represented by trades men, skilled craftsmen and professionals was so small – relatively minor group in the social and economic order In the 19th century – aristocratic upper class began to lose its domination for both political and economic reasons The lower class - class of agricultural workers decreased in size as work in mills, factories and mines supplanted farm work. The growing middle class was made up of a rising stratum of society that learned to turn the Industrial Revolution into a source of new wealth. Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era The rich and powerful who lived in great houses, chateaux and palaces had always been surrounded by richly decorated objects, ornate rugs and draperies, all handmade from costly materials by skilled craftsmen. The new middle class could afford such things now that they were inexpensively produced in quantity; the decorative and the ornamental became the dominant theme of all design Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Roots of Victorian Style Britain Queen Victoria’s period overlapped the period of revivals, major part of the Industrial Revolution and the Arts and Crafts Movement in England The proliferation of various types of decorative, and even over-decorative ornamentation. Many critics say that this design is a riot of tasteless excess. Victorian design is split into two worlds – With florid decoration dominating the formal and respectable worlds Functional tradition developed in industry, transport, science and technology Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Roots of Victorian Style Great exhibition of 1851 at Crystal Palace – This famous proto modern building was a dramatic demonstration of the possibilities of the new industrial materials, iron and glass Within, however the materials exhibited was a riot of decorative frosting. Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era In general, the ornamentation is not based on any historic precedents – forms borrowed from human and animal figures, leaves and flowers and complex florid arabesques having no discoverable sources Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era Why was there an excess of ornamentation during the Victorian era?? The Industrial Revolution made it easy and cheap to produce ornamentation that would have required slow and costly skilled handwork Power looms could weave elaborately ornamented textiles and carpets Cast iron was an ideal material for making ornamental carving – once molds were made, repeating an elaborate design was cheap, easy and cost effective In fact, ornamentation could conceal minor defects in castings that would be objectionable in plain surfaces The scroll saw and more complex carving machines could produce more details in wood equivalent to hand carving of the past Why was there an excess of ornamentation during the Victorian era?? Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era The quality of ornamentation declined so dramatically. Why?? In the pre-industrial world, design was produced by a small number of creative people – artists, architects (self taught) and craftsmen designers who worked within traditions that had developed slowly over long periods. The cabinet maker learned his trade as an apprentice and learned the ornamental detail of his period in relation to the best art and architecture of the time. The weaver was the designer of the cloth he wove, and had a knowledge of , and respect for the materials and patterns that he had produced. The silversmith, the glass blower, the clock maker, the wood carver and the plaster craftsmen all had a respected excellence in aesthetic as well as materialistic terms Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era The quality of ornamentation declined so dramatically. Why?? When weaving became an industrial operation, the mill hand had no role in the design of the textiles that the factory produced When textile printing became a mechanical process, the design to be printed was no concern of the workers producing the cloth Factory made furniture was not constructed by cabinet workers, but instead produced from machine made parts that were assembled by workers who had no role in design. Design became increasingly separated from the crafts and control of design passed into the hands of the factory owners and managers who had no tradition of involvement in such matters. They knew only that the buying public wanted a maximum of ornamentation and that industrial production could deliver that easily, cheaply and profitably The quality of ornamentation declined so dramatically. Why?? Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era Social issues - positive The Victorian era (1837-1901) of the British history was the period of Queen Victoria. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence. The population of England almost doubled from 16.8 million in 1851 to 30.5 million in 1901. People had more money and could improve their standards; therefore, a population increase was sustainable Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era Social issues – negative Poverty huge population increase accompanied by rapid urbanization stimulated by the Industrial Revolution. The large numbers of skilled and unskilled people looking for work kept wages down to a barely subsistence level. Available housing was scarce and expensive, resulting in overcrowding. These problems were magnified in London, where the population grew at record rates. Large houses were turned into flats and tenements, and as landlords failed to maintain these dwellings slum housing developed. Child labour The Victorian era became notorious for the employment of young children in factories and mines and as chimney sweeps. Child labour, often brought about by economic hardship, played an important role in the Industrial Revolution from its outset Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era Entertainment Popular forms of entertainment varied by social class. Literature, theatre, arts, music, drama, and opera were widely attended. There were, however, other forms of entertainment. Dining clubs, gambling at cards in establishments popularly called casinos was wildly popular during the period Brass bands British circus Natural history became an interesting hobby Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era Technology and engineering Stagecoaches, canals, steam ships and most notably the railways all allowed goods, raw materials and people to be moved about, rapidly facilitating trade and industry. Trains became another important factor ordering society, with "railway time" being the standard by which clocks were set throughout Britain. first postage stamp, which standardized postage to a flat price Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian

The Victorian Era Technology and engineering cinema, telegraph, telephones, cars and aircraft, had an impact Photography Similar sanitation reforms, were made in the crowded, dirty streets of the existing cities, and soap was the main product shown in the relatively new phenomenon of advertising sewage system in London water pipes - water supply network was expanded and improved, and a gas network for lighting and heating was introduced in the 1880s Theories of Architecture and Interior Design Sofia Sebastian