Why keep anything plain looking around when it could look like these. So much more fun. Plates from Christopher Dresser’s 1876 work “Studies in Design” which was published in London. A. Goater, lithographer.

Studiesdesign00Dres_0062 — “Border elements of the new style. The upper may run around the architrave of a door or window, or be used in many ways as a border. The lower is suitable for a dado-rail, or, if enlarged, for a frieze.” Plate 5, page V. Collections of the Smithsonian Library. Metropolitan New York Library Council, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Studiesdesign00Dres/page/V/mode/2up

Studiesdesign00Dres_0066 (1) — “Grotesque dado-rail. Being formed of the hare, this is specially suited to a dining-room. Various animals may be introduced in a similar manner.” Plate 7, Page VII. Collections of the Smithsonian Library. Metropolitan New York Library Council, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Studiesdesign00Dres/page/VII/mode/2up

Studiesdesign00Dres_0068 — “Diaper pattern founded on flowers. These are suitable for stencilling on the walls of rooms. They may be varied, and even simplified, in color.” Plate 8 and page VIII. Collections of the Smithsonian Library. Metropolitan New York Library Council, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Studiesdesign00Dres/page/VIII/mode/2up

Studiesdesign00Dres_0070 — “An all-over pattern, suitable for a wall.” Plate 9 and page IX. Collections of the Smithsonian Library. Metropolitan New York Library Council, digitalizing sponsor. In the public domain due to age. via https://archive.org/details/Studiesdesign00Dres/page/VIX/mode/2up

Designs for whatever you’d like to have spiffed up. Plates from Christopher Dresser’s 1876 work “Studies in Design” which was published in London by Cassell, Petter and Galpin. Lithography by A. Goater, Nottingham. Dresser did design work for Minton, too, some of which I have shared here. Check those out if you like~

Studiesdesign00Dres_0006 — “Ornament in the Arabian style, intended to be painted upon a ceiling.” Plate I, page 6. Collection of the Smithsonian Libraries. Metropolitan New York Library Council, digitalization sponsor. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/Studiesdesign00Dres/page/n5/mode/2up

"'Parental Advice' may be painted on the panel of a door, on the door of a cabinet, or in any recess in a wall, especially suited to a smoking-room or a nursery." Plate II of 40. — “‘Parental Advice’ may be painted on the panel of a door, on the door of a cabinet, or in any recess in a wall, especially suited to a smoking-room or a nursery.” Plate II of 40. Collection of the Smithsonian Libraries. Metropolitan New York Library Council, digitalization sponsor. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/Studiesdesign00Dres/page/II/mode/2up

"A frieze of new style. — “A frieze of new style. This would be used around the upper part of the wall of a room. Being small in detail, it must not be placed high, unless it is enlarged.” Plate III of 40. Collection of the Smithsonian Libraries. Metropolitan New York Library Council, digitalization sponsor. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/Studiesdesign00Dres/page/III/mode/2up

"Two circular compositions of new style — “Two circular compositions of new style: may be used on the doors of cabinets, or as fillings for circular openings in a frieze.” Plate IV of 40, page 59. Collection of the Smithsonian Libraries. Metropolitan New York Library Council, digitalization sponsor. In the public domain. via https://archive.org/details/Studiesdesign00Dres/page/n58/mode/2up

Translate »