Victorian, Arts & Crafts, Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fireplaces

Thornhill Galleries’ collection of Victorian, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Art Deco fireplaces shows the eclecticism of the design period of the day. The Victorian era saw the beginnings of imitation and reproduction, something which would come to a head in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. Victorian chimney pieces relied heavily on ornamentation, often with a natural themes represented in a mix of different styles, ranging form the Gothic to the Rococo using materials such as wood or cast iron. In direct contrast to this, the Arts and Crafts movement focused more directly on craftsmanship rather than ostentation, with the unplanned result that the Arts and Crafts style was the reserve exclusively of the very wealthy. Out of this grew Art Nouveau, exemplified by a more austere, linear look than any that had come before. Characterised by the 'whiplash line' and stylised natural motifs, an Art Nouveau fire surround would have been embellished by curving flower designs showing a sense of movement. This simplification in design lent itself perfectly to the ultimate development of Art Deco which kept the natural motifs of the Art Nouveau period, but completely eradicated the curving ornamentation in favour of more geometric designs. For more information on any of our fireplaces, don’t hesitate to get in touch.