The Century Guild of Artists was an English group of art enthusiasts that were active between c.1883 and 1892. Their work was primarily based on 18th century motifs, though some work was Art Nouveau in style.

History

The Guild was founded in 1882 by

Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo Arthur Heygate Mackmurdo (12 December 1851 – 15 March 1942) was a progressive English architect and designer, who influenced the Arts and Crafts Movement, notably through the Century Guild of Artists, which he set up in partnership wit ...

with the aim of preserving the artistic trade and the authenticity of the craftsmen behind it. The members were one of the first groups of the Arts and Crafts Movement, which aimed to unify the arts. Roughly 20 people were associated with the guild, but the only members were

, Herbert Horne and

Selwyn Image Selwyn Image (17 February 1849, Bodiam, Sussex – 21 August 1930, London) was an important British artist, designer, writer and poet associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement. He designed stained-glass windows, furniture, embroidery, and w ...

. The Guild primarily produced domestic design such as furniture, stained glass, metalwork, decorative painting and architectural design. These designs were all displayed at the Inventions Exhibition (London, 1885), the Exhibition of Navigation and Manufacture (Liverpool, 1886), Pownall Hall (1886–7; Cheshire) and the Royal Jubilee Exhibition (Manchester, 1887). Despite inconsistent output, the group gained recognition through exhibiting and through their quarterly magazine called ''The Century Guild Hobby Horse'' which ran from 1884–1892. The journal was then renamed '' The Hobby Horse'', and continued for another two years before it ended in 1894. ''The Hobby Horse'' served as a way of sharing the views of the Guild and promoted crafted art as opposed to mechanical industry.

Influence

The Guild influenced designers such as

C.F.A. Voysey Charles Francis Annesley Voysey (28 May 1857 – 12 February 1941) was an English architect and furniture and textile designer. Voysey's early work was as a designer of wallpapers, fabrics and furnishings in a Arts and Crafts style and he ma ...

and

Charles Rennie Mackintosh Charles Rennie Mackintosh (7 June 1868 – 10 December 1928) was a Scottish architect, designer, water colourist and artist. His artistic approach had much in common with European Symbolism. His work, alongside that of his wife Margaret Macdo ...

and influenced the formation of The Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society.

References

{{Reflist English artist groups and collectives 1882 establishments in the United Kingdom British furniture designers