Decorative arts is a term used to designate a variety of categories, including furniture, woodwork, and glass. The term decorative arts also refers to ceramics (porcelain and earthenware) and metalwork (gold, silver, bronze, and other metals).
The decorative arts are called the applied arts when referring to objects intended for actual use, such as chairs, silver flatware, porcelain dishes, and glass vessels. Minor arts is another term occasionally used for decorative arts. This term does not mean that the decorative arts are inferior to other forms. It is intended to separate decorative arts from the fine arts of painting, sculpture, and architecture.
The decorative arts reflect the desire throughout human history to decorate the environment. For example, prehistoric peoples created small ivory sculptures. The Egyptians buried finely crafted furniture and jewelry with their dead. During medieval times, artisans decorated castles and churches with articles made from ivory, gold, and enamel. Artists of the Renaissance produced fine furniture, metalwork, and glass. People of the 1700’s created beautiful porcelain pieces and carved woodwork. Today, the decorative arts continue to be an important division of art. Fine art and decorative art reflect important artistic trends in their form, color, and material.
