The Arts and Crafts Movement borrowed extensively from other cultures and periods including medieval Europe.

The Victorian Gothic revival movement began in the late 1740s. It started with reproducing medieval Gothic. Neo-Gothic buildings used decorative patterns, finials, lancet windows, moldings and other architectural features from the Gothic style.

House on the corner of Lancaster Avenue and Edward Avenue in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
Photo by Julien Duguay

This house draws on many features of Gothic decoration. Continue reading →

Gothic furniture marked a change from the Victorian style. The popularity of Archeology led to a fascination with Classical Greek and Roman designs. Classical Revival drew on these influences.

Then, by the mid to late 1800s Gothic Revival, also called Victorian Gothic or Neo-Gothic, drew on the Gothic style of the 12th century.

The movement began in England as an architectural style. Gothic Revival houses were built of to look like castles or cathedrals, first of brick and stone, then of wood with decorative gingerbread trim.

Furnishings were designed to complement these very different homes.

Side Chair with Gothic Splat made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US between 1765 and 1780
In the Los Angeles County Museum of Art

Continue reading →