C. F. A. Voysey | Karen Livingstone

C.F.A. Voysey (1857-1941) was an architect-designer who advocated honest and thorough design, and championed high standards of craftsmanship applied only to the finest materials. The resulting objects–simple yet elegant, often enhanced by beautiful and symbolic decoration–were considered revolutionary in their time and continue to enchant audiences today. The first substantial monograph to be published in 20 years, this comprehensive book focuses on Voysey as a designer of furniture, metalwork and textiles, providing a new analysis of his characteristic motifs and designs. It draws on the greatest public and private collections of his work to give a complete and fully illustrated account of Voysey’s output and his vision for domestic life at the turn of the twentieth century. Original drawings and plans, archive photography and images of a vast selection of surviving objects are brought together here in a fresh examination of the Arts and Crafts pioneer. The authors’ extensive new research documents the personal and professional relationships that enabled Voysey to become a great and prolific designer. The book draws together new information on how he ran his business; how he promoted, exhibited and sold his work; who his clients were; who was responsible for manufacturing his designs; and what a Voysey house and interior looked like.