CHRISTOPHER DRESSER (1834 - 1904)

British designer and design theorist

Widely known as the father of modern design, Christopher Dresser is considered as the first industrial designer whose products combine form and function; not only are they elegantly beautiful with refined craftsmanship and creativity but also functional and can be mass produced. Inspired by Japanese art and artefacts, Dresser, as the first European designer to visit Japan, brought the knowledge and technique of Japanese craftsmanship to Britain and played a pivotal role in the design reform movement and Aesthetic movement in the second half of the nineteenth century. The geometric and minimalist forms characteristic of his works speak of a visionary designer who was way ahead of his time. The inclusion of his portrait in the National Portrait Gallery in London is an evidence of his significant contribution to British history and culture.

COLLECT’S PICK:  

Claret Jug, Manufactured by James Dixon & Son, circa 1880