Christopher Dresser: Design Pioneer (Victoria and Albert Museum)

Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) is one of the most influential British designers of all time, widely regarded as Britain's first independent industrial designer. His works still appear remarkably modern more than a century later. Like his contemporary William Morris, Dresser advocated for an 'honesty of materials'; however, unlike Morris, he fully embraced industrial techniques, designing for the growing consumer market.

Dresser's fascination with the arts of Japan and his advocacy of Owen Jones's principle that ornament should be geometrical in form resulted in a range of designs that look surprisingly minimal for their time. Affordable, well-designed, functional, and commercially successful, the objects that Dresser designed—wallpapers, textiles, carpets, ceramics, furniture and, most famously, metalwork—were industrially produced by manufacturers across the UK, the US, and continental Europe.

This compact, beautifully produced book on the work of Christopher Dresser begins with a brief introduction to his life and work before presenting 75 of his most important pieces, each accompanied by a narrative-style caption. Christopher Dresser: Design Pioneer (Victoria and Albert Museum) will appeal to anyone interested in modern design.

With 117 illustrations in colour