Art History 334 - History of Decorative Arts

Historical survey of the decorative arts from the middle ages into the present century; emphasis on the European and American period styles of the 18th century onward. Various media of the decorative arts, including furniture, glass, textiles.

AH334 Course Description: From wallpapers, willow ware, to George Washington's dinner service, Asia was and continues to be everywhere in the decorative arts of the United States. This course's emphasis in fall 2024 is the vast range of luxury objects, export art, and commodities that Americans and Europeans purchased from Asia. This undergraduate survey also serves as an introduction to material culture and issues in early modern cultural exchange. We will take advantage of the rich collections and storied collectors of Massachusetts, the center of the China Trade, through visits to local museums.