Response to "Art and Design in The Modern Age"

       It is important to note the difference in functional ornament as opposed to ornament which exemplifies the idea of form over function. Some pieces of art fit into our everyday lives while working with us. Someone can have a nice Ikea dresser which will serve its purpose but won’t truly be a piece of art. Not everything in a household needs to be art. Some things can simply serve their purpose and help to make out daily lives easier. Mass production has resulted in products which are easy to manufacture and obtain. Back in the early to mid 20th century, though, people had to make the choice of sticking with their beautiful, hand crafted dressers and chairs, or to accept the idea of change and the convenience which ultimately will come along. “Chest” (inlaid wood, braze) by Carl Malmsten is an example of form and function working in conjunction with one another. The chest is beautiful, incorporating exotic wood inlays and referencing Swedish decorative traditions. There’s individuality, respect, and humility in a piece as such. Something with such attention and love is a rarity now.

       Candlestand by Wilhelm Hunt Diederich is a piece which even now during the times of mass production, is not impossible to find in some designer furniture store. It’s a piece which without a doubt came to fruition as a result of attention to detail. Something with perhaps less attention put int detail, but still equally appealing in form is sold in a store like Restoration Hardware. The prices of furnishings in Restoration Hardware are higher than, say, Ikea or Target, but that’s because more attention goes into each piece. I see that there’s a decent balance between mass production and craftsmanship in modern times.