Studies in Plant Form
W. Midgley & AEV Lilley
Art Nouveau Design Masterpiece

This is a digital reproduction of this 1896 masterpiece.  We scanned this from one of the last editions of this book, which contained everything the first edition did plus many, many additional illustrations and more information.  Unlike most of the period design books, this one continued to grow even using the original cover as a reference.  Illustrations cover almost every one of the 200 pages in this book.

This book covers many details of design from natural sources such as plants, flowers, and trees. A great number of influences are shown including M.P. Verneuil, Charles Renee Mackintosh, William Morris, and more. There are many examples of work that are also similar to American Arts & Crafts art pottery maker Grueby.

The study of natural forms is what the Art Nouveau movement was all about. These works influenced the Austrian Seccessionist movement and the American Arts & Crafts movement. Many of these same principals were used by Arts & Crafts designers who further simplified natural designs into such things as the Glasgow Rose and the Dard Hunter Rose used by Roycroft.

The following chapters are included: Principles of Design, Space Filling, Borders, All-Over Patterns, Gesso, Embroidery, Textiles, Stencils and Stencilling, Wallpapers, Tiles, Leather Embossing, and Plant Ornament in Relief.  Many plants including the clematis, thistle, poppy, iris, and hyacinth (all plants that were big in the American Arts & Crafts movement) are used.

The book was scanned at 300 DPI, each page was individually cleaned, and has been written to an Adobe Acrobat pdf (free reader available at www.adobe.com).  We kept all of the security functions turned off so you can feel free to print any or all of the pages off this great book.  This set of images on CD-ROM will soon be reprinted into a hardcover book.




Cyclamen


Daffodil and Tulip examples




Repeating pattern ideal for tile and wallpaper design


Repeating pattern used for porcelain and earthenwear - common with Keramic Studio designs


Many incredible etchings - perfect for wood block print work


More great tiles - Wish you could find this fireplace set




Great wallpaper designs with border




Wallpaper design reminiscent of Liberty