Art Nouveau and Art Deco were the major two decorative art movements of the early 20th century, whereas Arts & Crafts was a movement towards traditional techniques of manufacture. The first two are distinct from each other, whereas the latter can be used as a way of illustrating both.
Art Nouveau silver is characterised by flowing curves and swirls, dates from the 1890’s and ended abruptly with World War 1 – Liberty & Co. and Ramsden & Carr are the most well-known exponents in silver. Georg Jensen, HG Murphy and RE Stone produced silver during the inter-war period with bold geometric shapes and streamlined forms that epitomize the Art Deco movement.
Arts & Crafts silver is typified by a hand-made appearance, generally with a planished finish (spot-hammered) from the hand-raising process. Guild of Handicraft, AE Jones and Ramsden & Carr are among the major names in this genre.
