Art & Design Movements

Flower frogs reached their height of popularity during the first half of the 20th century. Looking at how their design changed over the years, you can see the influence of popular art and design movements.

This page presents a brief description of each of these movements accompanied by photographs of representative flower frogs.

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Movements

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Art Nouveau – 1890 to 1910

Art Nouveau reflects natural forms with curvaceous, flowing lines such as those found in flowers and full-figured women.

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Arts and Crafts – 1880 to 1920

The Arts and Crafts movement rejected the decline in standards of materials and construction that had become the norm in factory-produced home furnishings. It represented a return to handwork, skilled craftsmanship, and attention to design. The excessive ornateness of the Victorian era gave way to the value of simplicity, utility, and the inherent beauty of the materials.

Click on Photos to Enlarge

The first two Rookwood flower frogs present simple forms in matte glazes indicative of the movement, while the second two present beautiful designs in semi-gloss and gloss glazes without being ornate.

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Art Deco – 1920 to 1940

Art Deco is represented by bold, often machine-like geometric forms, and equally bold colors. And, of course, by the stylized dress of the period.

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Egyptian Revival – 1922

Egyptian Revival first appeared in Europe as an architectural style after Napoleon's conquest of Egypt in 1798, and then in the United States following the translation of the Rosetta Stone in 1822. But the revival of interest here came with the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922.

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Mid-Century Modern – 1945 to 1969

Produced from 1945 to 1969 or thereabouts, Mid-Century Modern is characterized by clean, simple lines, without decorative embellishments.