C.F.A. Voysey

C.F.A. Voysey (1857-1941) was an architect-designer who advocated honest and thorough design, and championed high standards of craftsmanship applied only to the finest materials.

The resulting objects-simple yet elegant, often enhanced by beautiful and symbolic decoration-were considered revolutionary in their time and continue to enchant audiences today. The first substantial monograph to be published in 20 years, this comprehensive book focuses on Voysey as a designer of furniture, metalwork and textiles, providing a new analysis of his characteristic motifs and designs. It draws on the greatest public and private collections of his work to give a complete and fully illustrated account of Voysey’s output and his vision for domestic life at the turn of the twentieth century.
Original drawings and plans, archive photography and images of a vast selection of surviving objects are brought together here in a fresh examination of the Arts and Crafts pioneer. The authors’ extensive new research documents the personal and professional relationships that enabled Voysey to become a great and prolific designer.
The book draws together new information on how he ran his business; how he promoted, exhibited and sold his work; who his clients were; who was responsible for manufacturing his designs; and what a Voysey house and interior looked like.

Author Biography

Karen Livingstone is Director of Masterplan and Estate at the Science Museum. Her previous publications include Essential Arts and Crafts and V&A Pattern: Voysey.