CHRISTOPHER DRESSER: HISTORY & VALUATIONS

A History of Christopher Dresser

Christopher Dresser is considered by many to be the first industrial designer – an accolade that reflects his love of using machinery in creating his silver. Dresser is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential independent designers of the Aesthetic Movement. Dresser was not afraid to explore the positives and negatives on machine manufacturing in domestic objects such as teapots. 

Dresser was born in 1834 in Glasgow and studied at the Government School of Design in London from a young age. Here, he came into contact with designers such as Henry Cole and Owen Jones, who were known for leading the design reform movement. During this time Dresser also studied Botany, taking this as a specialisation and even lecturing in the subject. Later, Dresser obtained a doctorate in absentia from a university in Germany. 

In terms of design, Dresser adhered to the school of thought developing at the time – that deceptive manufacturing was immoral and dishonest towards the customer. Based on this theory, Dresser developed three principles of design: Truth, Beauty, and Power. The idea was that all three principles combined would create a perfect product and design. 

Dresser took inspiration from his love of Botany when designing, using the geometric shapes that he found in nature. This was a very scientific approach to design that was unusual at the time. These simple and natural designs show Dresser’s fascination with the most basic elements of design. 

Later in his career, Dresser was heavily influenced by Japanese, Peruvian, Egyptian, Persian, and Fijian objects. Much of his work from the 1860s features typical Japanese design elements and motifs. 

Christopher Dresser designed a plethora of different objects, including carpets, furniture, ceramics, glasswork, and silver. In the production of this work, he recognised the merits of using machines, unlike many of his counterparts, who would only produce handmade goods. It is this attitude that made Dresser become known as the first industrial designer. Dresser was a freelance designer in this time and provided designs for many different manufacturers, meaning that his influence stretched far. 

Among some of his most famous silverworks are the numerous teapots that he designed. The teapots feature stark straight lines and odd but functional features. His work is almost instantly recognisable, contributing to the nature of its collectability today. 

Dresser penned a number of books surrounding design and ornament, namely The Art of Decorative Design (1862) and Principles of Design (1873),

Later in life, Dresser set up his own store, whilst still providing designs for other manufacturers. However, Dresser’s declining health saw the company fall in 1883. Dresser died in 1904. In modern times Dresser is regarded as one of the most important independent designers the UK has ever seen. His works are prized, as is the legacy of his designs.