Dresser retrospective.

The name Christopher Dresser is synonymous with many of the great innovations in design during the latter part of the nineteenth century. When he visited the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876 a writer for the New York Times described him as "one of the most perfect specimens of art intellect." Not only was Dresser a prolific writer and lecturer, but he also applied his considerable intellectual and artistic skills to the design of ceramics, metalwork, wall coverings, textiles, glass, architectural ornaments, and furniture for more than seventy manufacturers. Sometimes referred to as the first industrial designer, he was a leader in seeing the potential in unifying the useful and the beautiful. Today it is precisely this combination that resonates with a modern audience.

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In celebration of the centennial of the designer's death, the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York City, has co-organized an exhibition entitled Shock of the Old: Christopher Dresser, which opens on March 5 and remains on view through July 25. It is comprised of some three hundred objects and may be seen at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London this autumn. The title refers to the paradox in Dresser's work, which was new in forms and shapes and yet drew on numerous ornamental motifs and decorative patterns from the historical past.

Dresser was born in Scotland during the industrial revolution and was a fervent believer in the wide range of new technologies and materials that were developed in his lifetime. With degrees in industrial design and botanical studies, Dresser fused these two deep-seated passions in many of his designs. He saw the enormous potential in drawing upon the rich artistic output of ancient cultures, particularly those of the Far East.

A critical juncture in his career was a four-month visit to Japan in 1876 and 1877, where, as an invited guest, he was not only presented to the emperor, but he was able to tour potteries and religious sites that few Westerners had visited. This made an indelible ...