Toast Rack
c. 1880
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
14.6 × 13.7 × 10.2 cm (5 11/16 × 5 3/8 × 4 in.)
Classification
breakfast sets
Department
Applied Arts of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
151561
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The use of sinuous coils differentiates this toast rack from Christopher Dresser’s more angular silver designs. In an era increasingly dominated by cheaply produced, low-quality goods, designers began considering how to improve both the design of objects and the conditions of the workers who made them. As a proponent for English design reform, Dresser sought to make high-quality goods in a variety of styles to appeal to a wide range of customers. This softer model may have enticed consumers who ...
About the Artist
Christopher Dresser · 1834–1904
Christopher Dresser (1834–1904) was one of the most innovative and prolific designers of the nineteenth century, widely regarded as a pioneer of industrial design long before that discipline had a name. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, he trained at the Government School of Design in London, where he studied under leading educators committed to improving the quality of British manufactured goods. He wen...