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Learn with David Rago

Arts & Crafts Movement US

Learn about the Arts and Craft movement (US) & how to spot great items and antique furniture.

Course overview

In this first lesson David gives a fascinating perspective on the changes in society just after the Industrial Revolution and how this societal change had a very direct impact on craftsmanship. A whistle-stop tour through its British origins from William Morris and his contemporaries, before crossing the pond and seeing how seeds of the Arts and Crafts Design Movement branched out in America, and how it evolved from state to state.

Meet David Rago

David Rago began a lifelong passion for American decorative ceramics at the age of sixteen at a flea market in his home state of New Jersey. Today, with partners Suzanne Perrault and Miriam Tucker, he oversees the auction house that bears his name, selling privately in the field of 20th/21st C. Design. He lectures nationally and also appears as an expert appraiser for the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, where he specializes in decorative ceramics and porcelain. Rago is an animated teacher and a natural story teller.

Course description

David Rago has appeared as an appraiser on the US Antiques Roadshow for 20 years and he is the author of six books on 20th century design. He has dealt in Arts and Crafts for 44 years and together with his wife owns David Rago Auctions.

On this online course David paints a fascinating picture of The Arts and Crafts Design Movement and how this revolution has impacted collectible arts and crafts in the US. David includes real world examples and brings the social and political context behind key pieces, so you come to recognise the signature style of the movement and specific influential individuals.

David draws on his experience and his very personal perspective of the Movement, of living with objects in your own home that carried the spirit of creativity. He takes each of the three main ingredients of Arts and Crafts material step-by-step - mud, copper, and oak. With his infectious enthusiasm about the creative process David will share with you how the Arts and Crafts Movement changed these base materials, into golden objects, and who were the key arts and crafts designers, manufacturers and artists in America.

Whether you're an enthusiastic collector or a dealer David will teach you how to spot good arts and crafts design movement objects and decorative arts pieces for collection or for resale.

This is a unique opportunity to interact with a real world expert. But please remember he won't be able to provide a valuation service for your objects.

You'll learn
  • how the arts and crafts movement reached America
  • leading potters and ceramic works across the USA
  • key wrought metal schools
  • influential furniture manufacturers and their style
Time to complete this arts and crafts movement USA course:

Every student is different but in general we think the whole course will take around 7 hours 10 minutes to complete including:

  • Video lessons: 2 hours 10 minutes in total
  • Assignment: at least 1 hour per lesson
  • Tutor feedback review (Expert level): 15 minutes per lesson
The course includes:
  • On-demand video lessons - presented by David Rago
  • lifetime access to the video, notes and interactive class
  • flexible classes - join and learn when and where you like
  • downloadable lesson notes
  • practical (optional) arts and crafts design movement project
  • access on your mobile, PC, Mac or laptop
  • small interactive online classroom chat online to students from around the world
Ready to get started?

Just add the course to your basket above - choose the 'Expert' option for personal feedback from David on your arts and craft design movement assignments.

Any questions? Contact us by clicking on the orange speech symbol - we'd love to hear from you.