Page opposite title page, Principles of Decorative Design, 1873 Designed and written by Christopher Dresser (British, 1834-1904) Published by Cassell, Petter & Galpin, London Multicolored inks on paper 83.2.2073 First trained as a botanist, Christopher Dresser believed that geometry was the fundamental law of nature. He based his new decorative vocabulary on the "structure" of plants and rejected any references to styles of the past. Through teaching at the national School of Design in London and through his internationally reprinted publications, Dresser became one of the most influential designers of the nineteenth century. He was also a pioneer in the field of industrial design. Working for many manufacturers throughout Britain, he applied his abstract ornamentation to metalwork, furniture, ceramics, textiles, and glass. Back to British Aesthetic & Arts and Crafts Movement Main Back to Collections Main