Chief reporter of Shenzhen Business DailyWei Peina
What are the characteristics of the decorative arts of the main peoples of Asia, Africa and Europe?
German architect Heinrich Dolmech's "The Dress of Civilization" is one of the outstanding works on decorative patterns and design in the 19th century, along with "The Law of Decoration" by the British architect and designer Erwin Jones and "Colorful Decoration" by the French costume expert and painter Auguste Lassiné.
"The Dress of Civilization".
By Heinrich Dolmech
Translated by Chen Lei
Jiangsu Phoenix Literature and Art Publishing House
January 2024
It is understood that through 100 editions and more than 1,500 illustrations, the book shows the ornamental patterns and decorative arts used in architecture, interior decoration, manuscripts, handicrafts and other fields around the world, various nationalities and periods before the end of the 19th century, with a brief explanation.
According to the information, Heinrich Dolmetsch (1846-1908), who studied at the Stuttgart Institute of Technology and visited various German states, Austria, Italy and France, was mainly engaged in the restoration and design of churches, and was also active in the field of decorative design.
In the foreword to the book, Heinrich Dormech says: "This book is not intended to give theoretical rules, but rather serves as a practical guide in order to give a clear understanding of how ornaments, and especially their colour treatments, developed naturally in different periods of time through direct observation of chronological examples." Particular attention has been paid to the selection and arrangement of the most stylized and coherent types of decoration from the inexhaustible and inexhaustible works of art handed down from the early centuries, which on the one hand facilitates systematic research and, on the other hand, provides a rich treasure trove for the most diverse art lovers. The rapidly changing tastes of our time are constantly demanding new forms from which they can draw new inspiration when creating their own works. May this rich collection be a reliable guide in the search for a unified and beautiful form of style! ”