The innumerable arts that contribute to the embellishment of our homes—without pretending to reach, though they sometimes merge into fine art—are at length receiving among us some of the recognition they have long enjoyed on the Continent. Facilities for public exhibition, such as the painter and sculptor have long enjoyed, are being provided for the decorative artist and art-workman; and, in some cases, the productions of both fine and decorative art are displayed together, as they should be, seeing that they have a similar purpose and a common destination, and as they were in the great epochs of art. The lead in this direction, in the most comprehensive sense, was taken with the Decorative Art Exhibition, at the European Galleries, in Bond-street. This has been supported, though with more limited aims, by the Art Furnishers' Alliance, in the same street; by special exhibitions of china and tapestry painting at Messrs. Howell and James's (already noticed); and recently by a display of art-furniture, &c., collocated with pictures at the Suffolk-street Galleries. We propose to glance at the interesting contents of two or three of these galleries.
Source: The Illustrated London News, No.2258—Vol. LXXXI, Saturday, August 12, 1882, p.175
Decorative Arts:—
Part 2: Decorative Art: Galleries
Part 3: Art Furnishers' Alliance
Part 4: Suffolk Street galleries
External Site: Victoria & Albert Museum: British Galleries