Dear Angie,

        I don't know if this qualifies as a "good definition" of decorative arts,
but it is the one I use in a graduate survey of American dec. arts.  I
believe that decortive arts pieces combine functionality and a conscious
application of decorative techniques.

        There may be others who would disagree with part or all of this, but it is
how I delineate what we talk about in class.

At 11:22 AM 2/1/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Does anyone have a good definition of the term "decorative arts"?  I
>can't seem to find anything better than "the applied arts: metalwork,
>textiles..."  A nice quote might also do the trick. Thanks!
>
>Angie Dodson
>Assistant Director for Interpretation
>Hillwood Museum and Gardens
>202.686.8500 x.8618
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>
>
Michael Cahall, Ph.D.
Department of History
Duquesne University
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