Five ways to get the Arts & Crafts look for an 'affordable' price at Dorset auction

The Arts & Crafts movement was a response to this, spearheaded by William Morris. The ensuing products aimed to bring individual quality and style to the public for items in use in everyday life, ideally made in small-scale workshops rather than factories.

This came at a price, of course, and the masses were not exactly flowing with disposable income to actually buy these beautiful products – and many of the best examples on offer at auction today are correspondingly at a higher level of price.

However, if you are looking for a ‘more affordable’ way to quickly recreate that wonderful Arts & Crafts look, auction houses do have many options at a lower price point, such as the Lawrences Jewellery, 19^th/20^th century Design & Ceramics sale in Crewkerne on July 23. 

Here are five ‘more affordable’ options to get the Arts & Crafts look without breaking the bank.

Very Moorish

Arts & Crafts Moorish style cabinet - estimate £80-100 at Lawrences on July 23.

Probably retailed by Liberty & Co, this Moorish style floor standing hardwood cabinet with inlaid heart shaped motifs and lattice panels, and arrangement of open shelves, is 1.88m high. With carved decoration and decorative cornice, it is estimated at £150-250.

You can bid for the Moorish style floor standing hardwood cabinet on thesaleroom.com.

Devon duo

Arts & Crafts Shapland & Petter cupboard - estimate £80-100 at Lawrences on July 23.

Henry Shapland had been apprenticed to a cabinet maker in Barnstaple, before travelling to the US, but he was joined by Henry Petter back in Devon to form Shapland & Petter. Their approach sums up the paradox of Arts & Crafts: they employed craftsmen but also used the latest machinery in production.

This oak cupboard by Shapland & Petter can be viewed via thesaleroom.com. With a central copper panel with floral design, and copper hinges, the interior with room for one shelf (original shelf missing). It is 45.5cm high and estimated at £80-100.

Walnut wonder

Arts & Crafts style walnut desk - estimate £80-120 at Lawrences on July 23.

This walnut desk in Arts & Crafts style, 1.39m high, features a fold-down writing slope and inkwell compartments, and shelf underneath. The top section has two small cupboards with stained glass. Estimate £80-120. You can bid for this walnut desk in Arts & Crafts style on thesaleroom.com

Make it a cabinet meeting

Arts & Crafts Shapland & Petter cabinet - estimate £60-80 at Lawrences on July 23.

A Shapland & Petter walnut cabinet, 36cm high x 61.5cm across, the glazed door overlaid with metal mount of floral design, features two side shelves, lock stamped S & H, B. Estimated at £60-100, the Shapland & Petter walnut cabinet can be viewed on thesaleroom.com.

Rock and roll out your bid

Arts & Crafts style rocking chair - estimate £80-120 at Lawrences on July 23.

 This unusual Arts & Crafts style 19^th century rocking chair with a wooden seat and rockers, a heavily made wrought iron frame and detailing to the legs, is estimated at £80-120. Available via thesaleroom.com, the 1.07m rocking chair is estimated at £80-120.