Designer William Morris challenged mechanization at the turn of the last century and offered designs that were seen as antidotes to the machine age. His designs are featured on a new collection of washable pillows from Ruggable. (Photo courtesy of Ruggable)
By Julia Reinert, The Lifestyle Historian
When the Industrial Revolution took hold in the late 18th and 19th centuries, it transformed how we lived, worked, and decorated our homes. Factories promised efficiency, affordability and uniformity. Furniture and household goods once crafted in small workshops could suddenly be replicated on a massive scale, making items previously reserved for the wealthy accessible to the growing middle class.
Yet this abundance brought an unexpected consequence: a renewed appreciation for the handmade. What had once been ordinary such as craftsmanship, artistry and the subtle irregularities of the human hand, suddenly became a marker of rarity and prestige. Mass production democratized design, but it simultaneously elevated the status of antiques.
(Note: The Industrial Revolution is often divided into two phases, the first beginning in the late 18th century with steam power and mechanized textiles, the second in the late 19th century with steel, electricity, and assembly-line manufacturing. This article focuses on the first wave, when handcraft first faced direct competition from the machine.)
A Historical Ping Pong of Taste
Design history often swings like a pendulum. Ornate Baroque styles gave way to the restrained lines of Neoclassicism. The clutter of Victorian interiors was soon countered by the Arts and Crafts movement’s devotion to handcraft and honesty of materials. These shifts reveal a tension at the heart of design: the drive toward efficiency and scale often collides with a longing for individuality and soul.
William Morris, the British designer and philosopher, gave voice to that longing when he urged people to “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” His words challenged the mechanized sameness of the factory era and inspired designers across Europe and America. In the United States, the Mission and Craftsman movements embraced similar ideals, turning to antiques and pre-industrial techniques as antidotes to the machine age.
Handmade as a Marker of Value
Antiques carried special weight in this climate. A carved chest, an embroidered textile, or a hand-thrown ceramic pot offered proof of human touch and original artistry. These objects embodied both story and skill, qualities machines could not replicate.
As industrial goods flooded the market, collectors and tastemakers began to prize handmade works even more. The antique trade thrived because people recognized in these objects a sense of authenticity missing from their mass-produced surroundings.
Echoes in Today’s Digital Age
Today we stand in another revolution but this time digital. Artificial intelligence, automation and 3D printing promise the same scale and speed that textile mills and furniture factories once delivered. These tools are not going away, nor should they. For interior designers, digital platforms and innovations have opened up extraordinary new possibilities for visualization, customization, and efficiency.
What’s fascinating is how these advancements coexist with a renewed hunger for the handmade. Designers and clients alike are seeking antiques and artisanal goods as anchors of authenticity in a world that can feel weightless and algorithm-driven. The digital and the handmade are not in opposition; together, they allow interiors to embrace both innovation and tradition.
Brands are recognizing this resonance. Baker Furniture, long admired for its heritage and original collections, continues to emphasize hand-finished details and partnerships with skilled artisans, even as its portfolio evolves. Ethan Allen, whose history is tied to scaled manufacturing, has recently leaned into storytelling that underscores tradition and craftsmanship within its offerings. Each demonstrates how handwork remains powerful in a contemporary marketplace.
Influence on Contemporary Interiors
This renewed reverence for craftsmanship is shaping interiors across the industry. Designers often place richly detailed antiques in stark modern spaces to create a striking dialogue. Think of an 18th-century French commode set against a pared-down concrete wall, or a handwoven Anatolian rug grounding a minimalist glass home. Such juxtapositions elevate antiques as focal points, connecting present-day interiors to history, narrative, and human touch.
Even newly manufactured products reflect this influence. Distressed woods, artisanal ceramics and hand-forged lighting echo antique traditions while offering fresh interpretation. Shoppers are not just acquiring objects; they are seeking connection, whether to story, beauty, the human touch, nostalgia … or all of the above.
Looking Forward
The Industrial Revolution revealed a paradox that still resonates today. The more efficient and accessible goods become, the more we long for the qualities machines cannot reproduce. As we navigate the digital frontier, antiques continue to remind us that authenticity never loses its value.
Two centuries ago, mass production elevated the cultural importance of handmade objects. Today’s digital innovations are creating a similar dynamic. Antiques are not relics of the past but essential guides for the future, proof that craftsmanship carries meaning across every age of progress.
