The term "applied art" refers to the application (and resulting product) of artistic design to utilitarian objects in everyday use. Whereas works of fine art have no function other than providing aesthetic or intellectual stimulation to the viewer, works of applied art are usually functional objects which have been "prettified" or creatively designed with both aesthetics and function in mind. Applied art embraces a huge range of products and items, from a teapot or chair, to the walls and roof of a railway station or concert hall, a fountain pen or computer mouse.
Found here
Except that jewellery does not perform a function per se. Unless it is designed to do something other than adorn the body, it is not strictly speaking functional. An example of functional jewellery would be this bubble blower by Clare English.
So we sit somewhere between fine art and applied art in various forms. Commerce complicates issues as well, where the commercialising of jewellery means a vast number of pieces are not considered any form of art.
Feeling a little depressed at being a 'decorator of something functional' I gave that definition some thought and reached a bit of a revelation. Some of the oldest known artifacts bear signs of decoration. Even Neanderthal man decorated objects, wore shells and painted objects and themselves with red ochre. Somehow creating a functional object is not enough, something within us craves visual pleasure. Once a spear thrower, clay pot, club, blanket, belt or any such object is made, people have spent even longer making that object beautiful than it took to make it functional.
This thought process has given me new vigour to pursue my course of action. Decoration sounds trivial and yet it speaks to something in our very make up. The satisfaction of creating something more beautiful than it needs to be is a worthwhile pursuit.
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