Christopher Dresser

Christopher Dresser ( born July 4, 1834 in Glasgow, † November 24, 1904 in Mulhouse) was a British designer. Dresser is considered the first professional independent industrial designers in Britain.

He has long since been forgotten, as Nikolaus Pevsner rediscovered him in 1937 by an article in the journal Architectural Record.

Dresser is now with William Morris as the vanguard of Art Nouveau. ( He ran vegetation research. ) In 1847 he went to study botany for two years at the Government School of Design at Somerset House. There he taught for many years.

In its early phase from 1850 to 1876, he tried to find machines suitable forms for his designs. While the early work was more ornamental and historicist, the late work was very purist. From this transformed style Dresser comes to its minimalist objects. His designs took the functionalism of the 1920s very much anticipated. 1870 his name became a brand. He worked with all materials - mainly in metal - for more than 50 manufacturers.

Some of his designs were reissued, such as 1993, " Conical Sugar Bowl " by Alessi.