Obsessed with all of these experimental archaeology series, and eternally grateful that they’re being made readily accessible on TH-cam like this! Started with Victorian farmhouse, and now I’m here!
I loved the carpenter. When he hugged the wood after managing to split the tree in half… as someone who does a lot of creative projects (without always knowing what I’m getting myself into) I totally relate to that emotion
Were the fireplace tiles not one of the crafts? Why were they ignored completely? I think he did a great job...And while the candle sconce was a side job intended more to calm nerves, it still came out nice and deserved mention...
I agree, they should have been mentioned by the others at least, but I think the reason why they weren't was because they were not going to be judged. The ones judging (or the producers or whoever) may not have wanted those pieces to take away from the original three crafts.
I agree!!! I would have loved a more up close look at the tiles and the sconce. That was very disappointing! Especially since those were very interesting and intricate undertakings. Very disappointing.
The ridiculous thing with the wallpaper being favorite is that she, unlike the others, got a huge head start in the form of a pre-existing print block which did most of the heavy lifting for her unambitious contribution. The chair was what really captured the spirit of the endeavor, and in terms of quality the silver bowl was the finest craftsmanship.
That chair was the prize. He took a tree and created that. Hands down he won in my book. Then that fireplace. I know it was a side thing but it was so beautiful
Lol, I like how Rod was like "Be careful of time" and what problem did Else have when printing the wallpaper?? Time. Lol. Rod seems to have good suggestions, everyone is just too proud to listen to him hahaha
Hm. I’m not the only one who noticed her. Oh yes. She was so abrasive from the first instant. I really hated that. It looked like she didn’t even try to bring a good spirit to the collaborations. I was shocked at her behavior, really.
@@HabitualLover Her saying she only worked alone earlier in the video should have been a hint she would cause a bit of issues for healthy collaboration lol
@@HabitualLover right!!?! It actually made me pretty mad, to be honest. I love history and I know hundreds of people who would've LOVED to take part in something like this, and yet they chose someone who didn't get into the spirit a jot. She didn't wear the clothes properly, she didn't do her hair correctly, was astoundingly uncouth at the dinner table-not to mention she was just plain rude about the food-and she didn't appear to be enjoying herself, really, beyond a few smiles I'm sure were for the camera. I don't even think it was that she had a RBF; I genuinely think she was just that grumpy and bad-tempered. I say that because, having now watched the rest of the series, I can absolutely conclude that my initial assumptions about the lady were bang-on: she came across a stuck up cow who thought she was too cool for school, and that she was best at everything, despite being not in her wheelhouse, and she didn't even seem to be that good an artisan either!! I don't think it was just the edit, because you can't just fabricate that much grumpiness. Re talent, I was just so confused as to where they found the pottery lad-because seriously, what kind of potter hasn't made a plate and doesn't understand how *glazes* work?! That's pottery 101!! I took 3 lessons 10 years ago and I made a plate better than theirs (and on a manual wheel, I should add! They're not that different than electric ones, I think he was just trying to excuse his shoddy work, personally.) In fact, this sounds a bit mean but I would not be at all surprised if those Ginger & Dreads (I dont remember their names and don't really care, lol) actually lied on their applications, because sure, it might just be me, but especially for Dreads I just didn't see any passion for the topic of the whole show and the era and meaning behind the Arts&Crafts movement. As someone who has studied the movement for almost a decade now, and as someone who actually does some of the same crafts they either did or mentioned, those two actually made me pretty furious, because they stole the chance from others? I'm a new zealander so couldn't have got in, obviously, but the UK is teaming with talented, passionate handcrafters, so it seemed a pretty confusing, and kind of a poor choice imo to include them, just based on what they seemed to have wanted the whole show to be, and what we saw both of them present as work done on the show itself. This is a bit of an aside, but I do also think that each "week" should've actually been organised as a fortnight, tbh. This isn't RuPaul's drag race, or Project Runway; they were making a pretty big ask of them all, even for highly skilled folks, because they were told to complete some pretty complicated, fiddly works in such a short period of time that, especially for some crafts, was not physically feasible, if they wanted a good enough product to stand as being in the genre. The embroidered bedspread, for instance, didn't look like much, but was actually astounding because, considering how much she covered, that's the sort of project that could take most people months! And yes, you get used to doing things like embroidery for many hours at a time, but doing 12 hr stints for 2 - 4 days in a row is literally a work & safety health hazard! As a whole, they didn't get a proper chance to show off their talents, imo, and I feel that this was also greatly exacerbated by the ginger potty guy and dreads..... and, speaking of her, I lowkey kind of feel like had somehow sneaked into the set and by the time anyone realised it was so late, so one was able to thoroughly vet her body of work properly, or to find out if she was even the appropriate fit for the show and so by the time they were about to start someone just said "oh, ok,,, uh,, well, she can stay?" (and I can testify that things like that (not main characters but people like extras, or behind the scenes folks) can become involved 100% by chance. That's how my mum got to be in lord of the rings with me... she showed up for my costume fitting and they got her a costume too, and she was like "oh, no, I'm not an extra!" And the person was like "well, er, do you want to be?" and that's how she also got a part xD) But yeah, all this said, maybe they put Dreads in on purpose, like for the interpersonal problem-maker or for best tv personality-clash-potential-drama and associated histrionics? If that's what they did, I wish they hadn't; this isn't a reality "Big Brother" episode, with bad guys and good guy fabricated edits to make plotlines!! It's a recreating the past, niche show. But honestly, fekn hell did that nasty one make me almost believe those victorian doctors who went on about "female hysterical disease" or whatever they called it, the way she seemed to nag and bother everyone. It was so glaringly obvious, too, because the other two ladies were lovely, (and talented!!) and I think that even the ginger guy looked like he was stoned most of the time so was more just untalented than unlikable, and with the other two guys, they got "argumentative" (read: riled by ms dreadlocks)too, but I got the vibe that they seemed to do so only in passion for the craft, and wanting things to be the best it could be, not personal gripes.
I'm glad I'm not the only one. She tried to play victim at the first meeting, but I'd have told her to shut up with her constant interruptions and whining, too. What a self absorbed idiot she is.
They do exist, but it usually means renting a large house to share or one person owning one. What you have to remember is the arts and crafts movement was populated by very rich people and this is funded by the largest broadcaster in the UK!
They are! Still every where! Kind old women and couples with plenty of love and rooms to spare rent their rooms to artists or have small quadroplex, basement, and or attic apartments in artists co-ops!
where i live there are there is a big mill building full of art studios for all kinds of artists were some artists both live and work on sight and others just work
Honestly, I agree! I don't care for the idea of a contest when it comes to this sort of show. The "experts" should be GUIDING not judging. The judges' attitudes makes them seem haughty, and the idea overall cheapens the show. I can understand a time limit, but a more reasonable time limit makes better sense. The pressure involved is already great due to the fine materials being used. A contest is pointless.
I just remembered that I learned about the arts and crafts movement 5 years ago in art school, i had to do a William Morris inspired print. I stayed up all night the night before it was due to make it…
I personally think the silver bowl should have won the honors at the end, as it was astonishing! What skill and craftsmanship! But all of the crafts made were fantastic. Honestly, the wall paper was my least favorite though.
@@hereforit2347 I actually LIKE underwhelming wallpaper. That's the fault I find with Morris designs: I find them overwhelming, too much, like they are racing at me screaming at the top of their lungs, 'Look at the wallpaper!' I don't like any one design element that seems to be trying to elbow and shove everything else out of the way to gain all the attention, and I feel like that's what Morris's paper usually does: acts like it's the ONLY design element in the room, and has to do all the work, make all the splash - and that splash is its raison d'etre. I'd prefer something much more subdued, like that wallpaper. Wallpaper, for me, is a bit like a designer dress on a woman: you should not be paying so much attention to the fabulousness of the dress that you forget to look the woman in the face and listen to what she has to say and find out who she is (a woman who relies on her designer clothes to make an impression, instead of her character and charm, is probably an empty or shallow woman, after all). In a similar way, I feel like if any one design element overwhelms everything else, one can feel like the room, its purpose, and the people who use it are all subservient to the 'statement piece' of furniture or decoration, like the whole purpose of the room is to showcase that one design feature, instead of being a room for people to gather and live in. When the design becomes so important that the people in the room feel they are in a temple to design, instead of a room designed for human life, that's when I think the balance has tipped too far in the direction of the designer drawing attention to himself and his genius, and away from serving human beings. I'm afraid Morris's designs in wallpaper usually make me feel like everyone is supposed to walk into the room and say, 'Morris wall-paper' instead of 'good morning' to the people assembled there. And of course, they are supposed to credit with good taste the person who chose Morris wall-paper, instead of entering into conversation with the interesting, varied and valued people in the room. I just want my rooms to be a balm to the souls of people who enter my space, who then immediately relax and feel that everything in the room is there to make them feel welcome, accepted, at peace and comforted. I think the wallpaper submitted for this programme serves that end: a calming and attractive background to the real business of the drawing room: human conversation and relationship.
@@FigaroHey: By “underwhelming” I meant unimpressive. I did *not* mean subtle, inconspicuous, muted, restrained, or subdued. Nor did I mean not colorful, ornate, showy, extravagant, or gaudy enough. I meant boring, not very well done, not very well designed, ordinary, uninteresting, and not very attractive. It looks like something I’d find in the clearance section at Sears. Whether or not you personally like muted wallpaper is not the issue. Besides, Medieval art was the inspiration for much of Arts and Crafts design, the essence of which this artist was supposed to have captured and didn’t. I’ve seen many muted, subdued wallpaper designs that were beautiful and inspired. This was not one of them.
I love these "back in time" series! I did not realize "Arts and Crafts" was in England, I thought it was an American thing. I can appreciate the need of the lady designing the wallpaper for time to perfect the design - but there is a deadline, and if she does not meet it she undermines the work of others. She has to step up to meet the needs of the team, not herself. The older man always steps up to help so the project meets its timeline. The sconce was lovely as were the fireplace tiles.
The Arts & Crafts movement resulted from the desire to return to pre-Industrial times in England and in the States. Wanting to return to Nature and the Natural. Breaks my heart for those folks yearning for more authentic living …. knowing WWI was just around the corner in 1914 😭
I’m American, and I didn’t even realize that it happened in both countries, although if I had really thought about it of course it would. I’m loving this series (I seem to be watching them out of order) because the difference between the two are very interesting. Actually, it seems like every Absolute History series is like that.
Craftsman of the period would not have been under such a time constraint, and they would have had others craftsmen to work with. With that in mind, what these brave souls have achieved is nothing short of miraculous. I am quite impressed with their results, particularly the wallpaper. The scale of the project alone was daunting, and the results are breathtaking. I would gladly add any, or all, of the pieces to my home. I can't wait to see what is next.
I love this episode concept. If you haven't done others like this, please do!! I love Victorian design and architecture, and it's really special seeing these crafters create pieces inspired by this time while also living it.
That blonde woman is obnoxious and rude. At least give people a chance to speak before you get your hackles up and start arguing. No wonder she hasn't done anything collaborative in years. People probably have avoided her
@@jeraldbaxter3532 From what i've seen, he told her to shut up after she got annoying and i understood him...just a few seconds and i got a very solid idea what kind of person she was...
I understand that a show needs to be edited in a way to make it seem interesting but wow Elsa was so rude! ok I get working in a team can be frustrating but did she have to be rude to the cook? also the dull salmon colour that Rod suggested that she dismissed, then ended up using without giving him any credit...omg, and then she wins haha....wow!
I wish there existed "live museums" like this where each person plays their part and we could go around watching from the sidelines immersed in history and the experience, of course, nothing labour intensive or 24/7 for actors, just make-believe.
Rod Hughs has a forceful and somewhat arrogant personality. He will clash with everyone except the most timid. I love these shows! The arts and crafts movement is one of my favorite periods and I'm learning so much already!
amazing, I love the idea and it set me thinking about how pampered we are today 😅 interesting from a historical point of view too .. but the sheer number of unwelcome ADS I was compelled to see during the video was simply OBNOXIOUS
thanks for this really good series, although i missed this first show, began watching the second... duh. what a really enjoyable way to learn more about the uk arts & crafts movement and the very keen and talented people they chose for the programme.
If I'm ever very rich, I'll have the perfect Victorian house. Based on original blueprints etc. But with modern technology, hidden away to keep the magic alive. I actually have it all planned already 😂😅
@@libairebane 😂😂 yeah, not even close 😂😂 I do have an extremely rich friend who has like 8 houses and let me tell you, money does not necessarily buy you humility 🙃🤠
Same here! I'm already working on it (in my flat). I really want people to think they entered another century. It's a slow process, cause I'm not rich, but I'm gonna get to finish this eventually.
@@diehoffart yesss!! Same here! I'm recently an empty nester, and with no kids living at home I can finally decorate my place with things in not scared of getting broken. I've been having so much fun just putting it all together, slowly, piece by piece! (And why is wallpaper soooo darn expensive??! 😅)
I think that is wonderful. I want to do the same thing. If I may ask, what kind of Victorian house did you have in mind? I would love to have an ornate queen anne Victorian.
why don t the rich, who could afford to, no longer decorate their houses like that......it s so cozy and beautiful. Instead of all these concrete-and-steel industrial interiors with ZERO atmosphere (or rather the atmosphere of a half-empty warehouse....)
I thought that the salmon colored starburst design in the wallpaper made it too modern. It's very much like something you would see in Target and it's elk. I think more curves and interlining designs would have made it more Victorian. Although I applauded the efforts all the crafters, it is by no stretch of the imagination easy making anything alone as they did. Most crafter in the Victorian Britain would have apprentices who would help do the grunt work for the crafter, these fine people did it alone.
While Elsa may have a short wick ...Rod seems to be quick to light it and is so rude ...like when He told Her to shut up as He took over the situation instead of letting the Leader organise them ! WOW!
Exactly! I began to lose interest at that "shut up" moment; whether he truly is that arrogant, or if it is staged for supposed dramatic appeal, I do not know if I care to see more of this program.
Love this but why steven's fireplace decoration's progress were not shown? Too much concernation on that chair and wallpaper like there was nothing else.
@16:05: When ol’ boy told the lady to “shut up” I was floored. He would’ve gotten smooth cussed TF out right there on camera. Nope. Couldn’t be me. 😵💫🥊
I wonder if this doc will touch on the fact that William Morris, talented though he was, actually poisoned a lot of people with his Arsenic wall paper, and that his massive manufacturing enterprise (not a small cottage industry of handmade things) produced enough arsenic why the mines were going to kill every one on Earth. I like his art, don't get me wrong, but if at any time he was truly a believer in socialist, naturalist, ecological, cottage industry principles, then at some point he did become a sell-out. Perhaps that was the price to be paid to be as influential in the arts as he still is today.
Dr.Suzannah Lipscomb reveals in Hidden Killers of the Victorian Home he had a huge business interest in a large Arsenic mine and called the reports of deaths and illness Witchery. the papers in original books and walls still read deadly levels in the paper now. but lots of shows will romanticize him while hiding this fact. a sad fact of history as spun to fit the narrative of the historian
I don't think they realized that arsenic would become airborne from the ink. They knew it was dangerous to ingest a substantial amount of it, but they lived in a world where people were only just beginning to understand why some things were poisonous or how they worked. You can't judge them by our modern understanding which they initially lacked. As to selling out, capitalism over all has been the best way to raise people out of poverty and spur on innovation, where as socialism and it's communist idealism leads to stagnation at best and mass starvation and mass murder if it goes on long enough. Mass production was what allowed the working class to afford things that were once luxuries reserved for the wealthy, while market economy allows enough demand for finery to spur on artistic innovations that the mass producers then take cues from. William Morris most likely just grew out of his silly idealism when he realized his company could get beautiful things into the hands of the common folk better than the cottage industry communes he started off in. And like I said, I don't think they understood the danger of an arsenic based pigment even if people aren't ingesting it. People had such a poor understanding of the microscopic world in general, nevermind atomic, and modern chemistry (as opposed to apothecary and alchemy) was a young science. Hell, the very concept of a formalized scientific process was still new.
American Arts and Crafts is quite a bit different than in the UK. In America our arts and crafts was more 1900-1920s. It was more of a style than a handmade movement. That guys fireplace tiles were stunning. I can't believe they completely ignored them
I have made a series of Morris inspired woodcarved panels that go above doorways or windows. My Dremel helped do the initial cuts, then my hand tools were used for the finish work. ( I love my Dremel).
Oh wow! Where abouts? I love anything Victorian. The closest we got is a 1920s craftsman home in PA. We love it though....our woodwork is all natural chestnut.
love this ! At around :59 the young ladies to the right in the photo, look like they just walked out of some pre-Raphaelite paintings ... which was another movement also during this period.
The next episode can be found here 👉 th-cam.com/video/jNm6NcXS2ss/w-d-xo.html Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on the rest of this series!
My grandma also had a sewing machine like that..but all the original parts, tools, manual, and boxes still all intact. She sold it to a antique collector :) Made some good money! lol
Elsa is not the best person for this challenge. she states the guy she's working with is stubborn, but she is willing for the project to fail then bend to get the job done. that is the problem from working solitary, one only sees his/her way of doing things and not see the big picture.
I think she's too negative. She concentrates too much on things what can go wrong and what bad could happend instead of just starting the work and going for it.
Oh, I love this kind of video when you put every professional together in one victorian project. All of the crafts are beautiful including the side craft like the candle sconce and fireplace tiles. Everyone did a good job. But I don't like the wallpaper lady's attitude.
The designer taking a whole day to decide the design of the wallpaper's woodcuts was too relatable for me 🤣 I get it, specially working or even being around someone that just decides and acts, and we are spending a whole hour deciding the position of a thing or else we "ruin everything". Such an interesting project and concept!
Love the series but it feels like the filming was rushed. You don't see all the angles of all the persons in the project. I think the camera team was running all day long as much as the artists.
Maybe it’s another difference in meaning between British English and American English, but when I think of “fellowship” I think of drinking after work, maybe a shared meal or sport, but never group projects. 😅 Still, very jealous of people getting to work and live in these lovely old restored homes.
Those two women were being so childish and insecure during that first meeting. He's right to try to get things organized and figure out a plan of action. I'm a woman and I'd have told Elsa to shut up when she kept interrupting, too.
Ordinary folks in the 1800s could not afford the products from the Morris workshop; nonetheless, these items are wonderful. I think these shows are set up to show at least some conflict, but to be honest, I have seen much worse on other shows. Elsa designed beautiful wallpaper, didn’t she?
@@FigaroHey A person who knowingly and intentionally causes the death of another is a murderer. Being an accomplished artist does not negate his guilt or greed. He may not be a bad artist, but he was not a good human being. The problem is William Morris was not an innocent bystander. John Wayne Gacey was an artist also, should his art be celebrated?
Is this a series? I looked in the description to see if there was a playlist or next in series link.. this is like the bake off but for victorian furniture and I dig it.
Nothing adds stress and takes away joy like a totally arbitrary and unreasonable deadline. Stop trying to create drama for the sake of ratings, and let the craftspeople do their work in their own time.
Amazing how modern artisan's picked up lost traditional work methods. In such a short time or they did a lot of research before trying their hand at the skills
I'm confused why this needed a reality TV style competition. It's interesting on its own, without the phony "race against time" that just isn't enthralling anymore.
Elsa is ridiculous. They have only a week and I understand why some people were frustrated with her pace. I understand she has a vision but that vision needed to be executed quickly...which she did not.
I’m going back and rewatching.. she was tracing the pattern. She literally had the color palette and pattern in her hands.. and she was getting Rod to make the blocks. I get she took over that but geez.. AND HE SUGGESTED THE SALMON COLOR. 😒 Seems like Rod did a lot without much credit..plus adding his own candle holder.
Elsa doesn’t know how to work on a team or how to work. This is why even in fashion industry they don’t hire artists they hire producers who can take direction. She’s on a tv show what does she expect free range to do whatever she wants and oodles of time??
Obsessed with all of these experimental archaeology series, and eternally grateful that they’re being made readily accessible on TH-cam like this! Started with Victorian farmhouse, and now I’m here!
I am too!!
I suggest Turn Back Time: The Highstreet & The Family. Both really good series
My favorite is Victorian pharmacy
Yes! These are tremendous!
Me three!! ❤️
I loved the carpenter. When he hugged the wood after managing to split the tree in half… as someone who does a lot of creative projects (without always knowing what I’m getting myself into) I totally relate to that emotion
Right what I needed to know at 2:30 in the morning!
:)) same.. 2:40 here
Speak for yourself. I white noise this stuff at work. 🤷♂️
@@captnrobvious47 no judgement, I do too 🤫
Lol....ditto
2:25 am as I type this lol
Were the fireplace tiles not one of the crafts? Why were they ignored completely? I think he did a great job...And while the candle sconce was a side job intended more to calm nerves, it still came out nice and deserved mention...
fireplace tile man deserved better
I agree, they should have been mentioned by the others at least, but I think the reason why they weren't was because they were not going to be judged. The ones judging (or the producers or whoever) may not have wanted those pieces to take away from the original three crafts.
Well make your own page ..sheesh 🙄
I agree!!! I would have loved a more up close look at the tiles and the sconce. That was very disappointing! Especially since those were very interesting and intricate undertakings.
Very disappointing.
@@chykim1 RUDE. I was hoping to hear about all of the crafts myself.
The ridiculous thing with the wallpaper being favorite is that she, unlike the others, got a huge head start in the form of a pre-existing print block which did most of the heavy lifting for her unambitious contribution. The chair was what really captured the spirit of the endeavor, and in terms of quality the silver bowl was the finest craftsmanship.
That chair was the prize. He took a tree and created that. Hands down he won in my book. Then that fireplace. I know it was a side thing but it was so beautiful
I know. They handed him a LOG, and said "Go for it." I'm glad that Niamh didn't "rush" the job.😜
Lol, I like how Rod was like "Be careful of time" and what problem did Else have when printing the wallpaper?? Time. Lol. Rod seems to have good suggestions, everyone is just too proud to listen to him hahaha
Hm. I’m not the only one who noticed her. Oh yes. She was so abrasive from the first instant. I really hated that. It looked like she didn’t even try to bring a good spirit to the collaborations. I was shocked at her behavior, really.
@@HabitualLover Her saying she only worked alone earlier in the video should have been a hint she would cause a bit of issues for healthy collaboration lol
@@HabitualLover right!!?! It actually made me pretty mad, to be honest. I love history and I know hundreds of people who would've LOVED to take part in something like this, and yet they chose someone who didn't get into the spirit a jot. She didn't wear the clothes properly, she didn't do her hair correctly, was astoundingly uncouth at the dinner table-not to mention she was just plain rude about the food-and she didn't appear to be enjoying herself, really, beyond a few smiles I'm sure were for the camera. I don't even think it was that she had a RBF; I genuinely think she was just that grumpy and bad-tempered.
I say that because, having now watched the rest of the series, I can absolutely conclude that my initial assumptions about the lady were bang-on: she came across a stuck up cow who thought she was too cool for school, and that she was best at everything, despite being not in her wheelhouse, and she didn't even seem to be that good an artisan either!! I don't think it was just the edit, because you can't just fabricate that much grumpiness.
Re talent, I was just so confused as to where they found the pottery lad-because seriously, what kind of potter hasn't made a plate and doesn't understand how *glazes* work?! That's pottery 101!! I took 3 lessons 10 years ago and I made a plate better than theirs (and on a manual wheel, I should add! They're not that different than electric ones, I think he was just trying to excuse his shoddy work, personally.)
In fact, this sounds a bit mean but I would not be at all surprised if those Ginger & Dreads (I dont remember their names and don't really care, lol) actually lied on their applications, because sure, it might just be me, but especially for Dreads I just didn't see any passion for the topic of the whole show and the era and meaning behind the Arts&Crafts movement. As someone who has studied the movement for almost a decade now, and as someone who actually does some of the same crafts they either did or mentioned, those two actually made me pretty furious, because they stole the chance from others? I'm a new zealander so couldn't have got in, obviously, but the UK is teaming with talented, passionate handcrafters, so it seemed a pretty confusing, and kind of a poor choice imo to include them, just based on what they seemed to have wanted the whole show to be, and what we saw both of them present as work done on the show itself.
This is a bit of an aside, but I do also think that each "week" should've actually been organised as a fortnight, tbh. This isn't RuPaul's drag race, or Project Runway; they were making a pretty big ask of them all, even for highly skilled folks, because they were told to complete some pretty complicated, fiddly works in such a short period of time that, especially for some crafts, was not physically feasible, if they wanted a good enough product to stand as being in the genre.
The embroidered bedspread, for instance, didn't look like much, but was actually astounding because, considering how much she covered, that's the sort of project that could take most people months! And yes, you get used to doing things like embroidery for many hours at a time, but doing 12 hr stints for 2 - 4 days in a row is literally a work & safety health hazard!
As a whole, they didn't get a proper chance to show off their talents, imo, and I feel that this was also greatly exacerbated by the ginger potty guy and dreads..... and, speaking of her, I lowkey kind of feel like had somehow sneaked into the set and by the time anyone realised it was so late, so one was able to thoroughly vet her body of work properly, or to find out if she was even the appropriate fit for the show and so by the time they were about to start someone just said "oh, ok,,, uh,, well, she can stay?" (and I can testify that things like that (not main characters but people like extras, or behind the scenes folks) can become involved 100% by chance. That's how my mum got to be in lord of the rings with me... she showed up for my costume fitting and they got her a costume too, and she was like "oh, no, I'm not an extra!" And the person was like "well, er, do you want to be?" and that's how she also got a part xD)
But yeah, all this said, maybe they put Dreads in on purpose, like for the interpersonal problem-maker or for best tv personality-clash-potential-drama and associated histrionics? If that's what they did, I wish they hadn't; this isn't a reality "Big Brother" episode, with bad guys and good guy fabricated edits to make plotlines!! It's a recreating the past, niche show. But honestly, fekn hell did that nasty one make me almost believe those victorian doctors who went on about "female hysterical disease" or whatever they called it, the way she seemed to nag and bother everyone. It was so glaringly obvious, too, because the other two ladies were lovely, (and talented!!) and I think that even the ginger guy looked like he was stoned most of the time so was more just untalented than unlikable, and with the other two guys, they got "argumentative" (read: riled by ms dreadlocks)too, but I got the vibe that they seemed to do so only in passion for the craft, and wanting things to be the best it could be, not personal gripes.
I just simply can't stand the wall paper lady...
I'm glad I'm not the only one. She tried to play victim at the first meeting, but I'd have told her to shut up with her constant interruptions and whining, too. What a self absorbed idiot she is.
Carpenter is the best one! I love his passion, seems like an awesome guy to work with!
I wish there were still places like this for young artists. I would LOVE to live in a place like this!
They do exist, but it usually means renting a large house to share or one person owning one. What you have to remember is the arts and crafts movement was populated by very rich people and this is funded by the largest broadcaster in the UK!
They are! Still every where! Kind old women and couples with plenty of love and rooms to spare rent their rooms to artists or have small quadroplex, basement, and or attic apartments in artists co-ops!
@@amberfrazier575 Where to find these people?
where i live there are there is a big mill building full of art studios for all kinds of artists were some artists both live and work on sight and others just work
There are.
Sad they only pointed out 3 of the 6 projects made. The fireplace tiles were gorgeous.
I would love to see people make crafts with absolutely no time limits - these contests and stress really ruin the joy of the maker and thus the viewer
Honestly, I agree! I don't care for the idea of a contest when it comes to this sort of show. The "experts" should be GUIDING not judging. The judges' attitudes makes them seem haughty, and the idea overall cheapens the show. I can understand a time limit, but a more reasonable time limit makes better sense. The pressure involved is already great due to the fine materials being used. A contest is pointless.
My first time splitting wood was the same!
You can't imagine how much wood wants to stay in one piece until you try to argue with it
I just remembered that I learned about the arts and crafts movement 5 years ago in art school, i had to do a William Morris inspired print. I stayed up all night the night before it was due to make it…
I personally think the silver bowl should have won the honors at the end, as it was astonishing! What skill and craftsmanship! But all of the crafts made were fantastic. Honestly, the wall paper was my least favorite though.
Mine too. Underwhelming.
@@hereforit2347 I actually LIKE underwhelming wallpaper. That's the fault I find with Morris designs: I find them overwhelming, too much, like they are racing at me screaming at the top of their lungs, 'Look at the wallpaper!' I don't like any one design element that seems to be trying to elbow and shove everything else out of the way to gain all the attention, and I feel like that's what Morris's paper usually does: acts like it's the ONLY design element in the room, and has to do all the work, make all the splash - and that splash is its raison d'etre. I'd prefer something much more subdued, like that wallpaper. Wallpaper, for me, is a bit like a designer dress on a woman: you should not be paying so much attention to the fabulousness of the dress that you forget to look the woman in the face and listen to what she has to say and find out who she is (a woman who relies on her designer clothes to make an impression, instead of her character and charm, is probably an empty or shallow woman, after all). In a similar way, I feel like if any one design element overwhelms everything else, one can feel like the room, its purpose, and the people who use it are all subservient to the 'statement piece' of furniture or decoration, like the whole purpose of the room is to showcase that one design feature, instead of being a room for people to gather and live in. When the design becomes so important that the people in the room feel they are in a temple to design, instead of a room designed for human life, that's when I think the balance has tipped too far in the direction of the designer drawing attention to himself and his genius, and away from serving human beings. I'm afraid Morris's designs in wallpaper usually make me feel like everyone is supposed to walk into the room and say, 'Morris wall-paper' instead of 'good morning' to the people assembled there. And of course, they are supposed to credit with good taste the person who chose Morris wall-paper, instead of entering into conversation with the interesting, varied and valued people in the room. I just want my rooms to be a balm to the souls of people who enter my space, who then immediately relax and feel that everything in the room is there to make them feel welcome, accepted, at peace and comforted. I think the wallpaper submitted for this programme serves that end: a calming and attractive background to the real business of the drawing room: human conversation and relationship.
@@FigaroHey: By “underwhelming” I meant unimpressive. I did *not* mean subtle, inconspicuous, muted, restrained, or subdued. Nor did I mean not colorful, ornate, showy, extravagant, or gaudy enough. I meant boring, not very well done, not very well designed, ordinary, uninteresting, and not very attractive. It looks like something I’d find in the clearance section at Sears. Whether or not you personally like muted wallpaper is not the issue. Besides, Medieval art was the inspiration for much of Arts and Crafts design, the essence of which this artist was supposed to have captured and didn’t. I’ve seen many muted, subdued wallpaper designs that were beautiful and inspired. This was not one of them.
I love these "back in time" series! I did not realize "Arts and Crafts" was in England, I thought it was an American thing. I can appreciate the need of the lady designing the wallpaper for time to perfect the design - but there is a deadline, and if she does not meet it she undermines the work of others. She has to step up to meet the needs of the team, not herself. The older man always steps up to help so the project meets its timeline. The sconce was lovely as were the fireplace tiles.
It happened in both places, with slightly different styles. :)
The Arts & Crafts movement resulted from the desire to return to pre-Industrial times in England and in the States.
Wanting to return to Nature and the Natural.
Breaks my heart for those folks yearning for more authentic living …. knowing WWI was just around the corner in 1914 😭
@@MomCat6000 Then they finally got things back under control just as WW2 started up.
I’m American, and I didn’t even realize that it happened in both countries, although if I had really thought about it of course it would. I’m loving this series (I seem to be watching them out of order) because the difference between the two are very interesting. Actually, it seems like every Absolute History series is like that.
As a student studying printing process and design this series brings so much joy!
This builder is so passionate! I love his energy and my, goodness he is also very handsome.
I love history specifically British History
Me too! My ancestors are from England, so I've always been very intrigued. I probably know more British history than my own country's history.
Craftsman of the period would not have been under such a time constraint, and they would have had others craftsmen to work with. With that in mind, what these brave souls have achieved is nothing short of miraculous. I am quite impressed with their results, particularly the wallpaper. The scale of the project alone was daunting, and the results are breathtaking. I would gladly add any, or all, of the pieces to my home.
I can't wait to see what is next.
This is a amazing show I can't wait to see more everything everyone made was fantastic I just wish they all got a spotlight
If you search the series name there is actually a bunch of episodes available!
The wallpaper is absolutely stunning!
I love this episode concept. If you haven't done others like this, please do!! I love Victorian design and architecture, and it's really special seeing these crafters create pieces inspired by this time while also living it.
That blonde woman is obnoxious and rude. At least give people a chance to speak before you get your hackles up and start arguing. No wonder she hasn't done anything collaborative in years. People probably have avoided her
I collaborated with an "Elsa" it's an artist stereotype
She’s awfully sensitive, the world doesn’t care about her feelings, she needs to grow up
The show probably exaggerated the conflict, at least somewhat.
After how the arrogant, self appointed "expert" told her to "shut up," at the very first meeting, I think her behavior was justified.
@@jeraldbaxter3532 From what i've seen, he told her to shut up after she got annoying
and i understood him...just a few seconds and i got a very solid idea what kind of person she was...
So, the Morris catalog was basically Victorian Etsy?
Haha :D
I love this kind of program
Provide more documentaries about Victorian houses because I'm willing to educate about Victorian ages.
Were you knighted "sir"?
Hey, what happens when the Queen dies, I hope Elton John gets to finally be Queen 🤪
I understand that a show needs to be edited in a way to make it seem interesting but wow Elsa was so rude! ok I get working in a team can be frustrating but did she have to be rude to the cook? also the dull salmon colour that Rod suggested that she dismissed, then ended up using without giving him any credit...omg, and then she wins haha....wow!
Yes! I came here to see if anyone else found her unlikable. She DID need to be told to shut up! She kept interrupting!
I wish there existed "live museums" like this where each person plays their part and we could go around watching from the sidelines immersed in history and the experience, of course, nothing labour intensive or 24/7 for actors, just make-believe.
The Steller's Place, 700 Elm Leadville Colorado,true story
There are, I have one about an hour away from me.
there's Fort Edmonton Park here in Alberta! there should be more though...
Rod Hughs has a forceful and somewhat arrogant personality. He will clash with everyone except the most timid. I love these shows! The arts and crafts movement is one of my favorite periods and I'm learning so much already!
amazing, I love the idea and it set me thinking about how pampered we are today 😅 interesting from a historical point of view too .. but the sheer number of unwelcome ADS I was compelled to see during the video was simply OBNOXIOUS
This was amazing to watch , to see all that great handcrafted things ! What a great jobs they did !!
What an awesome idea, this is so cool!
Where is Ruth and her team, they always worked together without fighting
They all done a wonderful pieces of art, I was very happy watching along with them.
I’m learning so much on how furniture is made by watching tho so great :)
Glad you like it! There are more episodes on the way 💚
thanks for this really good series, although i missed this first show, began watching the second... duh.
what a really enjoyable way to learn more about the uk arts & crafts movement and the very keen and talented people they chose for the programme.
If I'm ever very rich, I'll have the perfect Victorian house. Based on original blueprints etc. But with modern technology, hidden away to keep the magic alive. I actually have it all planned already 😂😅
I accidentally missed the if part and was like ok, thanks for bragging 🤣 I'd just buy a magnificent ancient castle already furnished etc 😁
@@libairebane 😂😂 yeah, not even close 😂😂 I do have an extremely rich friend who has like 8 houses and let me tell you, money does not necessarily buy you humility 🙃🤠
Same here! I'm already working on it (in my flat). I really want people to think they entered another century. It's a slow process, cause I'm not rich, but I'm gonna get to finish this eventually.
@@diehoffart yesss!! Same here! I'm recently an empty nester, and with no kids living at home I can finally decorate my place with things in not scared of getting broken. I've been having so much fun just putting it all together, slowly, piece by piece!
(And why is wallpaper soooo darn expensive??! 😅)
I think that is wonderful. I want to do the same thing. If I may ask, what kind of Victorian house did you have in mind? I would love to have an ornate queen anne Victorian.
why don t the rich, who could afford to, no longer decorate their houses like that......it s so cozy and beautiful. Instead of all these concrete-and-steel industrial interiors with ZERO atmosphere (or rather the atmosphere of a half-empty warehouse....)
Everything is beige or white today for the rich.
I thought that the salmon colored starburst design in the wallpaper made it too modern. It's very much like something you would see in Target and it's elk. I think more curves and interlining designs would have made it more Victorian. Although I applauded the efforts all the crafters, it is by no stretch of the imagination easy making anything alone as they did. Most crafter in the Victorian Britain would have apprentices who would help do the grunt work for the crafter, these fine people did it alone.
" you would see in Target and it's elk." It is ELK? How is wallpaper an elk? Do you mean 'and its ilk' (with no apostrophe in its)?
More of this, please.
What inspiring work!
A real cliff hanger.
I love this!
While Elsa may have a short wick ...Rod seems to be quick to light it and is so rude ...like when He told Her to shut up as He took over the situation instead of letting the Leader organise them ! WOW!
Exactly! I began to lose interest at that "shut up" moment; whether he truly is that arrogant, or if it is staged for supposed dramatic appeal, I do not know if I care to see more of this program.
Love this but why steven's fireplace decoration's progress were not shown? Too much concernation on that chair and wallpaper like there was nothing else.
@16:05: When ol’ boy told the lady to “shut up” I was floored. He would’ve gotten smooth cussed TF out right there on camera. Nope. Couldn’t be me. 😵💫🥊
I wonder if this doc will touch on the fact that William Morris, talented though he was, actually poisoned a lot of people with his Arsenic wall paper, and that his massive manufacturing enterprise (not a small cottage industry of handmade things) produced enough arsenic why the mines were going to kill every one on Earth. I like his art, don't get me wrong, but if at any time he was truly a believer in socialist, naturalist, ecological, cottage industry principles, then at some point he did become a sell-out. Perhaps that was the price to be paid to be as influential in the arts as he still is today.
WORST PART is he KNEW it was causing the illnesses (eventually) but didn't want to pay higher costs for the paint.
Wow! I didn’t realize this.
Dr.Suzannah Lipscomb reveals in Hidden Killers of the Victorian Home he had a huge business interest in a large Arsenic mine and called the reports of deaths and illness Witchery. the papers in original books and walls still read deadly levels in the paper now. but lots of shows will romanticize him while hiding this fact. a sad fact of history as spun to fit the narrative of the historian
I don't think they realized that arsenic would become airborne from the ink. They knew it was dangerous to ingest a substantial amount of it, but they lived in a world where people were only just beginning to understand why some things were poisonous or how they worked. You can't judge them by our modern understanding which they initially lacked.
As to selling out, capitalism over all has been the best way to raise people out of poverty and spur on innovation, where as socialism and it's communist idealism leads to stagnation at best and mass starvation and mass murder if it goes on long enough. Mass production was what allowed the working class to afford things that were once luxuries reserved for the wealthy, while market economy allows enough demand for finery to spur on artistic innovations that the mass producers then take cues from. William Morris most likely just grew out of his silly idealism when he realized his company could get beautiful things into the hands of the common folk better than the cottage industry communes he started off in. And like I said, I don't think they understood the danger of an arsenic based pigment even if people aren't ingesting it. People had such a poor understanding of the microscopic world in general, nevermind atomic, and modern chemistry (as opposed to apothecary and alchemy) was a young science. Hell, the very concept of a formalized scientific process was still new.
American Arts and Crafts is quite a bit different than in the UK. In America our arts and crafts was more 1900-1920s. It was more of a style than a handmade movement. That guys fireplace tiles were stunning. I can't believe they completely ignored them
Yes, I wonder why they only acknowledged some of the works.
I have made a series of Morris inspired woodcarved panels that go above doorways or windows. My Dremel helped do the initial cuts, then my hand tools were used for the finish work. ( I love my Dremel).
Not crazy bout the wallpaper. For me it’s the chair. The chair looks more uniquely Victorian.
Why didn’t you show more the work of the craftsman who did the tiles?
Incredible in so many ways! Talent without a doubt!! Amazing skill & perseverance👍🏻🤗👏🏻👏🏻!
And, what a beautiful home & its surroundings 🙌🏻🤗
I have a victorian coastal cottage and need non beach ideas lol
Oh wow! Where abouts? I love anything Victorian. The closest we got is a 1920s craftsman home in PA. We love it though....our woodwork is all natural chestnut.
love this ! At around :59 the young ladies to the right in the photo, look like they just walked out of some pre-Raphaelite paintings ... which was another movement also during this period.
Wonderful. I really enjoyed it.
Would've been nice to include a costume, domestic, or social historian.
Someone like...Ruth Goodman? :D
@@elfenhexchen BINGO
They didn't appreciate the handmade tiles
I want that wallpaper in my home!
I wish the videos in the series were labeled in the title, so I can know what order to watch. I had to click around a bit to find the first one.
Love this! Is there a second episode?
The next episode can be found here 👉 th-cam.com/video/jNm6NcXS2ss/w-d-xo.html
Don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on the rest of this series!
more episodes pls!
THANK YOU SO MUCH
My grandma also had a sewing machine like that..but all the original parts, tools, manual, and boxes still all intact. She sold it to a antique collector :) Made some good money! lol
I want to see more!
Elsa is not the best person for this challenge. she states the guy she's working with is stubborn, but she is willing for the project to fail then bend to get the job done. that is the problem from working solitary, one only sees his/her way of doing things and not see the big picture.
I think she's too negative. She concentrates too much on things what can go wrong and what bad could happend instead of just starting the work and going for it.
Eh, the wallpaper didn't deserve the win. The other two were better, even the tiles were.
ah yes! bookmark this for my dream home decoration!!!
🎉
The cost of handmade is still the problem today, most people can’t afford handcrafted items.
Amazing !!!!! Wanna see more and more and more !!!! xoxoxxoxoxo
Does anyone else find Elsa insufferable? She not very group oriented, mostly about herself. She has like no sense of urgency.
Oh, I love this kind of video when you put every professional together in one victorian project. All of the crafts are beautiful including the side craft like the candle sconce and fireplace tiles. Everyone did a good job. But I don't like the wallpaper lady's attitude.
I need every room of the house I want to do my BEDROOM RIGHT NOW !!
Loved the dead animals on the table
Tento díl mě moc bavil 🌺
Loved this
Best Show Ever….
The designer taking a whole day to decide the design of the wallpaper's woodcuts was too relatable for me 🤣 I get it, specially working or even being around someone that just decides and acts, and we are spending a whole hour deciding the position of a thing or else we "ruin everything".
Such an interesting project and concept!
Probably could have had a dead bunny warning
Love the series but it feels like the filming was rushed.
You don't see all the angles of all the persons in the project.
I think the camera team was running all day long as much as the artists.
Elsa sounds like a nightmare to work with.
Thanks.
Are the others episodes of Victorian House available?
Maybe it’s another difference in meaning between British English and American English, but when I think of “fellowship” I think of drinking after work, maybe a shared meal or sport, but never group projects. 😅
Still, very jealous of people getting to work and live in these lovely old restored homes.
Those two women were being so childish and insecure during that first meeting. He's right to try to get things organized and figure out a plan of action. I'm a woman and I'd have told Elsa to shut up when she kept interrupting, too.
Wait... they would have had two person long saws and water powered wood mills back then. Why are they making him split tree trunks by hand?
None of these folks are much accustomed to teamwork, are they?
I mean there may be a reason why you choose to be an independent artist/artisan. :D
Ordinary folks in the 1800s could not afford the products from the Morris workshop; nonetheless, these items are wonderful.
I think these shows are set up to show at least some conflict, but to be honest, I have seen much worse on other shows. Elsa designed beautiful wallpaper, didn’t she?
I totally agree with the previous commentators. But why does it always have to be made in a hurry in these programmes?
I'm going to use this as a guide for my anamal crossing house
Wow it’s amazing to know that older aesthetic were have complex design but they made it all with very limited technology 😮
Didn't the William Morris wallpaper contain arsenic that injured many people? Didn't he make money by owning an arsenic mine?
Yes, and your point? Are we supposed to cancel him and all his work or something? Does it now make him retroactively a bad artist with bad ideas?
@@FigaroHey A person who knowingly and intentionally causes the death of another is a murderer. Being an accomplished artist does not negate his guilt or greed. He may not be a bad artist, but he was not a good human being. The problem is William Morris was not an innocent bystander. John Wayne Gacey was an artist also, should his art be celebrated?
Is this a series? I looked in the description to see if there was a playlist or next in series link.. this is like the bake off but for victorian furniture and I dig it.
Nothing adds stress and takes away joy like a totally arbitrary and unreasonable deadline. Stop trying to create drama for the sake of ratings, and let the craftspeople do their work in their own time.
CAN ANYBODY PLEASE TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE HOUSE THAT THEY USED - LIKE WHAT IT IS CALLED OR WHERE IT IS ? IT IS ABSOLUTELY STUNNING
Amazing how modern artisan's picked up lost traditional work methods. In such a short time or they did a lot of research before trying their hand at the skills
I'm confused why this needed a reality TV style competition. It's interesting on its own, without the phony "race against time" that just isn't enthralling anymore.
Elsa is ridiculous. They have only a week and I understand why some people were frustrated with her pace. I understand she has a vision but that vision needed to be executed quickly...which she did not.
I’m going back and rewatching.. she was tracing the pattern. She literally had the color palette and pattern in her hands.. and she was getting Rod to make the blocks. I get she took over that but geez.. AND HE SUGGESTED THE SALMON COLOR. 😒 Seems like Rod did a lot without much credit..plus adding his own candle holder.
@@chloewebb94 I totally agree! His work was totally dismissed. You could see the frustration in his eyes, but he held back to make the team work.
Really loving this, but Elsa is just the worst! This would be way more enjoyable if they had chosen someone who was willing to give it their all.
Elsa doesn’t know how to work on a team or how to work. This is why even in fashion industry they don’t hire artists they hire producers who can take direction. She’s on a tv show what does she expect free range to do whatever she wants and oodles of time??
Damn…they’re rude to the builder (who’s being as nice as he can be) and then nag him for telling them to finally shut it?? Wow
Who in right mind would blow silver dust away instead of using for soldering 19:57