a social and artistic movement of the second half of the 19th cent. emphasizing a return to handwork, skilled craftsmanship, and attention to design in the decorative arts, from the mechanization and mass production of the Industrial Revolution
See Arts and Crafts (movement) in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(ärts)
noun
A movement in architecture and decorative arts flourishing in England and the United States from about 1870 to 1920 and characterized by simplicity of design, hand-crafted objects, and local materials.