1920-1939
The Art Deco period was a thoroughly glamorous style that epitomized the opulence of the interwar period. Known as the ‘Jazz Age’ or the ‘Cocktail Age’, it was famous for its sleek modern look and lavish use of materials. New York’s Chrylser Building, The Savoy, Sybil Colefax and Rene Lalique are icons of this era and are still admired and much emulated today.
Decay
Art Deco was a remarkable reaction to the austerity of World War I. Luxury and decadence are clearly evident in the use of rare and exotic woods and materials such as ivory, shagreen (shark skin imitation) or mother-of-pearl. The excessive use of mirrors, satins, and light leathers also made the look highly impractical, and therefore only affordable to the elite who had the staff to handle such things. Hollywood loved the style, as it worked perfectly for the black-and-white settings of the time, and as a result, elevated the look to one of the A-listers of the day (Marlene Dietrich, for example).
overall style
The global influences were also notable. The Art Deco use of lacquer as a furniture finish came from China, the colors of the time were clearly those of the Russian Ballet, the stepped shapes of the pyramids of the Aztecs can be seen in glass cabinets and clocks and the discovery of Tutankhamen. The burial site in 1922 sparked a neo-Egyptian fashion that was translated through the use of sunbeams and columns.
Technology
Advancement in technology was also a key influence that came in a “simplified” guise. Streamlined shapes borrowed from ocean liners and zeppelins can be seen in everyday objects of the time, from lighters and radios to cocktail cabinets.
Technology brought fashionable new materials in original and modern styles. Marcel Breuer and Mies van Der Rohhe developed cantilever chairs using tubular steel. The skeleton was moved from the inside out and this gave the seats an industrial feel that was both stylish and striking to look at. The Barcelona chair was designed in 1929, but it is still contemporary and decorates many modern houses or offices.
vulgar
However, technology was also the style’s downfall, as the ability to mass-produce made the “elite” style all too widely available. Knock-off products made from cheap materials made the look tacky, and by the late 1930s the style had died out in both Europe and America, not making a comeback until the 1980s, when graphic design contributed to its revival. .
Today
Art Deco can be incorporated into today’s schemes without the need to be an overwhelming total ‘look’. Use built-ins, fringed lighting, wild geometric-shaped rugs or a spectrum of bold colours, Eileen Gray’s tubular steel table is perfect for a touch of Deco, as are the Corbusier and Aalto chairs in metal or bentwood for a smoother appearance. Thankfully it’s now an imitation, but zebra and other wild animal skins are also widely available, efficiently on fabric, but also flocked wallpaper for the bold and brave.
Investigation
There is stunning Art Deco architecture to visit in Havana, Cuba, Copacobana in Rio, Brazil, and South Beach, Miami. A visit to La Maison de Verre in Paris might also be in order and next time you’re in London, stay at The Park Lane Hotel and dine at Claridges. Purely for research purposes of course.
