Q: What is the history of Art Deco?

The history of Art Deco begins in the early 20th century.Art Deco emerged as a global design style around the start of World War I, during the last years of Art Nouveau's popularity. The style conjures visions of the Roaring Twenties, Machine Age metropolises, vast ocean liners, sleek typography and Prohibition-era hedonism. Its hallmarks include the use of geometric designs influenced by Cubism. Major discoveries of Egyptian tombs during the era also influenced the movement.The term Art Deco derives from the name of a large decorative arts exhibition, the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, held in Paris in 1925. After World War II, tastes shifted toward more functional, less ornate modernism, but today, the Art Deco style is still favored for its luxurious sophistication. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of vintage Art Deco furniture.

Question 1

How do I identify Art Deco?

Accepted Answer

To identify Art Deco, look for the characteristics of the period. Furniture produced at the time is generally lacquered metal with a mirror-like glossy finish. Wooden items should be an exotic wood. Most items feature symmetrical designs, and geometric forms were popular motifs during the period. In addition, Art Deco often shows the influence of Hellenistic, Egyptian and Asian designs. Shop a variety of Art Deco furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.

Question 2

What was Art Deco influenced by?

Accepted Answer

Art Deco was influenced by a number of things. The discovery of ancient tombs around the turn of the century led to a renewed interest in Egyptian furniture and architecture that inspired Art Deco designers. Art Deco was also informed by Cubism, Futurism, Louis XVI style, De Stijl, modernism and the Vienna Secession. Shop a large collection of Art Deco furniture, decorative objects and jewelry on 1stDibs.

Question 3

When did Art Deco originate?

Accepted Answer

The Art Deco period originated in France. Its name comes from the title of a large decorative arts exhibition held in Paris in 1925, credited with introducing the style to the world. It was informed by ancient Egypt, Cubism, Futurism, Louis XVI, De Stijl, modernism and the Vienna Secession and went on to influence the Streamline Moderne and mid-century modern movements. Shop a wide range of Art Deco furniture, decorative objects and jewelry on 1stDibs.

Question 4

What is the history of Art Deco?

Accepted Answer

The history of Art Deco begins in the early 20th century.

Art Deco emerged as a global design style around the start of World War I, during the last years of Art Nouveau's popularity. The style conjures visions of the Roaring Twenties, Machine Age metropolises, vast ocean liners, sleek typography and Prohibition-era hedonism. Its hallmarks include the use of geometric designs influenced by Cubism. Major discoveries of Egyptian tombs during the era also influenced the movement.

The term Art Deco derives from the name of a large decorative arts exhibition, the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, held in Paris in 1925. After World War II, tastes shifted toward more functional, less ornate modernism, but today, the Art Deco style is still favored for its luxurious sophistication. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of vintage Art Deco furniture.

Question 5

What is an Art Deco lamp?

Accepted Answer

An Art Deco lamp is any lamp that’s made in the styles of the Art Deco movement, which was dominant in the 1920s and 1930s. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of Art Deco lamps from some of the world’s top sellers.

Question 6

What is art deco ring?

Accepted Answer

Art Deco rings were made during the early 20th century. Named for a design movement that originated at a large decorative arts exhibition held in Paris in 1925, Art Deco rings are generally quite geometric, symmetrical and incorporate a variety of gemstones — especially sapphires and emeralds. Find a wide variety of Art Deco rings for sale on 1stDibs.

Question 7

What defines Art Deco?

Accepted Answer

A few things define Art Deco. Date is one factor, as the style emerged in the 1920s and remained popular during the 1930s. Art Deco design usually includes bold geometric lines and forms or intricate repeating floral motifs. Designers working in this style tended to use expensive materials, such as shagreen or marble, as well as exotic woods like mahogany, ebony and zebra wood. Furniture often featured metal accents, mirrored finishes and embellishments made from exotic animal hides and inlays of mother-of-pearl or ivory. Shop a wide range of Art Deco furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 8

What is an art deco watch?

Accepted Answer

An art deco watch is defined by its geometric case, which is either circular or rectangular. The watch style was highly popular between 1920 and 1950, and is still sought after today. You’ll find a collection of art deco watches from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs

Question 9

What is art deco jewelry?

Accepted Answer

Art Deco jewelry was popular during the design movement of the 1920s and 30s. Art Deco jewelry is typically characterized by geometric patterns and gemstones of contrasting colors.

Question 10

What was the Art Deco movement?

Accepted Answer

The Art Deco movement was a decorative style popular during the 1920s and ’30s. Few design styles are as universally recognized and appreciated as Art Deco. The term alone conjures visions of the Roaring Twenties, Machine Age metropolises, vast ocean liners, sleek typography and Prohibition-era hedonism. The iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design, celebrating society's growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Widely known designers associated with the Art Deco style include Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Eileen Gray, Maurice Dufrêne, Paul Follot and Jules Leleu. The term Art Deco derives from the name of a large decorative arts exhibition held in Paris in 1925. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of Art Deco furniture and decorative objects.

Question 11

What is the difference between Art Nouveau and Art Deco?

Accepted Answer

The main difference between Art Nouveau and Art Deco is that the former is detailed and ornate, and the latter is sharp and geometrical. When the movement started at the end of the 19th century, Art Nouveau was heavily influenced by nature and the curved lines of flowers. Art Deco, which became popular in the beginning of the 20th century, was inspired by the geometric abstraction of cubism.

Question 12

How do I know if my ring is Art Deco?

Accepted Answer

To know if a ring is Art Deco, examine its style. The Art Deco period, encompassing the 1920s and ’30s, ushered in a very distinct look in the design of jewelry. Makers often incorporated geometric motifs in jewelry designs. Materials may also provide a clue about the era of the piece. Platinum, rubies, sapphires and emeralds were some of the most common precious metals and gemstones used at the time. Keep in mind that there are many convincing reproductions of Art Deco rings and other high-quality pieces inspired by originals. As a result, you may wish to have a certified appraiser or expert within the field of antique jewelry design to evaluate the ring. Shop a selection of Art Deco rings on 1stDibs.

Question 13

How do I identify Art Deco furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify Art Deco furniture, first look for maker's markings in inconspicuous areas. Once you've found them, use trusted online resources to research the manufacturer and determine whether they were active during the Art Deco era, which spanned from the 1920s through the 1930s. You can also look for classic characteristics of Art Deco furniture, such as bold geometric lines and forms, intricate floral motifs, metal accents, mirrored finishes and fine materials such as shagreen, marble, mahogany wood, zebra wood, ebony, exotic animal hides, onyx and mother-of-pearl. A certified appraiser or knowledgeable antiques dealer can also assist you with making identifications. Shop a collection of Art Deco furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 14

Is Art Deco jewelry valuable?

Accepted Answer

Yes, some Art Deco jewelry is valuable. Jewelry from the 1920s and ’30s has remained consistently popular. It experienced a major revival in the 1960s, and even today, jewelry makers continue to be inspired by the period. As a result, demand for Art Deco jewelry is typically high, but the actual value of a piece depends on its style, maker, age and condition. A certified appraiser or experienced antiques dealer can help you determine how much your jewelry is worth. Explore a large selection of Art Deco jewelry on 1stDibs.

Question 15

How was Art Deco furniture made?

Accepted Answer

Art Deco furniture was largely made by hand. Crafters often employed exotic hardwood like zebra wood, rosewood and Macassar ebony. Many pieces had a polished Japanese lacquer finish, which gave a high-gloss shine to the wood. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Art Deco furniture.

Question 16

What are Art Deco engagement rings?

Accepted Answer

Art Deco engagement rings are accessories that were produced during the 1920s and '30s and are characterized by details associated with the Art Deco style. They're often very colorful and feature bold geometric lines as well as gemstones cut in nontraditional ways. While the style got its name from an arts exhibition in Paris in 1925, Art Deco was inspired by Cubism and a shift from Art Nouveau's floral aesthetic. The modern look of Art Deco engagement rings reflects an evolution in fashion, visual art and more, as well as the sweeping societal changes taking hold at the time. On 1stDibs, shop a range of vintage Art Deco engagement rings.

Question 17

What are art deco lamps made of?

Accepted Answer

Art deco lamps come in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. Vintage art deco-style lamps were made of natural materials such as metal, glass and pottery. You’ll find a variety of art deco lamps from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 18

Was Eileen Gray Art Deco?

Accepted Answer

The answer to whether Eileen Gray's designs were Art Deco depends on which piece you're considering. Gray was ever-evolving as a designer. By the early 1920s, she was creating geometric works that embodied the essence of Art Deco and the nascent modernist design movement. Some pieces, like her Bricks screen, employ the planar forms favored by Gerrit Rietveld and other De Stijl architects of the Netherlands. Others feature the tubular chrome framing used by Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who are associated with the mid-century modern design style. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of Eileen Gray furniture.

Question 19

Is Toulouse-Lautrec Art Deco?

Accepted Answer

The work of French artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec falls into the Art Nouveau style, which was prevalent approximately during the period of 1890-1910. Following the Art Nouveau period was the Art Deco era, which is usually defined as the era between 1920 and 1930. Toulouse-Lautrec died in 1901 putting his art in the era of Art Nouveau, but certain aspects of it definitely hint at the coming Art Deco style considering the definite overlap of the two movements. On 1stDibs, find a variety of original artwork from top artists.

Question 20

What is the difference between Art Deco and MCM?

Accepted Answer

The difference between Art Deco and mid-century modern (MCM) is that the terms describe two distinct design styles. Art Deco typically refers to pieces produced between the 1920s and 1930s. Furniture produced in this style tends to display bold geometric lines and forms, floral motifs, metal accents, shimmering mirrored finishes and embellishments made from exotic animal hides, inlays of mother-of-pearl or ivory. MCM, or mid-century modern, emerged after World War II. Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three terms that well describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. Designers working in this style frequently used industrial materials, including steel, fiberglass, molded plywood, and alluring woods such as teak, rosewood and oak. Explore a wide variety of Art Deco and mid-century modern furniture on 1stDibs.

Art Deco Couple

Early 20th Century Art Deco Figurative Paintings

Art Deco Couple Portrait, ca. 1930

1980s Art Deco Portrait Prints

Robin MorrisTHE COUPLE Signed Lithograph, Art Deco Couple Portrait, 1920’s Flapper Fashion, 1982

1930s Art Deco Landscape Drawings and Watercolors

Charles Perry WeimerArt Deco Couple In Front of Black and White Art Deco Architecture, 1930s

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Large French Art Deco Grape Picker Couple Sculpture, 1920

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Charles LEMANCEAU French Art Deco Crackle Glaze Ceramic Couple of Does, 1920

1920s Art Deco Figurative Paintings

Dean CornwellArt Deco Painting Romantic Couple on Rocks, 1931

1940s Art Deco Figurative Paintings

John Philip FalterEmbracing Couple on Sailboat , Art Deco Style Romantic, 1940's

1920s Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Wilmot Emerton HeitlandArt Deco Handsome Couple in Garden Illustration, 1925

1980s Art Deco Portrait Prints

Robin MorrisBON VOYAGE Signed Lithograph, Couple Portrait, Art Deco, Cruise Ship Travel, 1983

1980s Art Deco Figurative Prints

Andre de KrayewskiTHE DANCE Signed Lithograph, Dancing Couple, Modern Art Deco, Polish Artist, 1989

1940s Art Deco Figurative Prints

Marcel VertèsArt Deco Jazz Age Paris Interracial Couple Lovers Marcel Vertes Color Lithograph, 1924

1980s Cubist Figurative Paintings

Jessica RiceCouple with Bouquet, 1985, Large Art Deco Oil Painting by Jessica Rice, 1985

1980s Art Deco Portrait Prints

Robin MorrisTHE DANCE Signed Lithograph, Couple Dancing, Checkerboard Floor, Deco Style, 1984

2010s Art Deco Paintings

Angu WaltersCouple II, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 2010

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Charles Lemanceau French Art Deco Antelope Couple, 1920

Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Bookends

Vintage Art Deco Brass Siam Couple Kissing Sculpture Bookends

Mid-20th Century Hungarian Art Deco Porcelain

Art Deco Hungarian Porcelain Statuette Swans Couple by Holloaza

Vintage 1950s French Art Deco Drawings

"The Hourglass, " Art Deco Drawing with Nude Couple by Goor, 1951

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Charles Lemanceau French Art Deco Borzoi Greyhound Couple, 1930s Majolica

Vintage 1950s American Art Deco Wall-mounted Sculptures

Chuck Dodson Wall-Mounted Cast Concrete Art Deco Plaque "Dancing Couples"

1920s Art Deco Figurative Prints

Kees van Dongen"Couple Conversing - La Garconne Series, " Pochoir on Paper, 1925

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Brooches

German 1925 Art Deco Golfers Couple Enamelled Pin Brooches in Sterling Silver

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Charles Lemanceau Rare Art Deco Ceramic Bear Couple "sur la banquise", 1935

Late 20th Century American Art Deco Busts

Art Deco Style Male and Female Couple Red Black Torso Art Mannequin on Stand

1930s Art Deco Landscape Paintings

ROBJROBJ, Large Oil on canvas, Wall Panel, Couple near the Pound, 1930, 1930s

1980s Art Deco Portrait Prints

Robin MorrisCITY LIGHTS Signed Lithograph, City Couple Portrait, Checkered Floor, Champagne, 1987

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures

French Art Déco Terracota Sculpture of a Couple of Felines/Panthers Fighting

Vintage 1930s Swedish Art Deco Vases

Swedish Art Deco Glass Vase with Couple by Vicke Lindstrand for Orrefors, 1930s.

1910s Art Deco Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Marius de ZayasUpscale Couple Illustration Puck magazine Interior - Mexican Illustrator, 1914

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Prints

"The Slave, " Highly Rare Art Deco Print with Nude Couple by Portnoff, 1930s

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Barware

Art Deco Cocktail Pick Set with a Couple Dancing the Charleston by Sudre

Vintage 1940s American Art Deco Figurative Sculptures

Pair of Art Deco Style Hand Painted Figurines of Couple with Their Children

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Bookends

Set of Art Déco Bronze and Marble Lions Couple Bookends by Émile Carlier, France

21st Century and Contemporary Pakistani Art Deco Figurines and Sculptures

Luminescent Twinned Yellow Microcline Feldspar Couple Of Specimen From Pakistan

Early 20th Century English Art Deco Boxes and Cases

Antique Art Deco Belais 14K Gold Front Enamel Rouge Compact 1920–1935

2010s Indian Art Deco Engagement Rings

14k Solid Gold Matching Couples Rings His Her Brushed Wedding Band Couple Ring.

2010s Art Deco Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Corne AkkersNeo Deco â€“ 09-04-24, Drawing, Pencil/Colored Pencil on Paper, 2024

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Animal Sculptures

Charles LEMANCEAU Ceramic Greyhound Couple, 1920

Vintage 1930s Italian Art Deco Abstract Sculptures

Couple of Murano, 1930, Italian

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Brooches

Robin Morris
THE COUPLE Signed Lithograph, Art Deco Couple Portrait, 1920’s Flapper Fashion, 1982

Charles Perry Weimer
Art Deco Couple In Front of Black and White Art Deco Architecture, 1930s

Dean Cornwell
Art Deco Painting Romantic Couple on Rocks, 1931

John Philip Falter
Embracing Couple on Sailboat , Art Deco Style Romantic, 1940's

Wilmot Emerton Heitland
Art Deco Handsome Couple in Garden Illustration, 1925

Robin Morris
BON VOYAGE Signed Lithograph, Couple Portrait, Art Deco, Cruise Ship Travel, 1983

Andre de Krayewski
THE DANCE Signed Lithograph, Dancing Couple, Modern Art Deco, Polish Artist, 1989

Marcel Vertès
Art Deco Jazz Age Paris Interracial Couple Lovers Marcel Vertes Color Lithograph, 1924

Jessica Rice
Couple with Bouquet, 1985, Large Art Deco Oil Painting by Jessica Rice, 1985

Robin Morris
THE DANCE Signed Lithograph, Couple Dancing, Checkerboard Floor, Deco Style, 1984

Angu Walters
Couple II, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, 2010

Kees van Dongen
"Couple Conversing - La Garconne Series, " Pochoir on Paper, 1925

ROBJ
ROBJ, Large Oil on canvas, Wall Panel, Couple near the Pound, 1930, 1930s

Robin Morris
CITY LIGHTS Signed Lithograph, City Couple Portrait, Checkered Floor, Champagne, 1987

Marius de Zayas
Upscale Couple Illustration Puck magazine Interior - Mexican Illustrator, 1914

Corne Akkers
Neo Deco â€“ 09-04-24, Drawing, Pencil/Colored Pencil on Paper, 2024

Marcelo Morandin
Latin American Art Figurative Abstract Bronze Sculpture Lovers Marcelo Morandin, 1988