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Origin and Development of Art Deco Furniture

You might have noticed the trend of dramatic interiors by furniture with abstract patterns, organic patterns and muted hues often in chrome finishes. These interiors and furniture are always appearing on TV, at the Oscars and in the most recent fashion magazines. You may be thinking what I should call this style? What is the best way to make my house be like that? Answer is simple…the name of this design fashion is Art Deco furniture.

Art Deco is a decorative art form that is commonly used to furniture architectural, interior design, as well as everyday household things. The incorporation of Art Deco custom furniture into your interior is an excellent method to achieve the essence of glamour and luxury. The confusion of Art Nouveau, Modernism and Bauhaus designs with Art Deco designs is pretty typical. There’s no need to fret We’re here to highlight the distinct characteristics of Art Deco and guide you through its origins as a classic and demonstrating how to distinguish art deco from other styles.


The most important characteristics in Art Deco Design

Art Deco design is one-of-a-kind and incorporates geometric shapes typically resembling futuristic sleek forms. The first thing to note is that Art Deco furniture designs are usually meticulously created with exotic woods, materials and lacquer. The process of crafting is based on the inlays of exotic woods, like Macassar Ebony, Zebrawood, and rosewood. In the second step, the piece gets coated with lacquer, usually using Japanese lacquer, which gives off sparkling high-gloss. Once the piece is finished, stunning geometric patterns such as patterns with zigzags and animal shapes stars, sunburst, and floral patterns emerge.

These exquisitely designed pieces will bring visual appeal and luxury to any room. Based on the vision of the designer additional embellishments are frequently included, like inlays of ivory or Mother of Pearl. The inlay was usually set on the sideboard, side table as well as a dining table or dressing table. Another striking feature of the style is the use of shagreen like snake skin, shark or zebra on seating, furniture and typical household items. In the case of Art Deco seating, standard elements are fur and serpent skin upholstery the yellow or chrome zinc-plated steel, lacquered or veneered wood and geometric curvatures. The types of seating are dining room chairs, lounge chairs, and arm chairs.

An iconic example of this is The French Club chair; this chair is upholstered, comes with the base of stainless steel and can substitute the standard arm rests with either straight or aerodynamic curves. A variety of accent pieces like radios, clocks and other household items are also produced with Art Deco design. The most important traits to look for among those Art Deco pieces are Bakelite semi-circles, sleek lines, and muted color palettes comprised of green, red as well as yellow, orange, black and white tints. An interesting information about Bakelite is that it’s the first synthetic plastic. It was invented by Leo Hendrik Arthur BĂ©akeland who was born in Yonkers, New York. The fascination for Bakelite began due to its strength as well as its electrical resistance and heat. It’s crucial to be aware (in case you’re in search of genuine antique pieces) that authentic Bakelite is strong and durable with a shiny resistant to scratches.


There is a trend of dramatic interiors with furniture that has abstract patterns, organic patterns and muted colors , often with chrome finishes. The furniture and interiors of these appear regularly on the television, during the Oscars and in the most recent fashion magazines. You may be asking yourself what is this fashion? What can my home be like that? It’s simple…the style fashion is Art Deco furniture. Art Deco is a decorative art form that is commonly used to furniture and architecture, interior design and other household objects. The incorporation of Art Deco custom furniture into your interior is an excellent method of capturing the essence of glamour and luxury. Confusion of Art Nouveau, Modernism and Bauhaus designs with Art Deco designs is pretty typical. Don’t worry about it because we’re here to highlight the distinctive characteristics of Art Deco as well as guiding you through its iconic roots and showing how to differentiate art deco from other styles.

The most important characteristics that define Art Deco Design

Art Deco design is one-of-a-kind and incorporates geometric shapes that often resemble sleek, futuristic designs. In the beginning, Art Deco furniture designs are usually meticulously created by using exotic woods, material and lacquer. The technique of craftsmanship includes inlays of exotic woods , such like Macassar Ebony, Zebrawood or rosewood. Then, the piece is painted, typically with Japanese lacquer, which gives off an amazing shine. Once the piece is finished, stunning geometric patterns like animals, zigzags, star sunburst, flower patterns and sunburst are created. These beautifully crafted pieces give visual pleasure and glamour to any space.

Based on the design of the designer Additional embellishments are frequently added, including inlays of ivory or Mother of Pearl. The inlay is usually placed on an end table, sideboard or dining table, or a dressing table. Another striking feature of the style is the inclusion of shagreen, such as snake or shark skin on seating, furniture and everyday household objects. In the case of Art Deco seating, standard elements are fur and animal hide leather, serpent skin upholstery yellow or chrome zinc-plated steel, lacquered or veneered wood, and geometric curves. There are various types of seating, including dining room chairs, lounge chairs, and arm chairs.

One of the most famous examples of this is one of the most famous examples is French Club chair; this chair is upholstered and has an stainless steel base, and replaces simple arm rests for flat or aerodynamic curves. A variety of accent pieces like radios, clocks, and other items of the common household are also produced using Art Deco design. The most important features to be spotted on the Art Deco pieces are Bakelite semi-circles and soft lines and muted color palettes made up of green, red as well as yellow, orange as well as black and white tints. Fun information about Bakelite is that it’s the first synthetic plastic. It was invented by Leo Hendrik A. Beakeland who was born in Yonkers, New York. The fascination for Bakelite began due to its strength in the form of heat, electrical resistance and. It’s crucial to be aware (in case you’re looking for authentic antique pieces) that authentic Bakelite is durable and strong with a shiny resistant to scratches.

Origin and development

Art Deco (or streamline moderne which is often called) was first referred to as Art Decoratifs. The style of design got it’s “Art Deco” name following it was featured at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes which was held at Paris from 1925. This Art Deco period peaked in popularity in the middle of the 20th century, and then it spread throughout Europe as well as the Unites States until the beginning in World War II. In revealing the details of the origins of Art Deco and its success, the style emerged in France just prior to the start of the first World War as a result of the commercial debacle of Art Nuevo.

The Societe des Artistes Decorateurs, established in Paris in 1900, was a club of professionals French designers who created Art Deco by experimenting with new forms of design and construction. In a clever strategy to encourage French style — especially since French producers were frightened by new manufacturing technologies and foreign competitors French government backed the association’s Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. But in the midst of WWI taking full force it was decided to postpone the event between 1915 and 1925. The decision allowed designers to think about the conflict and the rise of industrialization.

In response, the designs were inspired by nature and liberation Drawing the inspiration of African, East Asian and Egyptian designs and materials. After it was 1925 that the Exposition was completed and was a huge success, it became a cult! A lot of French interior and furniture designers were instant success including Emile-Jacques-Ruhlmann and Corbusier, Corbusier as well as Elieen Gray. Designers from all over the world were inspired by the original Art Deco style and created their own interpretations. Paul Theodore Frankl is an example of an Austrian-American designer constructing the first American-style model of Art Deco.

Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann:

Ruglmann was among the most influential furniture designers of his time in the Art Deco period. Ruhlmann’s main design element is the utilization of woods of Africa and Brazil including shark skin shagreens, rosewood, amboyna burl as well as Macassar ebony , with ivory inlays. Ruhlman’s furniture was simple geometric shapes, with lighter and darker woods with adornments and an edging of lacquer. The cabinets and furniture of Ruhlman were displayed in the 1925 Exposition and his work were regarded as a landmark accomplishment within French style.

Elieen Gray:

She is renowned for her timeless designs and her status as a major female furniture designer and architect in the 20th century, Gray provided a new outlook in Art Deco. Gray’s furniture was displayed in the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs in 1913, with the E. 1027 model as well as together with Le Corbusier’s in the Esprit Nouveau pavilion during the 1925 Exposition. The display of original and original designs gained her the title of being a pioneering creator in the field of Art Deco furniture. Gray used her knowledge of the Japanese lacquer technique she had learned from Seizo Sugawara who was who was a Japanese artist and lacquer expert and also Egyptian or East Asian patterns. Gray could also incorporate natural forms and human figures like floral and animal patterns as shown within the “Dragons” Armchair. Gray is a perfect illustration of a designer who assisted in the transition of Art Deco in Modernism after the Second World War. Gray made use of stainless steel tubular as well as incorporated minimalistic ideas. She employed an unichromatic color palette, but she also incorporated geometric designs.

Le Corbusier:

Le Corbusier’s legacy can be described as one of the most inventive designers and architects. Although Le Corbusier’s reputation as a Modernist the artist began his transition to Modernism in his Art Deco period. Le Corbusier showcased his minimalist Art Deco Interior “Nouveau pavilion”L’Esprit” in 1925 at the Exposition in which he displayed unadorned space that was open and minimalist versions of the famous Art Deco sideboard. Le Corbusier focused on form and function, over aesthetics which transformed Art Deco and transitioned the transition from the style to modernism. The work of Le Corbusier emphasized minimalist, streamlined and unadorned forms that rely using a monochromatic color palette and the use of wide spaces that were furnished with little -which was a major difference from Art Deco (Art Moderne) and Modernism.

Paul Theodore’Frankl’:

It is believed that the American Art Deco fashion is owed its origins to Paul Theodore Frankl, who was the main person to create what is now the American style of Art Deco. Frankl was born as a designer in New York City and began modeling French Art Deco based on American fashion. In the year 1925 Frankl designed a set of lacquered geometric furnishings known as “Skyscraper furniture.” The collection incorporated Skyscrapers in a way to represent of America’s victory in commerce and business. Frankl employed simplicity, simple lines, smooth surfaces and geometric shapes placed on top of each another.

Learn to recognize Art Deco furniture

Art Deco is consistently reemerging in the contemporary world of. It can be seen in interior design, architecture as well as in everyday household items. Some examples are the Chrysler building as well as Nick Carraway’s living space in the 2013 adaption of The Great Gatsby. With the variety of styles of design one of the best ways to determine art deco is to look at its color, structure and patterns. For a start take note for the following distinctive features:

Geometric patterns using rectilinear forms
Symmetry
The naturalistic designs; mix of wood, upholstery and stainless steel

You can find authentic antiques or cost-effective version, Art Deco furniture is an elegant way to bring elegance, glamour and retro to your home.