Art deco collectibles were in the news this week when a couple sold off their collection of art deco furniture and art for a record amount at Christie’s auction house in Paris.
The term art deco was coined in the 1960s to refer to the design style popular between World War I and World War II. Although the style began prior to this period and extended afterward, the time between the wars was its heyday. The art deco style was named for the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which was held in 1925 in Paris and featured a variety of works in that style. Although Paris was the birthplace of art deco style, it soon found its way to the United States, where it was eagerly adopted.
The style was sophisticated and luxurious, influenced by a number of trends including jazz, the machine age, King Tut’s tomb, travel, South America, Africa, skyscrapers, the Ballets Russes, and art movements like Cubism, Fauvism and Post-Impressionism. Art deco design was known for its clean lines and geometric shapes. Common motifs included abstract sunburst and floral shapes, curves and zigzags. There was a focus on high quality, with superior materials used to execute the designs.
Art deco style was used to create many decorative arts items, such as jewelry, textiles, furniture, sculpture, tableware and more. From teapots to earrings, art deco could be seen everywhere. Some of the leading artists of the era were furniture designer Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, metalworkers Charles Christofle and Jean Puiforcat, glass designer Rene Lalique, fashion designer Paul Poiret and metalworker Jean Puiforcat.
Art deco design was frequently used in architecture and many structures built in the art deco style survive to this day. Radio City Music Hall and the Chrysler Building in New York are two excellent examples. Also, the city of Miami is known for its many stunning art deco buildings.
