Question 1

What is a paste brooch?

Accepted Answer

A paste brooch will feature hand-cut polished glass. The paste glass is usually polished with metal until it is smooth and shines like a gemstone. A paste brooch is made of such glass and became popular as a cheaper alternative to diamonds. Find a variety of paste brooches on 1stDibs.

Question 2

What is antique paste jewelry?

Accepted Answer

Paste jewelry is made out of a special type of flint glass that emulates several gemstones. Paste is a hand-cut glass that is polished with metal powder until it gleams like a gem. Paste jewelry was popular as a cheaper alternative to diamonds during the Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian eras, as well as the Art Deco period. On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique and vintage paste jewelry.

Question 3

What does paste mean in antique jewelry?

Accepted Answer

In antique jewelry, the term “paste” means glass finished in a way that allows it to resemble natural gemstones. To produce paste, artisans polish it for long periods of time with metal powder. On 1stDibs, find a selection of antique paste jewelry.

Question 4

How can you tell the difference between hard and soft paste porcelain?

Accepted Answer

The best way to tell the difference between hard paste and soft paste porcelain is to look at a broken or chipped piece. Hard paste porcelain fractures are brittle and smooth, while soft paste porcelain fractures are chalky and break along the grain. On 1stDibs, find a selection of hard and soft paste porcelain pieces from top sellers around the world.

Question 5

What do I wear to a 1920s party?

Accepted Answer

To a 1920s party, you can wear a short fringed or beaded flapper dress, layers of long beaded or pearl necklaces, elbow-length gloves and a feathered headband. Another option is to wear an off-white men's suit. Shop a selection of vintage apparel on 1stDibs.

Question 6

What did flappers wear in the 1920s?

Accepted Answer

In the 1920s, flappers often wore straight, fitted dresses with plunging necklines and knee-length hems. Fringe was a common embellishment used at the time. Flappers also sported pumps and opted for bras and lingerie instead of corsets for undergarments. Shop a variety of vintage clothing on 1stDibs.

Question 7

What does a 1920 flapper look like?

Accepted Answer

Flappers were young women known for their energy who pushed the boundaries of freedom for women of that era. The classic image of a 1920 flapper is a party girl who wore make-up, lingerie and a knee-length, straight silk dress. Flappers often had shorter hairstyles, like a bob. Find a variety of 1920s nostalgia items, including flapper dresses, on 1stDibs.

Question 8

What is 1920s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

What 1920s furniture is called depends on its style. However, the most prominent design style of the decade was 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 throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture often featured bold geometric lines, floral forms, shimmering mirrored finishes, sleek metal accents, and the use of expensive materials such as shagreen or marble as well as exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and zebra wood. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Art Deco furniture.

Question 9

What was the clothing style in the 1920s?

Accepted Answer

The clothing style in the 1920s that most people think of first is the flapper style. Women who dressed in this style sported loose-fitting, short dresses, often outfitted with drop waists and fringe. Small cloche hats and headbands were signature accessories of the flapper look. During the decade, pleated tennis skirts and cardigan sweater sets left the courts and became staples of some women's everyday styles. For men, soft collars replaced stiff, starched ones, and simple single and double-button suit jackets worn without waistcoats became trendy. Trousers also took on a new shape with wider-cut legs, and Oxford bags gained popularity. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of 1920s apparel and accessories.

Question 10

What are 1920s dresses called?

Accepted Answer

The iconic dresses from the 1920s are called flapper dresses. This name comes from the term flapper, which was used to describe young women during the period who enjoyed personal fulfillment and independence in American cities, particularly as they gained the right to vote and enjoy other freedoms previously reserved for men. Flappers danced at jazz clubs and upended most societal restrictions placed on women at the time, and fashion statements typically attributed to flappers included short “bob” haircuts, higher hemlines and other then-audacious style choices. Find a selection of flapper dresses on 1stDibs.

Question 11

What era is 1920s jewelry?

Accepted Answer

What era 1920s jewelry is depends on its design. Most people associate this decade with the Art Deco movement, which took inspiration from eclectic sources like Cubism, ancient Egypt and Native American, African and Asian motifs. However, some pieces produced during the 1920s are more in line with the style trends of earlier periods, such as Art Nouveau, Edwardian and Victorian. Explore a diverse assortment of 1920s jewelry on 1stDibs.

Question 12

What colors were fashionable in the 1920s?

Accepted Answer

In the 1920s, fashionable colors included jewel tones. Fashion, jewelry, furniture and decorative objects often featured jade green, deep reds, amethyst purple, dusty mustard yellow and peacock blue. Find a range of 1920s-era jewelry and fashion on 1stDibs.

Question 13

What did brides wear in the 1920s?

Accepted Answer

In the 1920s, brides often wore tubular-shaped slip dresses with a beaded tunic over top. Hemlines usually fell just below the knee or to the ankle, and many gowns had dropped waists. For headwear, brides often showed off veils attached to cloche or flapper-style headbands. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of wedding dresses from some of the world’s top boutiques.

Question 14

What type of tile was used in the 1920s?

Accepted Answer

The type of tile that was used in the 1920s was primarily ceramic. Many shapes were available, including basketweave, penny round, pinwheel, square and subway. Hexagon tiles, however, which are still on trend, have been in use in bathrooms since at least the early 1900s. The choice of hexagonal tiles is believed to have been tied to cleanliness, as the small pieces could stand up to aggressive cleaning and could be easily replaced if needed. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of tiles from some of the world's top sellers.

Question 15

What color were flapper dresses in the 1920s?

Accepted Answer

Flapper dresses from the 1920s came in a range of colors, although darker hues such as black and navy were immensely popular. Flapper dresses were cut with straight and slim silhouettes, were typically knee-length and had a lower neckline. They were often made from silk chiffon and featured beaded details. You’ll find a selection of 1920s flapper dresses from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 16

What did engagement rings look like in the 1920s?

Accepted Answer

In the 1920s, engagement rings still looked like rings but were representative of a diverse range of styles and influences. Art Deco diamond ring designs took inspiration from the contemporary Cubist movement as well as from ancient Egypt – a revival sparked by the opening of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Native American, African and Asian motifs also inspired jewelry pieces. Diamonds in square and rectangular shapes incorporating angular steps – like emerald cuts, Asscher cuts and baguettes – were set against black onyx, rubies, sapphires and emeralds to create color-blocking effects. Platinum, 18-karat gold, 14-karat white gold and sterling silver were some of the favored metals of the decade. Find a wide range of Art Deco engagement rings on 1stDibs.

Question 17

Who was considered one of the leading fashion designers in the 1920s and ’30s in Paris?

Accepted Answer

Coco Chanel was considered one of the leading fashion designers in the 1920s and ’30s in Paris. The first Chanel shop was established in 1910 on rue Cambon by the young milliner Gabrielle Chanel, who had picked up the nickname “Coco” while working as a club singer. The boutique drew the attention of the Parisian fashion elite, who popularized her wide-brimmed Chanel Modes hats. Soon, she added a sportswear store in the Normandy resort town of Deauville, where Coco set the tone for her defining sense of style — traditionally masculine garments reimagined for feminine shapes, made from simple jersey fabric. Effortless and elegant, Chanel's designs promoted comfort and grace in women’s wear that had been dominated in the previous century by complicated layers of fabric and cumbersome corsets. She followed this success with a couture house, opened in 1915 in Biarritz. In 1926, Chanel introduced her first little black dress, reclaiming a color that had once been reserved for mourning and working-class women. That same decade, she debuted her perfume, Chanel No. 5, as well as the Chanel suit with a fitted skirt, inspired by the boxy lines of men’s clothing and employing a sporty tweed. During the 1920s, she also unveiled the predecessor for the 2.55 Flap bag, which remains one of Chanel's most popular offerings. Shop a large selection of Chanel apparel, bags and accessories on 1stDibs.

1920s Paste

1920s American Hats

Art Deco Faux Pearl Tiara

Vintage 1920s French Art Nouveau Vases

Art Nouveau vase in glass paste 1920's

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Drop Earrings

1920's Marcasite and Paste Long Drop Earrings

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Antique Exotic Bird Silver & Paste Brooch 1920s

Vintage 1920s Chain Bracelets

Antique Art Deco Ruby Paste Cocktail Bracelet 1920s

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Clip-on Earrings

Antique Art Deco Sterling & Sapphire Paste Earrings 1920s

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Choker Necklaces

Art Deco Green Chalcedony Glass & Paste Sautoir 1920s

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Link Bracelets

Art Deco 1920s German Silver and Paste Vintage Bracelet

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Antique Art Deco Pearl Jade & Emerald Paste Lariat 1920s

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Drop Earrings

A pair of fine paste drop earring, France, 1920s

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Cuff Bracelets

Art Deco 1920s Sterling, Paste and Red Glass Vintage Bracelet

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Antique Art Deco Paste Fob Lapel Watch 1920s (see condition report)

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Drop Necklaces

1920s Art Deco Silver, Paste and Faux Pearl Vintage Tassel Necklace

Vintage 1920s French Beaded Necklaces

'Coral' glass bead, paste and faceted glass sautoir, French, 1920s.

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Drop Earrings

Very long silver and clear paste articulated drop earrings, France, 1920s.

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Drop Earrings

Art Deco 1920s Sterling Silver, Paste and Green Glass Vintage Drop Earrings

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Chandelier Earrings

Very long gold, silver and clear paste articulated drop earrings, French, 1920s

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches

A very large stylised clear paste Art Deco clip, French, 1920s

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Beaded Necklaces

Jade glass bead and clear paste lariatt-style necklace/sautoir, French, 1920s

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Beaded Necklaces

A turquoise and frosted bead, clear crystal and paste sautoir necklace, 1920s

Vintage 1930s German Art Deco Link Bracelets

Schreiber and Hiller 1920s Art Deco Antique Paste Snake Bracelet

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Drop Earrings

Art Deco 1920s Sterling Silver, Crystal and Paste Vintage Drop Earrings

Vintage 1920s Art Deco Brooches

Art Deco Green and Clear Paste Stone Lizard Brooch circa 1920s

Vintage 1920s French Drawings

20th Century French Pastel Drawing Signed Polme, 1920s

Vintage 1920s American Art Deco Brooches

Charming Art Deco Marcasite Bird Brooch

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Clamper Bracelets

1920s Elegant Art Deco French Paste Bracelet

1920s American Belts

Deco Belt Buckles / Velvet Belt

Vintage 1920s Link Necklaces

Antique Paste Necklace 1920s

Vintage 1920s Link Necklaces

Antique Paste Necklace 1920s

Vintage 1920s Unknown Retro Bracelets

1920s Set of Paste Stone and Sterling Sapphire Glass Bracelets

Early 20th Century Unknown Edwardian Solitaire Rings

Gold Vintage Jewelry Blue Glass Synthetic Gemstone Paste Ring 1920s Dainty

Vintage 1920s More Necklaces

20s Art Deco Paste Necklace

Vintage 1920s German Art Deco Fashion Rings

Antique Art Deco Paste 10 Karat Gold Fritz Rossier Cluster Ring

Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco More Necklaces

French Paste Vintage Bib Necklace, Circa 1930

20th Century European Art Deco Brooches

Antique Art Deco Paste Tourmaline Brooch Silver, circa 1920

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces

Silver and paste pendant with emerald paste stone France, 1920s

Vintage 1920s French Beaded Necklaces

Emerald green glass and paste necklace, French 1920s

Early 20th Century German Art Deco Drop Earrings

Art Deco Sterling and Oynx Paste Earrings 1920s

Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Drop Earrings

Black Bakelite and paste drop earrings, France, 1920s

Vintage 1920s French Pendant Necklaces