Art Deco furniture is characterized by its celebration of modern life. More than its emphasis on natural wood grains and focus on traditional craftsmanship, vintage Art Deco dining chairs, tables, desks, cabinets and other furniture — which typically refers to pieces produced during the 1920s and 1930s — is an ode to the glamour of the “Roaring Twenties.”

ORIGINS OF ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGN

Emerged in the 1920s
Flourished while the popularity of Art Nouveau declined
Term derives from 1925’s Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) in Paris, France
Informed by Ancient Egypt, Cubism, Futurism, Louis XVI, De Stijl, modernism and the Vienna Secession; influenced Streamline Moderne and mid-century modernism

CHARACTERISTICS OF ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGN

Bold geometric lines and forms, floral motifs
Use of expensive materials such as shagreen or marble as well as exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and zebra wood
Metal accents, shimmering mirrored finishes
Embellishments made from exotic animal hides, inlays of mother-of-pearl or ivory

ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

VINTAGE ART DECO FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

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 throughout the 1920s and ’30s, 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. “Art Deco design” is often used broadly, to describe the work of creators in associated or ancillary styles. This is particularly true of American Art Deco, which is also called Streamline Moderne or Machine Age design. (Streamline Moderne, sometimes known as Art Moderne, was a phenomenon largely of the 1930s, post–Art Nouveau.)

Art Deco textile designers employed dazzling floral motifs and vivid colors, and while Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked, they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture.

From mother-of-pearl inlaid vitrines to chrome aviator chairs, bold and inventive works in the Art Deco style include chaise longues (also known as chaise lounges) and curved armchairs. Today, the style is still favored by interior designers looking to infuse a home with an air of luxury and sophistication.

The vintage Art Deco furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes dressers, coffee tables, decorative objects and more.

Finding the Right umbrella-stands for You

When it’s raining, you’re going to need an umbrella, and that wet umbrella is going to need a home. In the range of vintage, new and antique umbrella stands on 1stDibs, find patio umbrella stands made for the outdoors and luxury iterations intended to pair with your coat rack and add a dose of character to your entryway.

Modern umbrellas originated as parasols or sunshades for the upper classes in Ancient Egypt, Ancient India and elsewhere, with the accessory undergoing significant improvements, which included waterproofing, in China thereafter. The Chinese created collapsible accessories and applied wax and lacquer to paper parasols, which repelled rain during thunderstorms. As umbrellas saw widespread adoption over the years, we suddenly needed a place to put them.

African-American inventor William C. Carter of Cincinnati, Ohio, patented the first umbrella stand in 1885. His receptacle featured horizontal crossbars with hinged ends that allowed for umbrellas to be spring-locked into place. Carter hoped his idea would prevent theft of umbrellas and canes as well as present an orderly solution for storing them. It could hold more than one umbrella and contained a drip pan to catch rainwater. Today, antique umbrella stands are rich components of home decor — they’re among the first furnishings you see when you enter someone’s house or apartment — and those stemming from Carter’s day are precious collector’s items.

While preliminary umbrella stands were simple (no more than two posts and a rack to hold several umbrellas), furniture makers embellished their interpretations, adding decorative flourishes and improving upon its features over time.

On 1stDibs, a collection of antique 19th-century umbrella stands includes structures made of oak, walnut and more. There are understated Victorian-era umbrella stands made of brass that comprise little more than four tubular metal supports and cast-iron drip pans, while iterations dating from the same era made from mahogany feature distinctive hand-carvings on their side panels or ornate finials. If they’re not cast-iron umbrella stands, a (sometimes removable) cast-iron drip pan at the very least is a fairly consistent characteristic of the stands of the era.

Mid-century modern furniture designers explored venturesome forms and worked with a variety of materials to craft their umbrella stands, integrating metals such as aluminum and introducing glass and even marble to these pieces. Umbrella stands crafted by contemporary furniture makers often depart from their historical counterparts. While a sampling of today’s iterations demonstrate that creators are making umbrella stands in a variety of shapes and sizes, they’re frequently embodying clean lines and minimalist flourishes, which are perhaps a good fit if you don’t intend for your rack to stand out in your foyer or entryway.

If you’re looking to make a statement with your patio umbrella stand or the piece you’re intending to keep indoors, a vintage ceramic umbrella stand will introduce a pop of color or a dazzling texture to your doorstep or to the neutral color palette that characterizes your entryway.

While umbrella stands have seen an evolution of design over the years, their usefulness hasn’t changed a bit. Browse a collection of antique, new and vintage umbrella stands today on 1stDibs.