Art Deco Furniture
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.
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Sterling Silver
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Mirror, Wood
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Furniture
Wool
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Bronze
1920s German Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Steel, Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Deco Furniture
Paint
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Porcelain
1940s Czech Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Beech
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Walnut, Burl
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Mahogany
1930s Chinese Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wool
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal, Chrome
1930s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Pewter
1970s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Hardwood
1980s Mexican Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Clay
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Art Glass, Blown Glass
2010s South African Art Deco Furniture
Leather
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Furniture
Wood
1940s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Walnut
1930s Belgian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Steel
1920s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Ceramic
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Ceramic
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Alabaster, Bronze
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Nickel, Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Egyptian Art Deco Furniture
Wool
1930s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Bakelite
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Furniture
Art Glass
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Porcelain
1920s European Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass
21st Century and Contemporary Egyptian Art Deco Furniture
Wool
2010s French Art Deco Furniture
Straw, Oak
1930s German Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Art Glass
Early 1900s Danish Antique Art Deco Furniture
Acrylic, Ceramic
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Alabaster, Bronze
1920s German Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Ceramic
2010s French Art Deco Furniture
Steel
Late 20th Century Dutch Art Deco Furniture
Metal
1930s Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Moroccan Art Deco Furniture
Brass
2010s Spanish Art Deco Furniture
Metal
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal
2010s Italian Art Deco Furniture
Upholstery, Plywood, Wood
1930s European Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood, Pine
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Canvas
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Oak
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Furniture
Brass
20th Century Danish Art Deco Furniture
Silver
21st Century and Contemporary Canadian Art Deco Furniture
Glass, Maple
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Deco Furniture
Acrylic, Paper, Cotton
1940s South American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Leather, Oak
1990s English Art Deco Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Metal, Chrome