Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
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.
21st Century and Contemporary German Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Onyx, Silver
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Multi-gemstone, Silver
1920s English Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Silver, Sterling Silver
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Silver
1920s American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Leather, Paper
20th Century French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Silver Plate
1930s Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass
1940s American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Iron
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Marble, Metal
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Steel, Enamel
Early 20th Century Canadian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Plaster
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Porcelain, Paint, Ceramic
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal
Late 20th Century German Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Resin
2010s European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal, Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Enamel, Steel, Chrome
1920s Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Onyx, Enamel
1940s Mexican Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass
1940s English Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Silver Plate, Steel
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Bakelite
Early 20th Century Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Aluminum
Early 20th Century Swiss Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal, Gold
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Onyx, Chrome, Spelter
1940s Danish Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Silver
1950s European Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Ceramic
20th Century Japanese Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Glass
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Wood
Early 20th Century European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Bronze
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze
1990s American Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
20th Century Swiss Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Bakelite
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Enamel, Chrome
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Bakelite
1920s North American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Silver, Sterling Silver, Brass, Steel
1940s American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Steel, Iron
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Steel, Chrome
Late 20th Century French Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Paper
2010s European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Metal, Steel, Stainless Steel, Chrome
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Steel, Chrome
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Enamel
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze, Steel
1920s Austrian Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze, Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass
1910s American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Bronze, Copper
Early 20th Century German Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Gold, Enamel
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Leather, Paper
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Chrome
2010s American Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Steel
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Malachite
Mid-20th Century European Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Velvet, Straw, Glass
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Collectibles and Curiosities
Brass, Chrome