Art Deco Chairs
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.
Find a collection of vintage Art Deco dressers, coffee tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Chairs
Metal, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Chairs
Fabric, Bentwood
20th Century English Art Deco Chairs
Leather
1920s Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Leather, Wood
1920s American Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Walnut
20th Century French Art Deco Chairs
Fabric, Mahogany
20th Century French Art Deco Chairs
Leather, Macassar
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Chairs
Velvet, Foam, Plywood
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Velvet, Lacquer
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Brass
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Faux Leather, Oak
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Fabric, Maple, Walnut
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Velvet, Wood
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Chairs
Beech
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Chairs
Brass
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Hemp, Beech
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Deco Chairs
Oak, Leather
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Leather, Walnut
Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Chairs
Velvet, Wood
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Oak
1930s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Wood, Birch
20th Century Scandinavian Art Deco Chairs
Wood
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Iron
1920s European Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Chairs
Bamboo
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Deco Chairs
Oak, Faux Leather
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Oak
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Chairs
Steel, Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Chairs
Textile, Bentwood
Mid-20th Century Unknown Art Deco Chairs
Steel
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Velvet, Wood
1910s American Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Wicker, Reed
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Chairs
Upholstery, Wood
1920s British Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Velvet, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish Art Deco Chairs
Iron
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Chairs
Foam, Plywood, Velvet
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Oak
1940s American Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Steel
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Chairs
Steel
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Fabric, Lacquer
Late 20th Century Art Deco Chairs
Chrome
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Steel
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Fabric, Wood
1920s British Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Silk, Beech, Oak
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Mahogany
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Burl, Leather, Walnut
2010s Turkish Art Deco Chairs
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Chairs
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Late 20th Century American Art Deco Chairs
Chrome
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Faux Leather, Oak
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Oak
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Mahogany
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Oak
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Velvet, Lacquer
1930s Czech Vintage Art Deco Chairs
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Chairs
Wood, Beech