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.
Find a collection of vintage Art Deco dressers, coffee tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Furniture
Paper
2010s Pakistani Art Deco Furniture
Cowhide
1920s German Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Alabaster, Metal, Brass
2010s French Art Deco Furniture
Steel
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Belgian Black Marble, Spelter
1930s British Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Metal
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Art Glass
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s Danish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Furniture
Sterling Silver
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Spelter
Mid-20th Century Austrian Art Deco Furniture
Bronze
1950s British Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood, Walnut
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Glass
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Steel
1970s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Enamel, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver
1970s Belgian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Nickel
2010s Italian Art Deco Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Spelter
1920s Chinese Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wool, Cotton
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Belgian Black Marble, Metal
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Oak
1970s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Walnut
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Wool
1930s Czech Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Glass, Walnut
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Furniture
Aluminum
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Brass
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Macassar, Oak, Walnut
20th Century Art Deco Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
1920s Chinese Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wool
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1920s European Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Nickel
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Rattan
1970s Austrian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Chinese Art Deco Furniture
Wool
1920s Chinese Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wool
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Art Deco Furniture
Multi-gemstone, Silver
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Birdseye Maple, Macassar
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Faux Leather, Oak
20th Century Art Deco Furniture
Suede, Rosewood
20th Century Art Deco Furniture
Suede, Rosewood
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Furniture
Multi-gemstone, Silver
20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf