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.
21st Century and Contemporary British Art Deco Furniture
Macassar
1940s European Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Leather
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Oak
1930s Slovak Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Beech
1980s Unknown Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Cane, Rattan
1920s English Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass, Wood, Paper
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Mohair, Oak
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Alabaster, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Oak
1930s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Oak
1930s Belgian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Faux Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Ceramic
1920s Chinese Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wool
1980s North American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Bronze
Early 2000s Italian Art Deco Furniture
Glass, Murano Glass
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood, Walnut
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass
20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Onyx, Bronze
1970s Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Glass, Blown Glass
1950s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood
1930s European Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Copper
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
1930s Danish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wool, Mahogany
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Maple, Rosewood, Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Walnut, Bakelite
1930s English Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Oak
1930s Czech Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Wood
1940s Czech Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Leather, Upholstery, Bentwood
1940s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal, Brass, Copper
1920s Chinese Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Porcelain
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Furniture
Metal
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Steel
Mid-20th Century Czech Art Deco Furniture
Metal
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Murano Glass, Wood
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass
1930s Czech Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Walnut, Lacquer, Oak
21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Brass
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
20th Century Art Deco Furniture
Leather, Hardwood
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Deco Furniture
Ceramic
1930s Belgian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Ceramic
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Bentwood
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Silk, Oak
Mid-20th Century Danish Art Deco Furniture
Beech
1930s Czech Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Upholstery, Wood, Beech, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Art Deco Furniture
Gold Leaf
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
Early 20th Century Chinese Art Deco Furniture
Wood