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 English Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1980s British Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Silver Leaf, Sterling Silver, Silver Plate, Silver
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Steel
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Mirror, Bakelite, Beech, Birdseye Maple
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass
Early 20th Century Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Silver, Bronze
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century British Art Deco Furniture
Stainless Steel, Chrome
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Gold Plate, Silver Plate
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Furniture
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Iron
1930s British Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood, Walnut
1950s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Crystal, Gold, Brass, Bronze, Sheet Metal, Metal
1920s British Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood, Walnut
Early 1900s French Antique Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Wrought Iron
2010s British Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1920s European Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Walnut
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Onyx, Marble, Spelter
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
1930s English Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Swedish Art Deco Furniture
Alabaster, Metal
1940s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s British Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Leather, Oak
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Furniture
Sterling Silver
Mid-20th Century Swedish Art Deco Furniture
Birch, Oak
1930s British Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood, Oak
2010s British Art Deco Furniture
Beech, Oak, Alpaca
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Furniture
Sterling Silver, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary British Art Deco Furniture
Steel
1910s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal, Brass, Bronze, Sheet Metal
1930s English Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Silver
1920s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Marble
1920s English Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Leather, Walnut
2010s British Art Deco Furniture
Velvet
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Silver Plate
Early 1900s Antique Art Deco Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Wood, Oak
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Leather
1930s British Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary British Art Deco Furniture
Stainless Steel
1920s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Holly
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Rosewood
Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Spelter
20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Brass
2010s British Art Deco Furniture
Alpaca, Beech
1850s English Antique Art Deco Furniture
Silver, Silver Plate, Sterling Silver, Silver Leaf
Early 20th Century British Art Deco Furniture
Aluminum, Steel
1930s European Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Walnut
1940s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Mahogany
1920s German Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Silver, Enamel
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Paper