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 French Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1920s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Bronze
1930s English Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Linen, Bentwood
1930s Belgian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Mid-20th Century Belgian Art Deco Furniture
Canvas, Plaster, Wood
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Upholstery, Bamboo, Rattan, Reed, Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Furniture
Brass, Stainless Steel
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Bronze
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Silver Plate
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Copper
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Ceramic
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Mirror, Oak
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass, Bronze
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Paint
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Stained Glass, Walnut
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Macassar, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Glass
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass, Oak
1930s German Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Acrylic
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Metal
2010s Indonesian Art Deco Furniture
Wool
20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Bronze
20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Bronze
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wood
1920s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Silver
1930s Danish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Mohair, Beech
1930s North American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Glass
1920s German Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Copper
Mid-20th Century Austrian Art Deco Furniture
Metal, Sterling Silver, Nickel
Early 20th Century French Art Deco Furniture
Iron, Wire
1930s Czech Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Oak
1920s Swedish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Paint
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Art Deco Furniture
Marble, Brass, Steel
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s Spanish Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Aluminum
1920s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wrought Iron
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wool, Oak
1940s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1980s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Fabric, Foam
1960s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Velvet, Walnut
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Aluminum
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Goatskin, Fabric, Wood
1930s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Metal
1920s Dutch Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Brass
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Chrome
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Hemp, Beech
1940s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wrought Iron
1960s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Gold Leaf
1930s American Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Stainless Steel
1930s Italian Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Velvet, Wood
1940s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Iron
1890s Italian Antique Art Deco Furniture
Art Glass
1950s French Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Crystal
1980s Chinese Vintage Art Deco Furniture
Wool, Cotton