The Name
Art Deco as a phrase was not used until 1968 when Bevis Hillier wrote and recognized the two main strings, the first was the chic graceful feminine French style, and the second the famous Streamlined American version that adopted chrome and plastic. Art Deco as a style arose in the 1920's as a result of the Exposition International Art Decorative ET Industrial Moderns, which opened in Paris in the spring of 1925.
Architecture.
Art Deco tremendously influenced architecture, across the world which can be seen today in many major cities. Art Deco buildings were assembled on all five continents. The style represented modernity and a break with the past, and everyone wanted to be a part of the movement. The Chrysler Building in America, Claridge's Hotel in Mayfair London, Langham's Hotel in Shanghai, the Bacardi Building in Cuba and the Kavanagh Building in Buenos Aires and the Cinema Impero in Eritrea, illustrate how influential this style was.
The Art
The turn of the century brought about a change in the style of art. Soft focus, pastel colors of the Impressionists gave way to Art Nouveau movements, which adopted bright colors and the bold images of the machine age. The artistic movements of the time, Cubism, Surrealism, Bauhaus all influenced this style. Avant-garde artists were drawn to new forms of art, fashion, advertising and posters were all used to demonstrate the Art Deco style.
The Style
The movement as a style was adopted across the world. Europe embraced it and adopted the High Style, sumptuous graceful Art Deco Furniture that used exotic woods, veneers and embellishments made of colorful and expensive materials, ranging from ivory, lacquer, snakeskin and leather.
The American version was more masculine; it used chrome and Bakelite, plastics and stainless steel and was all about cities and skyscrapers, the furniture was streamlined for mass production.
British Art Deco drew from the Arts and Craft movements of the previous century and used simple furniture designs made from sycamore, oak and maple, quietly embellished with Art Deco features. The furniture was machine made, but finished by hand.
Asia also adopted features of this style, many embellishments originated in Asia, styles such as parquetry, lacquer, the use of ivory and mother of pearl. India and China both took aspects and incorporated it into their furniture.
The Influence
Art Deco style had a profound influence on the twentieth century; its popularity waned in the forties but returned in the sixties with its influence on graphic design and pop art. Today it still inspires images of glamour, excitement and fun that can still integrate effortlessly with modern modern styles of furniture.
