The Art Deco Style was all about glamor, luxury, innovation, and hope. The style has proven to be timeless and instantly recognizable even 100 years after its first appearance. Famous for its streamlined look and bold interiors, simultaneously decadent and severe, this dramatic aesthetic is still alive and well, remaining even more relevant and popular today in modern design as new inspirations and ideas eagerly blend with the old. When it comes to your dining needs and the style you're looking for, consider Tablebases.com.
What Is Art Deco Style and Where Did It Originate From?
Art Deco, derived from the French words Arts Décoratifs, is a well-known style of art, architecture, and design that boomed in popularity during the 1920s and 1930s. Originally from France, it is still easily recognized in European and American architecture.
Classic Art Deco works are meant to imitate the spirit of their times, a world after the end of World War I, where an emphasis on sleek and geometric shapes challenged the previously booming art movement, Art Nouveau. Gone were the nature-inspired organic forms, and more homes and businesses were welcoming the structure and industry-inspired shapes with sharp angles and cubist and Egyptian elements.
While the height of the movement came to a halt during World War II, many of the design elements are still highly sought after today. You can find Art Deco-inspired items in many home goods like textiles, furniture, wallpaper, light fixtures, and more.
How to Identify Art Deco
There are six key characteristics of Art Deco design, including geometric shapes, bold colors, symmetry, streamlined styling, metallic materials, and motifs like sunbursts and zig zags. This combination of elements creates the distinct 20s and 30s look. If you’re searching for Art Deco pieces for your home or office, keep an eye out for these key details.
For those looking to create the same feel in their space, you can include some of the main themes, like symmetry and sleekness. For example, consider pairing two smaller armchairs or lamps next to your couch, or two matching and evenly spaced side tables to your bed to keep the room balanced. Look for key pieces like geometric tiles, or velvet furniture with rounded shapes. Consider table bases for glass tops for a sleek and modern look in your living space. Enhance the style with geometric wallpaper and use metal framing on mirrors, furniture, and artwork for a shiny, metallic hint of the era.
The Characteristics That Make Art Deco Unique Compared to Other Styles
Art Deco is sometimes compared to other similar styles, like Art Deco Revival and Art Moderne. Art Deco Revival began in the 1960s, after a drop in popularity during the 40s and 50s. Decades after its birth, the similar optimism that infiltrated the original Art Deco creators was seen in the hippie liberation movements.
This can be seen in businesses like Big Biba. This British department store contains all the elements of Art Deco Revival, including accented mirrors, peacock feathers, and emphasis on shapes like blunt circles, triangles, and squares. However, the revival brings with it a new life and 70s flair that the original lacked. Art Moderne is a style movement that closely resembles Art Deco, but with some key differences. They use the same basic elements but tend to make the designs bigger and emphasize horizontal lines and curved edges while downplaying the need for exact symmetry. Our RWG table bases fit perfectly with this aesthetic.
Examples of Famous Art Deco Buildings and Objects
There are several famous examples of this style across the world, many of which you may even recognize.
For example, The Chrysler building in New York City is one of the most iconic. Each of the building’s curves are elegantly stacked upon the other in perfect harmony, typical of Art Deco design.
Another masterpiece of the genre is the Moscow Metro Station, which is known worldwide for its luxurious beauty. Opened in 1938, it is highly influenced by Art Deco. You can see the inspiration in the large columns, extravagant lighting, and geometric flooring.
Soona Mahal in Mumbai is another excellent example of international Art Deco appreciation. It has even been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, donning an impressive collection of famous Art Deco artworks inside.
Famous Art Deco art pieces are characterized by the same principles as the interior design and architecture. The famous sculpture Victoire, by René Lalique in 1928 is an exemplary example. In fact, the motif was stamped on everything after its creation, such as cars and furniture, to even toilets. The beautiful female face with her hair blowing behind her in the wind in perfect unison resembles the strength seen in traditional Greek sculptures. However, her overly precise look gives a nod to the appreciation of all things industrial, technological, and modern.
The Future & Its Potential for Reinvention
There is a positive outlook for the future of Art Deco style. The dazzling opulence and escapist spirit that permeated through the roaring 20s and 30s is now mixing with modern details to create a new, elegant contemporary style many modern designers are blending more Art Deco principles into their work.
Modern Art Deco style can be recognized for its mix between traditional geometric styles and linear forms and modern color palettes, artwork, and materials. Rooms and businesses inspired by this era will likely have strong vertical lines, opulent light fixtures, rich textured textiles, large mirrors, and classic, yet bold touches. As new trend cycles come and go, each take with it a new way to blend the original styles like Art Deco with the newest modern technological advancements that the originals behind the movement would likely adore!
Art Deco Trends
Decor styles always come and go with the cultural movements, attitudes, and preferences of the moment. The reimagining of the Great Gatsby in the modern film remake boosted the 1920s appeal and reinspired a new generation of fans of the movement. Other works inspired by this era help raise the appeal and get new creative minds to rebuild the classic style with modern twists. Items like the RSQ750X4 Stainless Steel Table Base fulfill this modern take on classic art deco style.
Today, many modern Art Deco inspired spaces include darker colors, like jewel tones and smokey grays that feel like classic Hollywood drama. You may also notice lavish materials like marble, copper, brass, and burl, as well as crystal chandeliers and perfectly spaced lines and shapes as backdrops.
The Future of Art Deco
Art Deco is at its base rooted in dreams of the future. For the original creators the optimism of new industry was deeply inspiring, and today it can mean dreaming about future advancements, while perfectly marrying the romanticization of the early 20th century past.
The future of the movement could potentially revolve around our current changes and advancement like AI, automation, and the internet. The new life into this movement may bring up questions like how do we get excited and optimistic about the shifts? What new types of luxury can they bring? And, how exactly do we marry this with the charm and appeal of times gone by?
