POST 06: Art Deco

#ArtDeco | Exterior detail, Sinclair Building, Main Street, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.A. Designed by Wiley G. Clarkson, 1930.




Art Deco is a movement that appeared in the 1920s due to a tension between functionalists and decorators because they valued different things. The movement first appeared in France and its name is derived from the french "Arts décoratifs". In fact, In 1925, in Paris there was a World Fair called L'Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, where they showcased furniture, lamps, textiles and accessories.

Through this movement, we saw new popular motifs and patterns that became the characteristics of this specific movement, such as the zigzag, chevron, stepped profiles, cubistic and angled forms. Rich materials also made their appearance such as the use of ebony, leather, zebrawood with inlays of ivory, polished metals, etcetera. Designers were inspired by African tribal art. We can tell that the French wanted people to see that their design was superior to the rest of the world when it comes to craftmanship, design and the choice of materials. They wanted to deliver some sort of luxury and sophistication. Due to all of that, Art Deco is seen as highly decorated and is a source of inspiration for jewelry making, fashion and decorative art.

Art Deco room divider in the style of Jean Dunand by Atelier Algier
A room divider.
What I like about Art Deco is that it was really representative of its time and was reflective of modernity with the zigzag shapes relating to electricity and radio and the mass production of objects.
1925's Maurice Dufrenes Art Deco Armchairs
Armchair made in mahogany and covered with silk velvet fabric by Maurice Dufrene.

Current Applications:

Misez sur des éléments très rétro dans votre salle de bains noire et blanche


vintageluxe: “katie martinez design ” Plus

ONE STEP FURTHER

I am choosing Eileen Gray, for the fact that she is a female designer. She was born Irish but is a French based architect and a furniture designer. She studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, the Academy Julian and the Academy Colarossi.

What I found interesting about her is that when she working with Lacquer in her younger years, she later discovered that she had a lacquer disease (lacquer dermatitis) on her hands. This disease did not stop her working with it and later showcased her lacquered work in an exhibition and it was very well received.

She is know for her taste of luxury and applying lacquer on furniture, as well as applying geometric lines. Her furniture was as well mass produced.
Eileen Gray, reflection (light), irregularity and pattern, would definitely make a irregular reflection if it can spin with a simple blow like wind turbine
Brick screen

Bibendum chair by Eileen Gray
Bibendum chairs




Comments

  1. amberbuieMarch 31, 2018 at 7:09 PM

    Martha,

    I very much enjoyed the pictures you have placed into your blog as examples. I find that they showcase the Art Deco style fairly well. It is good that you expressed how Art Deco reflected the technologies of the current day in that era. I also enjoyed how you found research on Eileen Gray that most people do not know about.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Eunice Slanwa April 2, 2018 at 6:08 PM

    Martha, you summarized the main points of Art Deco very well. I also find it interesting that this style is representative of the modernism of it's time; how is it drawing inspiration from the artificial (electricity and radio), rather than directly from nature like the earlier movements we studied.

    ReplyDelete

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