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Art Deco
1925- 1945
Chapter5
Design Theory and History
Prepared by, Mrs Noshaba Marryam
Semester2015- 2016
What is Art Deco?
 Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and
design style that began in Paris in the 1920s
and flourished internationally throughout the
1930s, into the World War II era.
 The style influenced all areas of design,
including architecture and interior design,
industrial design, fashion and jewellery, as
well as the visual arts such as painting,
graphic arts and film
 Art deco was purely decorative.
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What is Art Deco?
 The term "art deco" was first used widely in
1926, after an exhibition in Paris, sub-titled Art
Deco, celebrating the 1925 International
Exhibition of Modern Decorative and
Industrial Arts that was the culmination of
style modern in Paris.
 It embraced influences from many different
styles of the early twentieth century including
neoclassical ,constructivism, cubism,
modernism and futurism
Semester 2015-2016 Design: Theory Histroy
 The structure of Art Deco is based on
mathematical geometric shapes.
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Style . . .
 geometric and angular shapes
 chrome, glass, shiny fabrics, mirrors and
mirror tiles
 stylised images of aeroplanes, cars, cruise
liners, skyscrapers
 nature motifs - shells, sunrises, flowers
 theatrical contrasts - highly polished wood
and glossy black lacquer mixed with satin
and furs
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Look at these
curved and
geometric
patterns based
on Art Deco.
Look at the use
of bold colour.
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 1.Modernism-Vertical emphasis Setbacks emphasizing the
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geometric forms
2. Cubism- basic geometry shapes.
3. Neoclassicism-rendering and colours
4. Constructivism- overlapping figures
5. Art Nouveau- inspiration from nature
6. De stilj- concept of lines
7. Futurism.
Semester 2015-2016 Design: Theory Histroy
Influences . . .
 art nouveau - deco kept the nature motifs of its
predecessor but discarded its flowing organic shapes and
pastels for bolder materials and colours such as chrome
and black
 cubism -painters such as Picasso were experimenting
with space, angles and geometry
 early Hollywood - the glamorous world of the silver
screen filtered through to design using shiny fabrics,
subdued lighting, and mirrors. Cocktail cabinets and
smoking paraphernalia became highly fashionable
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The Names of Designers'
 Rennie Mackintosh
 Eileen Gray - furniture
 Raymond Templier - jewellery
 Clarice Cliff - china
 René Lalique - glass and jewellery
 Erté
 William Moorcroft
 Susie Cooper
 Charlotte Rhead
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Rennie Mackintosh
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Furniture by Charles Rennie
Mackintosh
For many people, Mackintosh is
most closely associated with
furniture. His earliest work shows a
strong Link to the Arts and Crafts
movement. In His final designs he
unique choice of colors, shapes
and forms.
Semester 2015-2016 Design: Theory Histroy
Eileen Gray - furniture
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Raymond Templier - jewellery
Clarice Cliff - china
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René Lalique - glass and
jewellery
Erté Graphic
Illustrations
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William Moorcroft
Susie Cooper
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Charlotte Rhead
Product Design
Art Deco cups and
saucers, plates,
teapots and
cigarette lighters,
with their clean
colours and clear
designs, affordable
by almost everyone,
marketing could
produce and sell in
quantity and
cheaply.
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Get the Look……
 Furniture - choose strong, streamlined shapes
for furniture and in single pieces rather than
suites.
 Fabrics - stick to plain or geometric fabrics and
add highlights with cushions also in one solid
block of colour.
 Rugs - floors would have been overlaid with a
large rug in geometric patterns. These were often
handmade by artists such as Duncan Grant (of
Bloomsbury Group fame).
Semester 2015-2016 Design: Theory Histroy
 Colour - halls suit bold colour schemes such as
silver, black, chrome, yellow and red. Creams,
greens and beige, or oyster and in living rooms
and bedrooms.
 Design - the stepped profile is the epitome of
the art deco shape, also look for zigzags, and
lightning bolts.
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Where to see it . . .
 Hoover factory, Middlesex
 The Savoy, London
 Burgh Island Hotel, Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon
 Eltham Palace, London
 Miami Beach, Florida
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Sculpture
 Art deco is famous for its sculpture.
 Found at building entrances, table
tops and etc.
 Sculpture used material such as
bronze, ivory etc.
 Great impact to the era.
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Art deco is famous for its sculpture.
Found at building entrances, table tops
.etc.
Sculpture
Sculpture used material such as bronze, ivory etc.
Great impact to the era.
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Christ Redeemer
Was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa and
carved by
French sculptor Paull Landowisk
• The statue is 125 feet (38 m) tall,
• including the pedestal
New Seven Wonders of
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the World
Art deco furniture
 Decoration was integral part of art deco.
 Beauty in home was essential to mans
psychological well being.
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 Art deco was famous due to its long lasting
furniture's made in that era that still can be
seen
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Art deco furniture
 The characteristics of art deco furniture are
sleek, smooth, streamlined lines, geometrical
patterns, and experimental use of industrial
materials such as metals, plastics, and glass.
Art deco furniture is modern and functional.
 Art deco design is recognizable because of
three main things: distinct geometric shapes,
intense, bright colors that standout, and a
decorative look.
Semester 2015-2016 Design: Theory Histroy
Frank t Paul (1882-1957)
Paul)T. Frank (October 14, 1886 –
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March 21, 1958), an Art Deco furniture
designer and maker, architect,
painter and writer.
• Frank began as an architect and
later switched to designing and
painting fine art and furniture. In the
years between the two world wars he,
more than any other designer, helped
shape the distinctive look of American
modernism.
• Frank opened Frank Galleries on 48th
Street, calling his company Skyscraper
Furniture.
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Skyscraper
Designed by Paul Frank
• The first piece is a copy of the Skyscraper Step Table
made by Frank in the late 1920s and currently in the
Decorative Arts collection at the Brooklyn Museum.
• The piece is made from painted poplar and the joinery is
dowels.
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Puzzle desk
• designed by Paul Frank
Modern-style furniture was first designed in
the 1920s but did not become
"mainstream" until the 1950s.
• The Puzzle desk was like a box. Desks were
made of painted wood, with silver-leafed
pine drawers and chromium-plated metal
trim in art deco patterns. The drawers were
of random shapes and sizes, and because
of the shiny, silver finish against the dark
background, they created interesting
patterns. There were drawers and shelves
on all sides.
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A History of Art Deco Jewelry
 One of the most bold and dramatic eras
of fashion was the period of art deco.
Starting in the 1920s and spanning to the
1930s, the fashion of silver jewelry was a
huge departure from the previous school
of art: art nouveau.
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 Heavy jewellery were replaced by lighter ones
 Simple geometry forms are used and greatly inspired from
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Egyptian jewellery.
Gold and platinum frames are used.
Diamond came into existence.
Earrings touches shoulder
Massive rings
Semester 2015-2016 Design: Theory Histroy
 One of the most sought-out art deco
jewelry pieces are the engagement rings
made during this period. Collectors have
a hard time finding them, but the rings are
well worth the time required to find them.
Popular metals in use were white gold
and platinum.
 These rings made heavy use of symmetry,
and were usually found to have strong
geometric shapes, as well
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