Art Deco Link 2 King Tut

The term Art Deco was coined to describe a style of interior design, architecture, textiles, ceramics and jewellery. Art Deco came to prominence in Paris at the 1925 Exposition Internationle des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. The Art Deco period started in the early 1920’s and continued to be in fashion well into the 1930’s.

Characteristics of the style include symmetrical design with simple clean lines, sharp edges and stylishness. The words elegant, sophisticated and luxurious are words often used. Strong colours and straight designs were used as a reaction to the gentle pastel colours and flowing curving lines of the Art Nouveau. Chrome, enamel and highly polished stone were hallmarks of the era.

The motifs and patterns

• Straight lines

• Geometric shapes

• Abstract patterns

• Egyptian scarab

• Sun Motifs

• Stepped ziggurat shapes

• Fan shapes

• Aztec symbols

• Stylised flowers

• Sunrise motif

• Egyptian

• Cubism forms

 

Ancient Egyptian, Greek and classical patterns and motifs are also characteristic of Art Deco. The discovery and opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter brought Egyptian themes into vogue. Other influences were the Ballets Russes and Cubism. However designs, motifs and colours did vary between countries and the decades of the era.

The colours 

• Chocolate Brown

• Black

• Cream

• Pale Yellow

• Red

• White on White

• Buff

• Beige

• Coffee

• Pink

• Pastel blue

• Pastel pink

• Pale green

• Exposition des Arts Decoratifs Paris 1925 colours                                                         

Ultramarine

Sea green

Deep blue

Turmeric yellow

Black

Crimson

Burnt orange

Hot pink  

France started out as the center of the Art Deco movement. As mass production of Art Deco objects increased the people of the US embraced the style and became a dominant force and leaders of the Art Deco movement. Art Deco started to declined after 1935 but enjoyed a revival in the 1960s and 1970s. Some say we will see a revival of the Art Deco style in the 2000’s

“Great designs are not accomplished 

without enthusiasm of some sort; 

it is the inspiration of everything great”

Christian Nestell