Art Deco first came to the style scene in the mid-1920s and lasted through the 1930s. The streamlined design took over both North America and Europe, offering style aficionados an entirely different expression that included new material and design elements created by machinery. A combination of both natural and man-made materials emerged to create one-of-a-kind and mass-produced goods from the everyday to the ultra-luxurious.
The design trend ended with the start of World War II. The 1960s brought some elements back, but it has never been as strong as it was during the roaring twenties and early 1930s when opulence reigned supreme.
Today, Art Deco is getting noticed again. Look for geometric and sinuous shapes, a mixture of ebony and ivory, gold inlay and exaggerated shape in everything from furnishings and fixtures to accessories and wallpaper.
Mary Taggart
