Art Deco

[Jazz jar and cover, Enouch Boulton] 1928. [image online]. Victoria & Albert Museum, London. [Accessed 22 November 2013].

Following on from the Art Nouveau era came the next new style of Art Deco, which was developed with the intention of reducing the intricate decoration and focusing more on the function and practicality of the object. This new style became so called in the 1960's, but actually ran from the 1920's and through the depression of the 1930's. Art Deco was so modern it covered many areas and topics. It represented many different ideas and was used in everything from decorations to fashion to the film and photography industry.

It's popularism raced over the world, reaching countries as far as China and America. It's designs showing on anything from exclusive works of art to products manufactured in the lower end of the mass market.

Art Deco produced a free spirit in artistic design, it allowed the imagination to fantasise. It mixed together old traditional ideas with new modern ones. It transfused historic styles with Avant Garde images and also threw in a touch of the new machine age. It didn't omit the inclusion of African art or Egyptian styles.

[Vogue Red Blocks cup and saucer, Eric Slater]1930-1931. [image online] Victoria & Albert Museum, London. [Accessed 22 November 2013].

[Sunray vase, Clarice Cliff] 1929. [image online] Victoria & Albert Museum, London. [Accessed 22 November 2013].

Victoria and Albert Museum, 2013. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco/> [Accessed 22 November 2013].

Art Deco around the World

Art Deco quickly spread its wings out over the world, this was dramatically helped by the new age of communication. The many travels of the wealthy across the world did well to spread this new found style. Magazines were becoming popular with the rich and famous, these too helped to popularise the Art Deco vivid style. To many people Art Deco meant the beginning of a new modern era.

 

Japan

As Japan was being dramatically transformed and cities such as Tokyo were rapidly growing, a new urban culture began to develop. Westernised department stores, cinemas, and restaurants began appearing on the Eastern Skyline. This mix of East and West had a great impact on the Art Deco style where designers infused the two cultures to produce amazing work. After the capital suffered a major earthquake many new buildings were erected using Art Deco styles.

[The Modern Song (Modan bushi), K.Kotani] 1930. [image online]  Color lithograph, ink on paper, 16 x 20 in. Photograph courtesy of The Levenson Collection. Available at: <http://www.japansociety.org/event/deco-japan-shaping-art-and-culture-19201945> [Accessed 26 November 2013].

India

The elite and middle classes of India were very westernised and so, Art Deco had a major influence on them. Many Maharajahs actually commissioned European designers to design their palaces. As with Tokyo, Bombay's seafront became a hub of Art Deco apartments. This resulted in the younger generations abandoning their cultural multi-generation homes and moving to this new modern western styled area.

[The New India Assurance Building, Mumbai, India] n.d. [image online] Available at: <http://www.veniceclayartists.com/demolition-and-buffalo-karma-in-chennai/> [Accessed 26 November 2013].

Travel & Transportation

Ocean liners were probably the greatest symbol of Art Deco. They were elegant, sophisticated and comfortable and became icons of high style. The most luxurious Ocean Liner was the Normandie, it was decorated by French Art Deco designers. Trains also became more streamlined, faster and more comfortable.

Victoria and Albert Museum, 2013. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco-around-the-world/> [Accessed 22 November 2013].

Art Deco: Exotic and Moderne

Exotic

Art Deco designs also included many exotic fauna and flora. This wide choice of topics covered delicate motifs, such as; lotus flowers, birds of paradise and even dancing girls. Materials used were also exotic ,such as; ebony & ivory.

The most outstanding use of this exotic Art Deco was found in the International Colonial Exhibition which was held in Paris in 1931. The whole decorative scheme used this Exotic Art Deco.

[French Art Deco Tulip Form Walnut Accent Table with Exotic Wood "Star" Inlay] n.d [image online] Available at: <http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/tables/coffee-tables-cocktail-tables/french-art-deco-exotic-walnut-star-inlay-accent-table/id-f_430749/> [Accessed 26 November 2013].

Moderne

Designs made a turn towards the more modern abstract and geometric forms by the late 1920's. New cheaper materials began entering the manufacturing market due to the Depression of the 1930's. The demand for cheaper consumer goods had a drastic effect on the luxury market. Exotic materials began to be replaced by Chrome, aluminium, glass and plastic. These were more suited to the mass production industry as they could be adapted to create the same visual effect of the previous more luxurious products. 

[Pair of Streamline Moderne Art Deco Tubular Chrome Chairs] n.d [image online] Available at: <http://www.1stdibs.com/furniture/seating/lounge-chairs/pair-of-streamline-moderne-art-deco-tubular-chrome-chairs/id-f_422425/> [Accessed 26 November 2013].

Victoria and Albert Museum, 2013. [online] Available at: <http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco-exotic-and-moderne/> [Accessed 23 November 2013].