Everything You Need to Know About Art Deco Furniture

You might have noticed the trend of dramatic interiors with furniture that has organic patterns and natural designs and muted colors , often with chrome finishes. These interiors and furniture are always appearing on TV, at the Oscars and in the most recent fashion magazines. You may be thinking what I should call this style? What can my home appear like this? It’s simple…the style type is Art Deco furniture.

Art Deco is a decorative art form that is commonly used to furniture architectural, interior design, as well as everyday household things. Integrating Art Deco custom furniture into your interior is an excellent method of achieving the essence of glamour and luxury. The confusion of Art Nouveau, Modernism and Bauhaus designs with Art Deco designs is pretty typical. There’s no need to fret We’re here to explain the distinctive characteristics of Art Deco and guide you through its iconic roots and showing how to distinguish art deco from other styles.


Principal Characteristics in Art Deco Design

Art Deco design is one-of-a-kind It incorporates geometric forms that often resemble sleek, futuristic designs. The first thing to note is that Art Deco furniture designs are usually meticulously created with exotic woods, materials and lacquer. The process of crafting includes the inlays of exotic woods, like Macassar the ebony tree, zebrawood, and rosewood. Then, the piece is coated with lacquer, usually using Japanese lacquer, which gives off sparkling shine. After the finalization, amazing geometric designs like patterns with zigzags and animal shapes such as sunburst, star, and floral patterns are created.

These elegantly made pieces bring visual appeal and luxury to any space. Based on the vision of the designer the additional ornaments are usually included, like inlays made of ivory and Mother of Pearl. The inlay is usually placed on the sideboard, side table as well as a dining table or dressing table. Another striking feature of the style is the use of shagreen like snake skin, shark or zebra on furniture, seating , and everyday household objects. In the case of Art Deco seating, standard elements are fur animals, serpent skin upholstery the yellow or chrome zinc-plated steel, lacquered or veneered wood, and geometric curves. The types of seating are dining room chairs, lounge chairs, and arm chairs.

An iconic example can be found in one of the most famous examples is French Club chair; this chair is upholstered, comes with an stainless steel base, and replaces the standard arm rests with either the aerodynamic, or straight curve. Numerous accent pieces, such as radios, clocks and other household items are also made using Art Deco design. The most important traits to look for among the Art Deco pieces are Bakelite semi-circles, sleek lines, and muted color palettes comprised of green, red as well as yellow, orange as well as black and white tints. Fun information about Bakelite is that it’s the first synthetic plastic. It was invented by Leo Hendrik Arthur Béakeland from Yonkers, New York. The fascination for Bakelite began due to its strength in the form of heat, electrical resistance and. It’s important to remember (in case you’re looking for genuine antique pieces) that authentic Bakelite is strong and durable with a shiny resistant to scratches.


There is a trend for striking interiors with furniture that has abstract patterns, organic designs and muted colors , often with the chrome finish. The furniture and interiors of these are always appearing on the television, during the Oscars and in the most recent fashion magazines. You may be thinking what I should call this style? What can my home appear like this? It’s simple…the style fashion is Art Deco furniture. Art Deco is a decorative art style that is often applied to furniture and architecture, interior design and other household objects. The incorporation of Art Deco custom furniture into your interior is an excellent method of capturing the elegance and sophistication you desire. The confusion of Art Nouveau, Modernism and Bauhaus designs with Art Deco designs is pretty typical. Don’t worry about it because we’re here to highlight the distinctive characteristics of Art Deco and guide you through its iconic beginnings and explaining how to differentiate art deco from other styles.

Principal Characteristics in Art Deco Design

Art Deco design is one-of-a-kind and incorporates geometric shapes typically resembling futuristic sleek forms. In the beginning, Art Deco furniture designs are usually meticulously created by using exotic woods, material and lacquer. The technique of craftsmanship is based on inlays of exotic woods , such for Macassar Ebony, Zebrawood, and rosewood. In the second step, the piece gets painted, typically with Japanese lacquer, to create an ethereal shine. Once the piece is finished, stunning geometric patterns like animals, zigzags, star sunburst, flower patterns and sunburst are created. These beautifully crafted pieces give visual pleasure and glamour to any space.

Based on the design of the designer Additional embellishments are frequently included, like inlays of ivory or Mother of Pearl. This type of inlay is typically set on the sideboard, side table or dining table, or a dressing table. Another striking feature of the style is the use of shagreen like snake skin, shark or zebra on seating, furniture and other household objects. In the case of Art Deco seating, standard components include fur and animal hide and upholstery made of serpent skin, yellow or chrome-plated stainless steel, lacquered or veneered wood and geometric curvatures. There are various types of seating, including dining room chairs, lounge chairs, arm chairs and dining room chairs.

An iconic example can be found in one of the most famous examples is French Club chair; this chair is upholstered, comes with stainless-steel bases and substitutes the standard arm rests with either flat or aerodynamic curves. A variety of accent pieces like radios, clocks, and other household items are also made using Art Deco design. The most important features to be spotted on those Art Deco pieces are Bakelite semi-circles and sleek lines, and muted color palettes comprised of green, red as well as yellow, orange as well as black and white tints. Fun information about Bakelite is that it’s the first synthetic plastic. It was invented by Leo Hendrik A. Beakeland from Yonkers, New York. The fascination with Bakelite began because of its stiffness in the form of heat, electrical resistance and. It’s crucial to remember (in case you’re in search of authentic antique pieces) that authentic Bakelite is durable and strong with a shiny and scratch-resistant surface.

Origin and development

Art Deco (or streamline moderne which is often called) was first referred to as Art Decoratifs. The design style got the “Art Deco” name in honor of it was featured at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes which was held at Paris from 1925. This Art Deco period peaked in popularity in the middle of the 20th century, and then it spread throughout Europe as well as the Unites States until the beginning the beginning of World War II. In revealing the details of the origins of Art Deco and popularity, the style was born in France shortly before the outbreak of the First World War as a result of the failure of Art Nuevo’s business.

The Societe des Artistes Decorateurs, formed in Paris in 1900, was a club of professionals French designers who created Art Deco by experimenting with innovative designs and construction. It was a smart way to boost French style — especially since French producers were frightened by new manufacturing technologies and foreign competitors French government sponsored the organization’s Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. But due to WWI at its peak it was decided to postpone the event between 1915 and 1925. This decision eventually allowed designers to think about the war and the emergence of industrialization.

To counter this, designs referred to nature and freedom and drew the inspiration of African, East Asian and Egyptian patterns and even the materials. After The 1925 Exposition was completed it became a big hit! A number of French interior and furniture designers were instant success including Emile-Jacques-Ruhlmann and Corbusier, Corbusier as well as Elieen Gray. Designers from all over the world were inspired by the original Art Deco style and created their own versions. Paul Theodore Frankl is an example of an Austrian-American designer constructing the first American-style style of Art Deco.

Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann:

Ruglmann was among the most influential furniture designers of his time in the Art Deco period. Ruhlman’s most distinctive design feature is the utilization of woods of Africa and Brazil like shark skin shagreens, rosewood, amboyna burl, and Macassar ebony , with ivory inlays. The furniture of Ruhlman was simple geometric forms, contrasting lighter and darker woods with adornments and the lacquered finish. The cabinets and furniture of Ruhlman were displayed in the 1925 Exposition and his work were regarded as a landmark accomplishment for French style.

Elieen Gray:

She is renowned for her timeless designs and her status as a major female furniture designer and architect in the 20th century, Gray introduced a new perspective in Art Deco. Gray’s furniture was displayed during the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs in 1913 in the E. 1027 design and later together with Le Corbusier’s designs in his Esprit Nouveau pavilion during the 1925 Exposition. The exhibit of creative and innovative designs earned her the title of being a pioneering creator for Art Deco furniture. Gray used with her the Japanese lacquer technique that she learned from Seizo Sugawara who was who was a Japanese artist and lacquer expert along with Egyptian as well as East Asian patterns. Gray would also use natural forms and human figures like animal and floral patterns as shown within the “Dragons” chair. Gray is the ideal model of a designer that helped to transition Art Deco in Modernism after the Second World War. Gray made use of stainless steel tubular as well as incorporated minimalistic ideas. She used an unichromatic color palette, and incorporated geometric designs.

Le Corbusier:

Le Corbusier’s legacy has been described as one of the most inventive designers and architects. Although Le Corbusier’s reputation as a Modernist and a Modernist, he started his transition to Modernism in his Art Deco period. Le Corbusier presented his minimalist Art Deco Interior “Nouveau pavilion the Esprit” during the 1925 Exposition in which he displayed unadorned spacious spaces, with an uncluttered version of the famous Art Deco sideboard. Le Corbusier focused on form and function over aesthetics that revolutionized Art Deco and transitioned the transition from the style to modernism. Le Corbusier’s style favored simple, unadorned forms using a monochromatic color palette and the utilization of open spaces that were furnished with little -an important distinction in Art Deco (Art Moderne) and Modernism.

Paul Theodore’Frankl’:

It is believed that the American Art Deco design is due its origins to Paul Theodore Frankl, who basically created what is now the American style of Art Deco. Frankl was born as a designer in New York City and began modeling French Art Deco based on American style. In the year 1925 Frankl designed a set of lacquered geometric furnishings known as “Skyscraper furniture.” The collection incorporated Skyscrapers to symbolize of America’s success in commerce and business. Frankl employed simplicity, simple surfaces, linear forms that were continuous and geometric shapes placed on top of each the other.

Learn to recognize Art Deco furniture

Art Deco is consistently reemerging in modern culture. It can be seen in interior decor, architecture as well as in everyday household items. Examples include the Chrysler building as well as Nick Carraway’s home in the 2013 adaption of The Great Gatsby. With a variety of styles of design one of the best ways to determine art deco is by observing its form, color and patterns. For a start take note for these distinctive characteristics:

Geometric patterns that have rectilinear forms
Symmetry
Nature-inspired patterns, the mix of wood, upholstery and stainless steel

If you’re in search of the original vintage or cost-effective modification, Art Deco furniture is an elegant way to bring the glamour, retro and style to your living space.