Art Deco Dining Room Furniture

History of Art Deco

To the purist, the Art Deco period began in the 1920's and ended in the 1930's. It began as a rebellion against the Art Nouveau movement. The style was introduced at the 1925 Paris exhibition.

Elements that are easily identifiable in furniture pieces are elegant, geometrical designs and angular pieces. One only has to look at Art Deco architectural styles, such as the Chrysler Building or the Empire State Building in New York City, to admire this style's simplicity.

Artists and Architects

Contributing artists and architects to the Art Deco movement include:

• Rene Lalique – Glassmaker
• Leon Bakst – Designer/Illustrator
• Josef Hoffman – Architect/Designer
• Jean Dunand – Designer
• Lee Lawrie – Sculptor
• Eileen Gray – Designer
• Emile Ruhlmann – Designer
• Raymond Hood – Architect
• Jean Dupas – Designer
• William Van Alen – Architect (Chrysler Building)

Many more artists and designers were influential in this movement and their works can be seen in museums throughout the United States and Europe.

Art Deco Furniture

The influence of Art Deco could be seen early in the movement by inexpensive furniture pieces that flooded the market. Movie studios helped to promote Art Deco furniture, as it was used predominantly in the feature films of the day. Any movie that featured Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire or Greta Garbo was sure to include an apartment decorated in the Art Deco style.

Popular Art Deco pieces included:

• Leather Club chairs
• Point de Vue chairs
• Cocktail cabinets decorated with lacquer veneer
• Painted canvas room screens, often in Japanese designs
• Light fixtures featuring the female form

Where to Find Art Deco Dining Room Furniture

Finding Art Deco dining room furniture can be as easy as clicking your computer mouse or making a short trip to a local antique store. Since the Art Deco period spanned almost three decades, there are plenty of furniture pieces still available on the secondary market.

Places that you can find authentic Art Deco furniture pieces include:

• Antiquarian Traders
• Daniel James Company
• The Deco Shop
• Karl Kemp

Art Deco Ambiance

While owning the right furniture pieces can help to create a mood, lighting, color and decorative accents complete the look of a room. Here are some style ideas to help you create the right mood in your home.

Colors

Bold colors that were popular during this time period included:

• Silver
• Black
• Chrome
• Yellow
• Red
• Ecru
• Green
• Beige

Lighting

Subdued lighting was popular during the Art Deco era. Female figures holding balls of light were very popular. Glass lights often had etched designs or were enameled. Light shades and wall sconces reflected the streamlined geometric shapes of this style.

Fabrics

Fabrics played an important part in the decoration of a room. Geometric shaped pillows were covered in boldly colored materials. Popular color combinations were black and white, chrome and black, accented with yellow and red.

Satins and silks were popular fabric choices, and many were embellished with fine embroidery designs from silk and metallic threads.

Flooring and Rugs

Floors were an integral room decoration, as were the individual pieces of furniture. Highly polished parquet floors in geometric patterns were very popular. Handmade rugs featuring bold geometric patterns could be found in homes decorated in this style.

Conclusion

The Art Deco style is both bold and elegant. Remember to choose furniture that has straight lines or clear geometric shapes. Look for items with chevrons, lightning bolts or other similar designs for your room. Keep your room's lighting subdued, almost as if lighted by many candles. Fabrics should shimmer and be decorated, if possible, in Japanese designs. Colors should be bold and should include black, ecru, chrome, red and green. Finally, opt for furniture pieces that have been painted in lacquer or have highly polished veneer panels.