What is Art Deco Furniture?

You might have noticed the trend for striking interiors by furniture with organic patterns and natural designs and muted hues often in chrome finishes. The furniture and interiors of these are always appearing on TV, at the Oscars and in the most recent fashion magazines. You may be thinking what is this style? What can my home be like that? Answer is simple…the name of this design fashion is Art Deco furniture.

Art Deco is a decorative art style that is often applied to furniture and architecture, interior design as well as everyday household objects. Integrating Art Deco custom furniture into your interiors is an amazing method to achieve 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 because we’re here to explain the distinct characteristics of Art Deco as well as guiding you through its iconic roots and showing how to differentiate art deco from other styles.


Principal Characteristics that define Art Deco Design

Art Deco design is one-of-a-kind and incorporates geometric shapes typically resembling futuristic sleek forms. The first thing to note is that Art Deco furniture designs are usually meticulously created by using exotic woods, material and lacquer. The process of crafting includes the inlays of exotic woods, like Macassar the ebony tree, zebrawood or rosewood. In the second step, the piece gets coated with lacquer, usually using Japanese lacquer, which gives off sparkling shine. Once the piece is finished, stunning geometric designs like patterns with zigzags and animal shapes stars, sunburst, and floral patterns are created.

These elegantly made pieces give visual appeal and glamour to any space. Based on the design of the artist additional embellishments are frequently included, like inlays of ivory or mother-of-pearl. The inlay is usually placed on an end table, sideboard or dining table, or a dressing table. Another striking feature of the style is the use of shagreen, such as snake skin, shark or zebra on seating, furniture and everyday household objects. In the case of Art Deco seating, standard elements are fur animals, snake skin, animal hide upholstery and the yellow or chrome zinc-plated steel, lacquered or veneered wood, and geometric curves. There are various types of seating, including dining room chairs, lounge chairs, arm chairs and dining room chairs.

One of the most famous examples can be found in The French Club chair; this chair is upholstered, comes with the base of stainless steel and can substitute the standard arm rests with either the aerodynamic, or straight curve. Numerous accent pieces, such as radios, clocks and other items of the common household are also made with Art Deco design. The most important traits to look for among the Art Deco pieces are Bakelite semi-circles, soft lines and muted color palettes comprised of green, red as well as yellow, orange as well as black and white tints. An interesting 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 with Bakelite began due to its strength as well as its electrical resistance and heat. It’s important to remember (in case you’re looking for genuine antique pieces) that genuine Bakelite is durable and strong with a smooth and scratch-resistant surface.


You might have noticed the trend for striking interiors with furniture that has organic patterns and natural patterns and muted hues often with chrome finishes. These interiors and furniture appear regularly on TV, at the Oscars and in the most recent fashion magazines. You may be asking yourself what is this style? What can my home be like that? It’s simple…the name of this design 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 objects. Integrating Art Deco custom furniture into your interiors is an amazing 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. There’s no need to fret We’re here to explain the distinctive characteristics of Art Deco as well as guiding you through its iconic beginnings and explaining how to distinguish Art Deco from other styles.

The most important 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 with exotic woods, materials and lacquer. The process of crafting is based on inlays of exotic woods , such for Macassar the ebony tree, zebrawood, and rosewood. Then, the piece is coated with lacquer, usually using Japanese lacquer, which gives off an ethereal shine. Once the piece is finished, stunning geometric patterns like animals, zigzags, star sunburst, floral and other patterns emerge. These exquisitely designed pieces will bring visual appeal and elegance to any room.

Based on the vision of the designer Extra embellishments are usually added, including 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 attractive feature of the style is the use of shagreen like snake or shark skin on seating, furniture and other household objects. In the case of Art Deco seating, standard components include fur animals, animal hide leather, serpent skin upholstery yellow or chrome-plated stainless 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 The French Club chair; this chair is upholstered, comes with stainless-steel bases and substitutes the standard arm rests with either flat or aerodynamic curves. Numerous accent pieces, such as radios, clocks, and other items of the common household are also produced using Art Deco design. The most important features to be spotted among the Art Deco pieces are Bakelite semi-circles, soft lines and muted color palettes made up of green, red and yellow. They also have orange, yellow as well as black and white tints. An interesting detail about Bakelite is that it’s the first synthetic plastic. It was invented by Leo Hendrik Arthur Béakeland from Yonkers, New York. The fascination with Bakelite began due to its strength in the form of heat, electrical resistance and. It’s crucial to be aware (in case you’re looking for authentic antique pieces) that genuine Bakelite is strong and durable with a shiny resistant to scratches.

Origin and development

Art Deco (or streamline moderne which is often called) was first referred to as Art Decoratifs. The design style got it’s “Art Deco” name in honor of it was featured at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes that was held at Paris from 1925. This Art Deco period peaked in popularity in the middle of the 20th century and then was a popular style across Europe as well as the Unites States until the beginning in World War II. In revealing the layers of the Art Deco’s history and popularity, the style emerged in France just prior to the start of the first World War as a result of the commercial debacle of Art Nuevo.

The Societe des Artistes Decorateurs, established in Paris in 1900, was a club of professionals French designers that developed Art Deco by experimenting with new forms of design and construction. It was a smart way to boost French style — especially since French manufacturers were worried about new manufacturing technologies The French government sponsored the organization’s Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. But in the midst of WWI taking full force it was decided to postpone the event between 1915 and 1925. The decision allowed designers to think about the conflict and the rise of industrialization.

To counter this, designs were inspired by nature and liberation and drew the inspiration of African, East Asian and Egyptian designs and materials. When it was 1925 that the Exposition was completed and was a huge success, it became a cult! A lot 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 interpretations. Paul Theodore Frankl is an example of an Austrian-American designer constructing an Americanized model of Art Deco.

Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann:

Ruglmann was among the most influential French furniture designers of his time in the Art Deco period. Ruhlmann’s main design element included the usage of raw materials that came from Africa and Brazil including shark skin shagreen, rosewood amboyna burl as well as Macassar ivory with ivory inlays. Ruhlman’s furniture was simple geometric forms, contrasting lighter and darker woods with adornments and an edging of lacquer. The cabinets and furniture of Ruhlman were on display during the 1925 Exposition and his designs were seen as an outstanding accomplishment within French Art Deco design.

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 on Art Deco. Gray’s furniture was featured during the Salon des Artistes Decorateurs in 1913, with the E. 1027 design as well as in 1915, alongside Le Corbusier’s designs in his Esprit Nouveau pavilion during the 1925 Exposition. The exhibit of creative and innovative designs earned her the status of a pioneering creator for Art Deco furniture. Gray used with her the Japanese lacquer technique she had learned from Seizo Sugawara who was an expert Japanese artist and lacquer expert and also Egyptian or 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 illustration of a designer who assisted in the transition of Art Deco in Modernism after the Second World War. Gray expanded her utilization of tubular stainless steel she also incorporated minimalist concepts and employed an unichromatic color palette, but she also incorporated geometric designs.

Le Corbusier:

Le Corbusier’s legacy can be described as one of the most inventive designers and architects. Although Le Corbusier’s status as a Modernist the artist began his transition to Modernism in his Art Deco period. Le Corbusier showcased his minimalist Art Deco Interior “Nouveau pavilion”L’Esprit” during the 1925 Exposition where he displayed unadorned space that was open and 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 trend towards modernism. The work of Le Corbusier emphasized simple, unadorned forms with a monochromatic palette of colors and the utilization of open spaces that were furnished with little -which was a major difference in Art Deco (Art Moderne) and Modernism.

Paul Theodore Frankl

It is believed that the American Art Deco design is due the style to Paul Theodore Frankl, who basically created Art Deco as the American form 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 lines, smooth surfaces as well as a variety of geometric shapes that were stacked on top of one another.

Learn to recognize Art Deco furniture

Art Deco is consistently reemerging in the contemporary world of. The style is evident in interior design, architecture and even in everyday household objects. Examples include the Chrysler building as well as Nick Carraway’s living space in the 2013 adaption of The Great Gatsby. With the variety of styles to choose from one of the best ways to determine art deco is by observing its form, color and patterns. To begin take note for the following distinctive features:

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

You can find authentic antiques or cost-effective version, Art Deco furniture is an elegant way to bring the glamour, retro and style to your home.