How Do You Tell If Its Art Deco?

Judging by the abandoned use of the word thesethe same quality or finish as the real ones.
days, anything made between the first andColour
second World Wars is Art Deco. This is just notBlack, Silver, White, Bright Red, Orange, Deep
so. Art Deco defines a style, a look, an artisticMidnight Blue, Emerald Green. The colours of Art
palette which is quite specific.Deco were bold and strong, and lasted.
The name was coined in the 1960s to describeMaterials
the style of design which was showcased at theQuality materials at the high end were Onyx,
Paris Exposition of 1925. The exhibition had beenJade, Lapis lazuli, Marble, Diamonds, Platinum,
in the planning stages since well before WWI, butEmeralds, Sapphires, Pearls, Silver, Sharkskin, and
had been postponed several times. The ethos ofEnamel. But it was also the age of the machine.
the show was that everything had to be forwardMany new materials became available, such as
looking, modern, new and display the best thatChrome and Bakelite, and expensive items were
the artisans, craftsmen and women and artists ofcopied and mass produced in the cheaper
Paris could produce. Pieces that today we wouldmaterials, especially after the Depression.
describe as Art Deco had been produced evenSigns of Age
before the turn of the century. Some of theApart from the 1950s when the style went out
pioneers of the style, which was a reactionof fashion for a while, Art Deco has remained
against the flowery, the pastel shades, and thevery popular and collectable. The Art Deco revival
natural style of Art Nouveau, were Charles Rennieyears of the 1960s and 70s particularly saw a
Mackintosh, Frank Lloyd Wright and Georgegreat deal of production of Art Deco style
Jensen.decorative items. So look for signs of age - check
Things to look for...what it is made of - Bakelite was not made after
Designthe second World War, so if it includes a newer
Does it have clean, angular lines? If it has flowers,plastic, you'll know its later than then. Wear and
or figures, are they real looking or stylised withtear - obviously older pieces will tend to be more
angular lines? Art Deco was influenced by the twotarnished, maybe have the odd chip. Does it look
dimensional forms of Cubism, so human andclean and brand new? Get your eye in by looking
animal forms, flowers and plants would bearound Antique shops, getting a feel for the
suggested by a few straight lines on a flat plane.materials, and the style, ask lots of questions.
Makers nameFun factor
Of course, with mass production there wereIs it quirky, fun, slightly tongue in cheek? The Art
millions of unmarked items. But if you are luckyDeco era was the period of Anything goes! Jazz,
enough to find a piece with name or mark on it,dancing, cocktails, cigarettes, staying out late, and
do your research. Was that artist working duringspeeding around the countryside in fast cars.
the period? Check what signatures and marksMany Art Deco pieces reflect the fun of the
they actually used during their lifetime. Laliqueperiod, with quirky items like cigarette dispensers
pieces, for example, continue to be produced toin the shape of a cocktail bar which lifts up and
this day, and are still signed Lalique. But during hisshoots out the cigarettes.
lifetime, they were signed, R. Lalique. There areWe all make mistakes, but go armed with a little
fakes around too, so do your research, and buyknowledge, and go with your gut instinct. Happy
from reputable dealers. Fakes don't usually havecollecting!