Summary

Taking its name from the Paris Exposition International des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes of 1925, the Art Deco style was the last word in design for a generation. Using characteristic geometric or stylised shapes and patterns, early Art Deco works were made of costly materials such as ivory, lacquer and jade, their ownership restricted to the wealthiest of buyers. With the advent of the Great Depression, designers turned to economical mass-produced materials such as bakelite and aluminium. This led to a widely affordable Art Deco range of furniture, kitchenware and household appliances, that has come back into fashion many times over the years. A major influence on the architecture of the twenties and thirties, the Art Deco style can be seen in a wide range of private, commercial and public buildings worldwide. Art Deco is the complete illustrated history of an unusually influential design concept.