North Dakota School Of Mines

Art Deco furniture is characterized by its celebration of modern life. More than its emphasis on natural wood grains and focus on traditional craftsmanship, vintage Art Deco dining chairs, tables, desks, cabinets and other furniture — which typically refers to pieces produced during the 1920s and 1930s — is an ode to the glamour of the “Roaring Twenties.” 

ORIGINS OF ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGN

• Emerged in the 1920s 
• Flourished while the popularity of Art Nouveau declined
• Term derives from 1925’s Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) in Paris, France
• Informed by Ancient Egypt, Cubism, Futurism, Louis XVI, De Stijl, modernism and the Vienna Secession; influenced Streamline Moderne and mid-century modernism 

CHARACTERISTICS OF ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGN

• Bold geometric lines and forms, floral motifs
• Use of expensive materials such as shagreen or marble as well as exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and zebra wood
• Metal accents, shimmering mirrored finishes
• Embellishments made from exotic animal hides, inlays of mother-of-pearl or ivory

ART DECO FURNITURE DESIGNERS TO KNOW

• Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann
• René Lalique
• Eileen Gray
• Jean Dunand
• Donald Deskey
• Jean Perzel

VINTAGE ART DECO FURNITURE ON 1STDIBS

Few design styles are as universally recognized and appreciated as Art Deco. The term alone conjures visions of the Roaring Twenties, Machine Age metropolises, vast ocean liners, sleek typography and Prohibition-era hedonism. The iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship.

Widely known designers associated with the Art Deco style include Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Eileen Gray, Maurice Dufrêne, Paul Follot and Jules Leleu.

The term Art Deco derives from the name of a large decorative arts exhibition held in Paris in 1925. “Art Deco design” is often used broadly, to describe the work of creators in associated or ancillary styles. This is particularly true of American Art Deco, which is also called Streamline Moderne or Machine Age design. (Streamline Moderne, sometimes known as Art Moderne, was a phenomenon largely of the 1930s, post–Art Nouveau.)

Art Deco textile designers employed dazzling floral motifs and vivid colors, and while Art Deco furniture makers respected the dark woods and modern metals with which they worked, they frequently incorporated decorative embellishments such as exotic animal hides as well as veneers in their seating, case pieces, living room sets and bedroom furniture.

From mother-of-pearl inlaid vitrines to chrome aviator chairs, bold and inventive works in the Art Deco style include chaise longues (also known as chaise lounges) and curved armchairs. Today, the style is still favored by interior designers looking to infuse a home with an air of luxury and sophistication.

The vintage Art Deco furniture for sale on 1stDibs includes dressers, coffee tables, decorative objects and more.

Perfect for entertaining, a dinner party or a small luncheon, vintage, new and antique pitchers are versatile pieces to keep in any collection.

Whether you’re dining in the great outdoors, freshening up drinks in the living room or making a batch of fresh-squeezed juice for breakfast in the kitchen, a pitcher is a must-have feature of your dining and entertaining set.

Prior to indoor plumbing and the advent of sinks, people paired a pitcher with a wash basin on their bedside stand. Today, an antique washstand might be used as a nightstand or bedside table. These pitchers, along with the washstand, were essential in any bedroom.

Today, in displaying vintage ceramic pitchers on your Welsh kitchen dresser or in a corner cupboard, you’re inviting a pop of color and an alluring texture to mingle with your other serveware. But when entertaining, you’re likely going to put this decorative vessel to work. Some glazed stoneware and metal pitchers are outfitted with hinged lids to provide insulation, while potters and other craft artists at the time might have made complementary glasses or teacups to pair with their pitchers for a complete serving set. Glass and stoneware pitchers are perfect for serving beverages, but if you’re serving from a metal pitcher, you’ll want to ensure that the material is food-grade stainless steel.

For a simple home accent, consider using that wonderfully aging vintage metal pitcher as a vase for your flowers (be sure to use a watertight plastic liner or insert) or as a receptacle to display and organize your cooking utensils. Given the venturesome design sensibility that we associate with mid-century modernism, a mid-century modern pitcher is going to prove a unique and sophisticated decorative touch to any room in your home. While your farmhouse-style interior is practically begging for the earthy tones of a terracotta pitcher, an ironstone pitcher will bring ornate details to your mantel.

Find a collection of new, vintage and antique pitchers today on 1stDibs.