Page 56 - AARF 2019-2020

French Art Deco vs American Art Moderne

How to Collect in Florida

By Sheila Hollihan-Elliot

By 1900 it seemed the Although there had been
whole world was ready for great expectations for the
a change – the design Art Nouveau style in the
world especially was end of the 19th Century,
looking for something that style was easily
new and different to copied in inexpensive
herald the new 20th knockoffs. So, the
Century – something as government sponsored
revolutionary as what academies encouraged
the fine artists were a new look: teachers
then experimenting emphasized the use
with. Designers and of exotic and costly
architects had tired materials from the
of fussy ornamented French colonies – rare
Victorian designs based woods, ivory, shagreen,
on historical styles – Gothic lacquers etc.
revival, neo classicism, and Continued on Page 58
other ”isms”.
At the same time, in Europe,
the national governments
supported academies
and craft workshops to
help their designers
develop items that American Art Deco Silver
would compete Leafed Mirror & Gazelle
globally in trade and Sculpture
exports. Nations
with colonies,
such as France
and England,
especially wanted
to find ways to
profit from the
raw materials
gathered Max LeVerrier
throughout their ”greenie”
empires. Lamp
France had
always been
known for luxury Portrait drawing of
goods – couturier Rudolph Valentino
fashion, paintings,
sculpture.
56