Page 58 - AARF 2019-2020

Deco vs Moderne styles. So when you collect this
furniture and “smalls”, don’t expect
Continued from Page 56 a single “look” – but all examples you
will find have a boldness, stressing
This design concept showcased line and function, with unusual and
these unusual materials for often curved shapes, strong colors,
their own sakes – not to copy a geometric forms and sometimes wild
Grecian motif or to create a faux animal motifs like zebra rugs and
medieval castle. The new “modern” leaping antelopes.
style emphasized a high level of Some of the leaders at that
workmanship and single or very time include Rene Lalique glass
small editions, sometimes each designer, Jean Dunand specializing
item in a small edition slightly in lacquers, Erte visual designer,
different than the others and of Leon Bakst designer for the
importance to today’s investment Diaghilev Ballet Russe, Edgar Brandt
level collectors, often signed by the metalwork; and both Émile-Jacques
designer. Ruhlmann and Jules Leleu furniture.
Additionally, there were By 1912, the French government
technological and engineering felt they were ready to promote
advances at the turn of the their new style and planned a huge
century that enabled new ways international exhibition in Paris to
of designing and lighting interior showcase the new luxe products
spaces – electric light bulbs, – but WWI interrupted these
plastic Bakelite, aerodynamics plans and it wasn’t until 1925
science, automobiles. For example, that it happened: the Exposition
glass maker Renee Lalique lit the internationale des Arts Décoratifs
interior of the SS Normandie’s et industriels modernes,
1st Class Dining Room with commonly called the “Art Deco”
floor-to-ceiling pillars of world fair.
frosted glass imbedded America had been invited to
with electric lights at make a pavilion there, but
the base instead President Hoover didn’t
of traditional feel our designers were
hanging ceiling modern enough, so
chandeliers. he turned down
There were the invitation.
no wr itt en That infuriated
r u l e s f o r Amer icans,
t he ne w and af t er
modern look, visiting the fair
but generally it and checking
was understood out the new “Art
that simple and Deco” designs, they
sometimes surprising determined to create
functional forms and an American version
colors would replace of the modern look
the restrictions of which they called “Art
previous historical Moderne”.
American Art Deco Flamingo Night Light
58