Art Deco furniture is one of our favourite categories here at Village Vintage. Hailing from Paris in the 1910’s and filtering into Europe and the United States throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s, these vintage pieces are bursting with character and charm, perfect to bring a little alternative style into your home or business!
This week, we delve into Art Deco, its key features and the beautiful pieces our Essex antique dealer has available to purchase.
What is Art Deco?
Short for the French phrase ‘Arts Décoratifs’, Art Deco emerged in the 20th century and was the predominant decorative art style around the WW1 era. Appearing in visual arts, architecture furniture and other product design, it is characterised by strong colours and geometric shapes. The ‘Art Deco’ style truly reflects the rapid industrialisation of the era. It's often associated with luxury, glamour, and exuberance!
Styles and Characteristics
The Art Deco movement continues to captivate with its sophistication, bringing a touch of vintage glamour to any space. If you’re newcomer to this iconic style, knowing the characteristics to look out for will help you on your journey to finding the right pieces. Distinctive features include:
Geometric Patterns: Geometric motifs are a hallmark of Art Deco furniture design. Look for pieces with inlaid wood patterns, angular metal accents, or carved details that emphasize symmetry and repetition. Other design patterns can include zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts and floral patterns.
Luxurious Materials: Furniture from this era showcases luxurious materials. Use of exotic woods like ebony, mahogany, and zebrawood are frequently used in Art Deco style. Incorporation of materials like chrome, glass, mirrors, lacquer, ivory, mother-of-pearl and shagreen (stingray skin) are also common here. This adds a sense of uniqueness and refinement to each piece.
Bold Colours: Deep saturated colours like black, gold, silver, ruby reds, emerald green and cobalt blues are often paired with glossy black or metallic finishes. These vibrant hues and reflective surfaces create dramatic statement pieces. There is often a high contrast between colours to enhance any geometric patterns.
Streamlined and Sleek: You’ll find that Art Deco furniture pieces often have a streamlined shape, with clean lines. Key features for pieces like sideboards, armchairs, and coffee tables include polished surfaces with smooth, curved edges or sharp, angular profiles. This creates a striking visual impact.
Art Deco Furniture at Village Vintage
At Village Vintage, we’re passionate about Art Deco style and its culture. We have collected some beautiful pieces from Europe that we know our customers will love!
French Amber Finger Bowls x5
A set of five amber glass finger bowls. Each 13cm diameter and in very good condition! Beautiful accessories for any kitchen or dining room table.
Vintage French Silver Gilt Cocktail Jug
A stunning French Art Deco vintage cocktail making and pouring jug, in a classically designed heavy crystal base, with a rare integral handle. The Silver Gilt mount is exquisitely decorated around the mounting collar. The spout is perforated to collect any unwanted residue upon pouring your cocktail! This piece is in original and unmarked condition and measures 25cm in height and 19cm wide.
Vintage Marble Lade Covered Dish
A covered dish made from solid marble with and Art Deco detail on the front. Stylish and dainty, this is perfect to hold little trinkets or jewellery.
Vintage French Styled Wooden Wind Up Wall Clocks
A stunning classic vintage 1950 wall clock, in excellent condition. A very rare find with a contrasting crackled varnished face and rich waxed Pitch Pine frame, with twenty-four hour numbers on the face.
Pair of French Amboyna Two Tier Bedside Tables
A pair of decadent Amboyna veneer finish bedside tables in very good condition. Elegant shaped tops, with under tiers joined by three curvaceous legs. Versatile and useful for any room, these are an understated yet striking design.
French Cast Iron Bistro Table
A French Art Deco bistro table, with round glass top set over a striking red coloured ground. With a polished metal edge, set upon a three-facet column, which itself is set on an Art Deco stepped tripod base. The makers cast stamp can be seen on the column. This is a real statement piece and could be used as a lamp table or an indoor or outdoor drinks table. 71 cm in height and 48cm in width, this is very good condition with the base being painted over sometime during the 1920’s/30’s.
Art Deco Coffee Table
This stunning and rare piece is a genuine late Art Deco period round pedestal coffee/centre table from the renowned designer Reiners Mobler, of Mjolby, Sweden. Inlaid with vibrant flame mahogany veneers radially, with a contrasting centre medallion of satin Birch. This design and style is typical of this high-end designer.
The heavy tabletop sits upon a concave tripod centre column with stylised split turning Ebonised Corinthian columns. The table is stamped on the top support plate with an ‘R’ and ‘MJOLBY’. It's surrounded by three crowns inside a triangle and ‘1942’ on the underside of the top edge. 58cm in height and 110cm in diameter, this Art Deco coffee table is in good condition for its age. It comes complete with a bespoke protective 8mm plate glass top.
Viewings
All items are available to view with our team at our secure storage facility, Monday-Friday by appointment only. Collection in person or UK and international shipping can be arranged for ultimate convenience.
Get in Touch
If you’re interested in any of our vintage Art Deco furniture, the team at Village Vintage would love to help! We are passionate about delivering the best results for our valued customers. Simply get in touch with us by filling out our contact form and one of our friendly team will get back to you.
