Art Deco: A Glamorous Pastiche

Ever- popular, evocative of an atmospheric age, glamorous, over -done, under appreciated: whatever you think of  'Art Deco' it is a style which refuses to stay quiet...

What would Zelda Fitzgerald, Fashion-forward author and Chronicler of the 1920's-wear today ? Imagined by Elle Magazine 

Throughout the twentieth century and into the twenty first, interior designers, architects, fashion designers and stylists have consistently referenced and re-invented Art Deco- a characteristic style which first took off in the early 1920's.

Perhaps one of the reasons so many fall in love with Deco is it's nature as a style with a story : it crystallises the great changes in politics, aesthetics and society which were brewing before the start of the First World War.

Fundamentally a style of the mid-war period: Art Deco borrows ideas and methods of production from the Modernist movement. Fauvism, Cubism, De Stijl, Futurism and Contructivism . It appropriates serious elements from all of these styles without losing its sense of wit and characteristic self - consciousness.

As a style it embraced visual arts, architecture and design in its many forms. Luxury and function became its trademark. Folkloric traditions that had inspired earlier artistic movements were superseded for technological progress.

Faith was in the new and the exotic, so an extensive use of chrome, steel and new plastics as much as silver, platinum, diamonds and jade created a new sensibility which explored themes of luxury and modernity.

As with many things pre-war : Deco's  philosophy and application was challenged in the 1940's. It's strong character began to seem formulaic and it's values disingenuous.

The artistic style which had defined an age came back in fashion with a bang in the 1960's, and was  re-established as an enduring global design movement. It was in this period of re discovery that the term 'Art Deco' was in fact coined.

Dynamic, geometric, colourful and always glamorous remains suggestive and highly desirable today.

Today we've narrowed down the wonderful and fabulous world of Deco in the visual arts to a few carefully chosen luxury Jewelled pieces, now available at Grays

Written by Titika Malkogeorgou

Deco Emerald and Diamond Clip, Available at Moira Fine Jewellery

Deco Sapphire and Deco Ruby Bracelets, Available at Moira Fine Jewellery 

Deco Diamond and Sapphie Drop Earrings, Available at Saul Greenstein 

Deco Onyx and Diamond Ring and Deco-style Diamond Domed Ring, Available at Wimpole

Deco French Lacquered Japanese Style Bracelet, Available at Pushkin Antiques 

Deco French Aquamarine Pendant, Available at Boris Sosna 

Deco Long- Chain Necklace with Fire Opal and Platinum, Available at Matthew Foster