Relevant categories: Art Deco,Cabinets and Chests
(Above photo - Art Deco Lacquer Cocktail Cabinet )
Many types of furniture were produced as part of the art deco movement in the 1920s through the 1930s. A good example is the art deco cocktail cabinet, which was meant to hold all the items required for a cocktail. Until today, cocktail cabinets carry alcohol, other ingredients, glassware, and other accessories. Like other furniture pieces made using that style, the cocktail cabinets emphasized a sense of sophistication and luxury. They were made from mahogany and included materials like plate glass, chrome, and Bakelite.
What Is Art Deco?
(Above photo -Art Deco Drinks Cabinet - Maple Cocktail Chest 1930 ) Art deco is a style that encompassed fine art, crafts, and architecture, coming to the fore in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1925, Paris hosted a decorative arts exhibition sparking the beginning of the art deco movement. Soon, architects, decorative artists, fashion designers, and fine artists adopted the style in practicing their respective trades. Art deco was all about celebrating modernity while emphasizing sophistication and luxury. The works featured luxury materials like mahogany and ivory as well as new ones such as plate glass, chrome, and Bakelite. Wooden surfaces were lacquered with resins to make them hard and shiny.
Whether in furniture or buildings, art deco utilized geometric shapes of all kinds. There was an emphasis on vertical lines and streamlined surfaces. Mostly, designers employed high contrast and bold colors. Elements borrowed from machines such as automobiles, trains, and airplanes, can also be seen on art deco items. At that time, furniture was purposely created to fit into a given interior. Many of these art deco drinks cabinets are on display in the Canonbury Antiques Hertfordshire showroom so please get in touch for an appointment.
Characteristics of Art Deco Furniture
(Above photo - Deco Aviator Drinks Cabinet Cocktail Chest Leather ) Early in the art deco period, designers mostly created luxury pieces of furniture. For the first time, department stores in Paris began to stock cocktail sets, light fixtures, and large pieces of furniture. Customers would walk into the shops and buy whatever piece of furniture they needed in their homes.
Designers used different types of wood to make furniture. Examples include mahogany, zebrawood, and ebony. Sometimes, thin wood layers were covering the furniture surfaces. Some designers would use natural grains to emphasize the linear aspects of a piece of furniture. In some cases, there were subtle curves without making a piece of furniture heavy or bulky. As additional decoration, designers used ivory inlays of animate and plant figures. Alternative materials for inlays included mother-of-pearl and brass.
(Above photo - Art Deco Cocktail Cabinet - Drinks Chest ) Art deco furniture designers sometimes used modern materials like chrome and aluminum. These metals were used on cabinets, chairs, and dressers to create mirror-like shiny surfaces. The themes used on the furniture included stars, animals, sunbursts, and V-shapes.
(Above photo - Art Deco Cocktail Cabinet Drinks Chest 1930 ) Having begun in the 1920s and developed in the 1930s, the art deco movement experienced a resurgence in the 1960s. Acted as a precursor to the modern-day minimalist style. If you are looking for an art deco cocktail cabinet, you are likely to get one made in the early period. Even so, modern designers continue to make pieces of furniture in line with the style developed in the 1920s. Talk to us for all your antique furniture needs.
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