Relevant categories:
(Above photo - Art Deco Bronze Figurine Lamp Light Statue 1920s )
Art deco lighting is characterized by geometrical patterns and symmetrical details, employing distinctive finishes for a unique, futuristic effect. Examples include tiers of elongated architectural forms of stepped finials and skyscraper shades. Traditionally art deco lights were used in municipal and commercial buildings. Today, you can use them to create focal points in homes regardless of the interior décor style.
Art Deco Lights in the Early 1900s
(Above photo - Art Deco Lighting - Biba Lamp on Obelisk )
The turn of the 20th century was marked by the popularity of the highly decorative ornate revival lighting. These lights sought to revive motifs like acanthus leaves and filigree from 17th century France. Within a few years, people were making the switch from gas-powered to electric lighting. It is not uncommon to find electric light designs with exposed bulbs. With that, people could show off their electric fixtures while optimizing light output. In the succeeding decades, there was a transformation in lighting design resulting in the whimsical, streamlined style called art deco lighting.
How Did The Shift Happen?
(Above photo - Art Deco Clarte Lamp by LeVerrier )
The beginning of the art deco movement is the Paris International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts of 1925. At the fair, designers exhibited the first streamlined, geometric-oriented light fixtures. It was after the exhibition that the art deco movement proper started.
Critical Elements of Art Deco Style
Unlike their predecessors, lighting manufacturers of the 1920s were more able to use high-quality materials while implementing intricate details. Advancement in technology enabled the production of brighter light bulbs, necessitating shades for diffused natural light. All of these elements became integral to the development of art deco lights. Here are some of the features that defined this style of decoration:
Categories of Art Deco lights
High Art Deco: In this category are all the items exhibited during the Paris expo in 1925. They have the following common characteristics:
Streamline Art Deco: In this category, we have art deco lights considered stereotypical. They have the following elements in common:
Greco-Deco: A style combining art deco elements with motifs from the classical revival style. It borrowed heavily from the design elements from Classical Europe.
The Great Depression and the Popularity of Art Deco
During the 1930s, the art deco style spread from France and Europe to the United States. Designers who had attended the Paris convention carried the design style to America and beyond. At the turn of the new decade, more streamlined, simplistic designs morph into fixtures with glass components but little detail.
If you are looking for art deco lights to buy, we have some of the best in our store. Welcome!
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