1930s

1930s

1930s

The 1930   are epitomised by Art

Deco, a distinctive style based on clean lines, geometric shapes, and architectural influences. As many objects in this style suit a modern home and are often inexpensive, they remain popular today.

 

Art Deco takes its name from the 1925 Paris exhibition of modern decorative arts - the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes - where this distinctive, between-the- wars style first gained widespread exposure. The flowing lines of Art Nouveau and the sober tones of wartime Europe gave way to the strikingly modern objects exhibited by French and Swiss designers.

An instant success

The exhibition featured items in many new materials, such as plastics and laminates, made with new industrial processes. Objects were brightly coloured and decorated with geometric lines and angular shapes. The look was hugely popular and ipass-production techniques enabled many people to buy these glamorous and fashionable objects at affordable prices for their own homes.

The shape of things

1930s

Early Art Deco items are often rounded, and feature Art Nouveau-inspired decoration,

1930s

such as flowers, deer, and pearls.

Later Deco objects frequently carry stylised motifs with modern angular forms, including sunbursts, spirals, and chevrons. Popular objects decorated with this look include vases, lamps, and clocks. Items can lie found from around £30-50 or more, depending on the style and maker, with items by leading names, such as Clarice Cliff or Susie Cooper, or which exhibit key designs fetching upwards of £200-800.

Worldly influences

Designs of the period were influenced by changes in the world at large. Jazz,

1930s

athletics, and travel were in vogue and had an impact on many 1930sobjects. Bronze and spelter (a nc-based metal) figures were made in large numbers. Unmarked painted plaster or spelter pieces can be found for up to £100-300, while signed ivory or bronze figures will cost around £400-10,000 or more.

Decorative objects of the period sometimes reflected the bold, abstract patterns of African art, Egyptian and oriental styles, and Cubism.ArialThe glamour of early Hollywood led to a rise in luxury materials such as shagreen (a mottled, often green, shark skin), mirrored objects, and cocktail and smoking accessories. In the USA, designers began to 'streamline' objects, with lines becoming cleaner and more curved. Chrome and Bakelite were used to mass-produce items of style, such as radios.

The best - and the rest, for less

Ceramics by Clarice Cliff and Susie Cooper, opalescent glass by Rene Lalique, and furniture by Eileen Grey and Betty Joel are all collectable. Prices can be high (often £2,000- 10,000 or more) but smaller items or less popular designs tend to be more affordable. The best designs were often copied - a 1930s Lalique bowl with shells or a geometric design may cost £600-1,000 or more, but a similar bowl by Etling may fetch £200-300.

1930s

Items do not need to be by major names to be valuable, but they should be representative of the style of the period and in excellent condition. Bronze figures are expensive, so look for attractive spelter figures, such as elegant ladies with outstretched arms - but beware of fakes or poor quality.

Stylish living

Art Deco furniture from lesser-known designers can be bought for similar prices to new furniture. A dressing table with a column-shaped chest of drawers, large mirror, and curving top can be found for around £200-300. Look out for circular display cabinets on rectangular bases as these are typical of the period - they can cost upwards of £300-600. Deco-styled leather armchairs may command around £1,000 or more for a pair, but many wood-framed examples can usually be found for about £300- 500 or less.

BUY

The 1930s saw many Art Deco style wooden mantel clocks being made, and today these add affordable and functional Art Deco style to a room. Prices are generally low, and are unlikely to drop any further.

1930s