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Publisher’s Corner

Celebrating Art Deco in the journalofantiques.com

21st Century Publisher

Maxine Carter-Lome
While design and fashion are sometimes difficult to These European design trendsetters journalofantiques@gmail.com
define and assign to an era, Art Deco is one style that is and the success of the 1925 Paris Maxine Carter-Lome
easily identifiable, whether it’s a building’s architecture, a Exhibition fueled a movement that Business Manager
piece of jewelry, or a decorative object. spread to America in the second half of the “Roaring Jeffrey Lome
French Art Deco as a design era is unique and 1920s,” creating a new luxury consumer market for jeffrey@journalofantiques.com
different, but like many, represents an evolutionary European art deco-inspired home furnishings, graphic Managing Editor
vision of what came before it and propelled it to art, and personal luxury goods such as perfume bottles, Judy Gonyeau
consumer popularity. In this case, it’s the influence of jewelry, vanity table items, decorative objects, and editorial.journalofantiques@gmail.com
such modern-based European design movements as Art desk accessories. Art Director
Nouveau, Avant-Garde, and Bauhaus coming out of Although the United States did not participate in
other European countries, which all came to play and the 1925 Paris Exposition due to an unfortunate Lynn Cotterman
display at the 1925 Paris Exposition in what can only be misinterpretation of the fair’s guidelines, hundreds of ads@journalofantiques.com
considered Style Moderne fusion. The unified message American tourists, department store buyers, artists, and Production
was that Europe had entered into the Modern Age. journalists attended anyway. They returned inspired
Although the definitions for these alternative modern with a new vision for a “Modern America” based on the Jill Montague
design movements of the early 20th century have been boldness and design precepts of Art Deco Style Moderne. Judy Gonyeau
refined by a more retro perspective, they are in their The outgrowth of this inspiration was a uniquely Lynn Cotterman
current iteration generally and popularly defined as American design interpretation of European modernism
follows: Art Nouveau – “a style of decorative art, architec- that launched and influenced American consumer
ture, and design prominent in western Europe and fashion, home goods, and modern architecture from the 508-347-1960
the US from about 1890 until World War I and mid-1920s through the Great Depression and essentially Toll free:
characterized by intricate linear designs and flowing ending with the start of the second world war. 888-698-0734
curves based on natural forms;” Avant-Garde – “a American Art Deco differed from European Art Deco
modernist term for a movement in art, culture, and in its simplicity and use of clear-cut lines. While both Fax: 508-347-0911
politics coming out of Eastern Europe, that cuts at the styles (particularly 1920s American Art Deco) feature Mailing:
vanguard of ideas both in terms of their mode of precise design lines, bold arches, geometric patterns, and P. O. Box 950
expression and the social impact that they have for vivid colors, American pieces tend to be more subtle and Sturbridge, MA 01566
everyday living;” Bauhaus – “an influential art and less ornate; a more stripped-down, sleeker version of
design movement that began in 1919 in Germany and European Art Deco that was more appealing to a broader info@journalofantiques.com
championed a geometric, abstract style featuring little American consumer market. American companies were
UPS and FedEx
sentiment or emotion and no historical nods;” Style able to translate the essence of Art Deco design into Shipping Address:
Moderne – “an international style of Art Deco architecture aesthetically appealing, machine-made objects available 46 Hall Road
and design that emerged in the 1930s;” and Art Deco – and affordable to everyone. Sturbridge, MA 01566
“the predominant decorative art style of the 1920s and Art Deco’s influence on architecture was also
1930s, characterized by precise and boldly delineated embraced by almost every emerging metropolitan city Journal of
geometric shapes and strong colors and used most during the first half of the 20th century as a symbol of Antiques and Collectibles
notably in household objects and in architecture.” their progress. The bold use of technology and man-made is published monthly in digital
The Paris Exposition, as you will read in our feature materials in the building of new skyscrapers defined rising and bi-monthly in print by
story “1925 Exposition: Art Deco on the World Stage” skylines with iconic structures that today are preserved Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
on page 18, was about post-war France wanting to as historic landmarks. Art Deco also found a home in 46 Hall Road
emerge on the world stage as the arbiter of taste and fash- such suburban cities as Los Angeles, Miami Beach, and Sturbridge MA 01566.
ion with its Art Deco interpretation of Style Moderne, an South Beach. Miami Beach still celebrates its Art Deco
umbrella catchall for a modern design aesthetic sweeping heritage with an annual Art Deco Weekend, this year Periodicals postage paid at
Europe that embraced the future rather than venerating January 14-16, 2022. Art Deco Weekend was created Sturbridge MA.
the past in form, function, and materials. The intent of nearly 43 years ago by the Miami Design Preservation
the fair was to show the world a bolder, more modern League (MDPL) to showcase the beautiful Art Deco
interpretation of design as fashion using man-made mate- buildings of South Beach. POSTMASTER:
rials in creative and functional ways. Although the Art Art Deco fell out of style in Europe during the 1930s Send address changes to
Deco aesthetic was already popular in France by 1925, but thrived in America up until the second world war. The Journal of Antiques
the Exposition was the first time it would be introduced Theatres, homes, government buildings, and even cruise and Collectibles
to an international audience. ships followed the Art Deco style, inside and out, as did ISSN: (1539-5618)
Interestingly, the term Art Deco was not assigned more than a decade of American-made consumer home P.O. Box 950
to this aesthetic, design period, and the fair until the goods and decorative objects that today fall into the Sturbridge, MA 01566
1960s, and has since been retroactively applied. Now realm of authentic antique collectibles, making them
re-emerging in interest again after a century and a 1960s more desirable and collectible among anyone with an The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
resurgence, original items from the Art Deco era, roughly appreciation for its symbolism and aesthetic. reserves the right to reject any advertising that
does not comply with our standards. The
the 1920s through the late 1930s—from furniture and Journal will not be liable for any errors or
decorative art objects to jewelry and home appliances— omissions but will print a correction in the
following issue if notification of such error is
are entering the pantheon of antique collectibles. Leading
sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
the market are such names as Louis Comfort Tiffany manuscripts are welcomed by qualified
(1848-1933), Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928), writers. We assume no responsibility for loss
of unsolicited material.
Josef Hoffman (1870-1956), Rene Lalique (1860-1945), Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher
Clarice Cliff (1899-1972), and Eileen Gray (1878-1976). Copyright 2022
All rights reserved

4 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles