NYSID's Judith Gura: Art Deco Endures

Art Deco originated in France, but was adopted and transformed in America to something more enduring and rather different. The original was an unabashedly elitist style, made of exotic materials with exquisite finishes and handcrafted details, while the American version focused on manufactured goods for a broader market. Intrigued by industrial materials and images that evoked speed, technology, and modern music, Americans embraced an aesthetic that was variously called Moderne, Jazz-Age,Skyscraper and Streamline Style. Curvy shapes, shiny materials and lively color evoked a mood of optimism that helped lift spirits in the Depression years.  Nowadays, the American Art Deco era is evoked mostly in pieces found at vintage dealers and fleamarkets….but the same appeal is seen in new Deco-inspired tableware and accessories that use materials like brushed aluminum, lucite and laminates. Once the media of the adventurous avant-garde, they have all become familiar elements of the design vocabulary – and at virtually all price levels, from budget to big-ticket.