Art Deco
The Era
Art Deco is a style of visual arts that emerged in France just before WW1, and takes its name from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925. Combining modernist styles with skilled craftsmanship, the movement was influenced by the bold geometric forms of Cubism, the typically bright colours of the Ballet Russes, and often incorporated new and exotic materials. The Bauhaus philosophy of "no barriers between artists and craftsmen" led to some beautiful and stylistically simplified forms. The 1920s and ‘30s saw designers such as Cartier and René Lalique attempted to reduce the prevalence of diamonds in jewellery, in favour of more colourful gemstones, such as small emeralds, sapphires and rubies – as well lapis lazuli and jade. Millegrain was used to accent gem settings, and geometric designs and motifs were widely incorporated into forward-looking, futuristic styles.