Art Deco is a style that shone brightly between the two World Wars and continues to captivate today – with its vibrancy, elegance, and unmistakable symmetry. It’s that special expression that draws the eye and adds a touch of glamour to any space. At RARO ANTIQUES, we have a special fondness for this magnificent style and dedicate a significant part of our antique collection to it. Since we believe that Art Deco antiques deserve to be better known, we invite you to join us in discovering why this style remains so enchanting after all these years. Get ready for a journey back to a time when the world was filled with optimism and style!
At the turn of the 20th century, many French artists, architects, and designers began to notice that the then-dominant style – Art Nouveau – was losing its freshness. The world was changing rapidly: the Industrial Revolution had profoundly transformed daily life, and modern society longed for something new – a form of expression that would confidently proclaim the arrival of the 20th century.
In this spirit, a new style emerged in France – initially known as le style moderne or Jazz Moderne – which, between 1919 and 1939, left its mark on art, architecture, and design worldwide. Today we know it as Art Deco, a name it only officially received in 1968 when the period regained the attention of art historians.
The history of Art Deco
Art Deco gained international recognition with a grand exhibition in Paris in 1925, where luxurious, playful, and avant-garde works were presented. It was the style of the interwar years – a time of aesthetics, bold experimentation, and rapid technological progress, all blending into a distinctly modern, elegant, and optimistic visual language.
Although the term “Art Deco” only became established in the 1960s, its origins are closely linked to the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925. It was here that the world first encountered this new style en masse – opulent, playful, yet strict in its elegance.
In art, design, and everyday objects, Art Deco marked a departure from the ornate, floral aesthetics of Art Nouveau and a step toward a more geometric, structured, modern look. This was a time when the world began to dream of the future – of speed, progress, glamour, and technology. Art Deco embodied this spirit, combining influences from Cubism, Egyptian art, African ornamentation, Asian patterns, as well as the ethos of the Industrial Revolution and the glitter of Hollywood.
Art Deco reached its peak in the 1920s and 1930s, spreading across the globe – from Parisian interiors and New York skyscrapers to glamorous cinemas and everyday objects such as furniture, lighting, jewelry, textiles, and household items. While today the term “Art Deco” often brings to mind architecture, the style was equally present in interiors and everyday objects, which are now among the most sought-after pieces for collectors and lovers of design history.
After World War II, the world was different. The focus was on building a new future – quickly, rationally, and functionally. Art Deco slowly faded from the spotlight, replaced by minimalist and stricter modernist styles, such as the International Style.
Why Art Deco antiques today?
In today’s world of fast trends and mass production, Art Deco antiques feel like a precious reminder of a time when beauty and quality were unquestioned values. It’s no wonder that interest in them keeps returning – in fashion, interior design, and collecting.
Art Deco teaches us that even everyday things can be beautiful. That every detail is worth it – if made with heart and style. And that sometimes, looking back helps us move forward – with a greater sense of aesthetics, culture, and time.
In our online antique store, you’ll find a selection of carefully chosen Art Deco antiques – original, rare, and full of character. We invite you to browse our collection and perhaps bring a touch of early 20th-century elegance into your own home.