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Art Deco furniture is one of our favourite categories here at Village Vintage. Hailing from Paris in the 1910’s and filtering into Europe and the United States throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s, these vintage pieces are bursting with character and charm, perfect to bring a little alternative style into your home or business!
This week, we delve into Art Deco, its key features and the beautiful pieces our Essex antique dealer has available to purchase.
Short for the French phrase ‘Arts Décoratifs’, Art Deco emerged in the 20th century and was the predominant decorative art style around the WW1 era. Appearing in visual arts, architecture furniture and other product design, it is characterised by strong colours and geometric shapes. The ‘Art Deco’ style truly reflects the rapid industrialisation of the era. It's often associated with luxury, glamour, and exuberance!
The Art Deco movement continues to captivate with its sophistication, bringing a touch of vintage glamour to any space. If you’re newcomer to this iconic style, knowing the characteristics to look out for will help you on your journey to finding the right pieces. Distinctive features include:
Geometric Patterns: Geometric motifs are a hallmark of Art Deco furniture design. Look for pieces with inlaid wood patterns, angular metal accents, or carved details that emphasize symmetry and repetition. Other design patterns can include zigzags, chevrons, sunbursts and floral patterns.
Luxurious Materials: Furniture from this era showcases luxurious materials. Use of exotic woods like ebony, mahogany, and zebrawood are frequently used in Art Deco style. Incorporation of materials like chrome, glass, mirrors, lacquer, ivory, mother-of-pearl and shagreen (stingray skin) are also common here. This adds a sense of uniqueness and refinement to each piece.
Bold Colours: Deep saturated colours like black, gold, silver, ruby reds, emerald green and cobalt blues are often paired with glossy black or metallic finishes. These vibrant hues and reflective surfaces create dramatic statement pieces. There is often a high contrast between colours to enhance any geometric patterns.
Streamlined and Sleek: You’ll find that Art Deco furniture pieces often have a streamlined shape, with clean lines. Key features for pieces like sideboards, armchairs, and coffee tables include polished surfaces with smooth, curved edges or sharp, angular profiles. This creates a striking visual impact.
At Village Vintage, we’re passionate about Art Deco style and its culture. We have collected some beautiful pieces from Europe that we know our customers will love!
A set of five amber glass finger bowls. Each 13cm diameter and in very good condition! Beautiful accessories for any kitchen or dining room table.
A stunning French Art Deco vintage cocktail making and pouring jug, in a classically designed heavy crystal base, with a rare integral handle. The Silver Gilt mount is exquisitely decorated around the mounting collar. The spout is perforated to collect any unwanted residue upon pouring your cocktail! This piece is in original and unmarked condition and measures 25cm in height and 19cm wide.
A covered dish made from solid marble with and Art Deco detail on the front. Stylish and dainty, this is perfect to hold little trinkets or jewellery.
A stunning classic vintage 1950 wall clock, in excellent condition. A very rare find with a contrasting crackled varnished face and rich waxed Pitch Pine frame, with twenty-four hour numbers on the face.
A pair of decadent Amboyna veneer finish bedside tables in very good condition. Elegant shaped tops, with under tiers joined by three curvaceous legs. Versatile and useful for any room, these are an understated yet striking design.
A French Art Deco bistro table, with round glass top set over a striking red coloured ground. With a polished metal edge, set upon a three-facet column, which itself is set on an Art Deco stepped tripod base. The makers cast stamp can be seen on the column. This is a real statement piece and could be used as a lamp table or an indoor or outdoor drinks table. 71 cm in height and 48cm in width, this is very good condition with the base being painted over sometime during the 1920’s/30’s.
This stunning and rare piece is a genuine late Art Deco period round pedestal coffee/centre table from the renowned designer Reiners Mobler, of Mjolby, Sweden. Inlaid with vibrant flame mahogany veneers radially, with a contrasting centre medallion of satin Birch. This design and style is typical of this high-end designer.
The heavy tabletop sits upon a concave tripod centre column with stylised split turning Ebonised Corinthian columns. The table is stamped on the top support plate with an ‘R’ and ‘MJOLBY’. It's surrounded by three crowns inside a triangle and ‘1942’ on the underside of the top edge. 58cm in height and 110cm in diameter, this Art Deco coffee table is in good condition for its age. It comes complete with a bespoke protective 8mm plate glass top.
All items are available to view with our team at our secure storage facility, Monday-Friday by appointment only. Collection in person or UK and international shipping can be arranged for ultimate convenience.
If you’re interested in any of our vintage Art Deco furniture, the team at Village Vintage would love to help! We are passionate about delivering the best results for our valued customers. Simply get in touch with us by filling out our contact form and one of our friendly team will get back to you.
Is there a difference between antique and vintage pieces? Here at Village Vintage, it’s a question we’re often asked. Although commonly believed to mean the same, there are differences between the terminology, though they’re used interchangeably. In this week’s blog post, we take a closer look and clarify the significance between the two to help you make better informed decisions when purchasing or collecting your items.
The primary difference between antique and vintage lies in their age. Generally, an item is considered antique if it is at least 100 years old. This definition is widely accepted in the collectibles market and by most antique dealers. Antiques are often seen as items that have significant historical value, reflecting the craftsmanship, materials, and design aesthetics of the period in which they were made.
On the other hand, vintage items are typically those that are at least 20 years old, but not yet 100 years old. For instance, a vase from the 1980s can be described as vintage, whilst a vase from the 1890s would be considered antique.
The term vintage is often associated with a particular era or decade; ‘Mid C’ refers to mid-century (encompassing 1950/60/70's). This is the most common term referred to in association with the ‘best’ vintage period.
Antiques often carry a greater historical and cultural significance due to their age. They can provide insight into the social customs and artistic trends of their time. For example, an antique piece of furniture from the Victorian era can reveal much about the materials used and the stylistic preferences of that period.
Vintage items, while not as old, can still offer valuable cultural insights. They often reflect the popular styles and trends of a more recent past, capturing the essence of the time they represent. As an example, vintage fashion can showcase the evolving tastes and societal norms of the mid-20th century, such as the shift from the conservative styles of the 1940s to the bold and experimental fashions of the 1970s.
The condition and quality of an item can also distinguish the difference between antique and vintage pieces. Antiques, due to their age, are often rarer and may require more care to maintain their condition. They are typically valued for their originality and specifics like the patina that has developed over time, which can add to their historical authenticity and charm.
Vintage items, being newer, are often more readily available and may not require as much maintenance. However, their condition can still significantly impact their value. Pristine vintage items, especially those that are representative of their era, are highly sought after by collectors.
The market value of antiques and vintage items can vary widely based on factors such as rarity, condition, and demand. Rare and well-preserved antiques often reach higher prices due to their age and historical significance.
Vintage items can also be valuable, particularly if they are iconic of their time or have become fashionable again; which we have certainly seen more recently. For example, vintage collections from well-known designers can be highly desirable and fetch high prices. Naturally, the value of vintage items can also be influenced by current trends and the nostalgia factor. This can drive demand for items from particular decades.
In light of this, you may have heard of the term ‘retro’ within the vintage community. It’s commonly used in place of the term ‘vintage’, however there is a slightly different meaning to them. Retro is actually a shortening of the French word, retrograde. This is where newer pieces imitate or nod to the styles of the recent past. So, if an item is listed as retro, it most likely won’t be an authentic vintage piece.
Now we’ve clarified the difference between antique and vintage pieces, you can better appreciate the unique qualities and value of each type of item! Here at Village Vintage, we love what we do. We are passionate about delivering the best results for our valued customers. If you’re looking for unique vintage pieces and antique furniture, we’d love to help!
Simply get in touch with us by filling out our contact form and one of our friendly team will get back to you.