The Allure of Art Deco The mere mention of the words “Art Deco” conjures up images of a bygone era, a time of glamour, adventure and excitement. That age seems far-off, yet it is barely 100 years away. The statuettes created during the period are its regal ambassadors, disseminated throughout the world. Created as mere decorative objects, they are now collector’s items that are sought-after and treasured. Most depict dancers poised as if caught in mid-flight. They appear to be frozen in time, about to break loose from their bases. Others depict elegant sportsmen and women, and children engaged in various activities. These sculptures were never intended to be shown at elite exhibitions nor were they made for the closed circle of a select clientele. Quite the contrary: they were created as ornamental objects and were sold in retail shops, gift shops and department stores. They were ideal gifts for weddings, retirements, and special occasions; they were sometimes even used as sports trophies. Created mainly by French sculptors, but also by German, Austrian and Italian artists, these statuettes were produced during the period between the two World Wars, from 1914 to 1939. The term “Art Deco”, an abbreviation of the title of the 1925 exhibition in Paris, the “Exposition International des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes”, was not coined until after the “World of Art Deco” exhibition held at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts in 1971. Art Deco was a logical reaction to the Art Nouveau style (1880-1914) with its flowing lines, exaggerated curves, excessive ornamentation, yet it was by no means a clean cut from the old. Quite the contrary. It borrowed heavily from the older period but its motifs were given a fresh interpretation. Everything became cleaner and more condensed. The right angle was absolute, and the line was paramount. While flowers, animals, and feminine figures continued to be depicted, they were now modernized and streamlined. The Art Deco era is also known as the “Années Folles” (the “Crazy Years”), the “Roaring Twenties”, the “Jazz Age”, the “Streamline Period” and the “Machine Age”. The “Crazy Years” because after the brutality of World War I, peace had finally come and people were eager to forget the past and its troubles and enjoy the present to the fullest. A frenzy of hedonism began. The “Jazz Age” because the world discovered the latest American export: jazz. The music was new, catchy and seductive. It invaded the clubs and music halls of Paris, Berlin and London. Jazz singers and musicians were all the rage.
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