The art of sensual austerity
The period between the two world wars, roughly between 1910 and 1935, replaced Art Nouveau and was characterized by a symmetrical, linear style that originated in France and spread to Germany and America. Art Deco became particularly widespread in the arts and crafts fields of furniture, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, and interior design. The term Art Deco developed from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, which took place in Paris in 1925. The enthusiastic Art Nouveau had found a worthy successor.
Cubist geometric shapes are characteristic, and the use of metals or synthetic materials is significant. Exotic woods and ivory, bronze and silver fittings, and lacquer work also became very popular. Overall, Art Deco furniture is characterized by sophisticated material choices and highly refined craftsmanship. One of the defining features of the style was the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922/23, which gave rise to an Egyptian fashion trend directly inspired by ancient models. Exotic influences were also significant, such as the art of the Native Americans of North and South America and the tribal art of sub-Saharan Africa.
Between high craftsmanship and mass production
Interior designers can be divided into traditionalists and constructivists; the former preserve curved lines and contours while emphasizing the precious workmanship of the furniture, while the latter use new and unusual materials. The traditionalists include L. Jallot, who was one of the first to use ivory decorative nails, as well as M. Dufrene and Paul Follot.
The most important traditionalist is E.-J. Ruhlmann. His furniture is characterized by perfect craftsmanship and the use of rare, exotic woods. Even in his day, purchasing one of his pieces of furniture was considered a luxury that only a small upper class could afford. Ruhlmann's Pavillon d'un Ambassadeur at the 1925 Paris World's Fair was representative of this highly sophisticated furniture art.
The constructivists, on the other hand, designed specifically for industrial mass production, which is reflected in their choice of materials: In addition to natural woods, leather, and straw, which were deliberately left unadorned, the first plastics, aluminum, and steel appeared. Djobourgeois, P. Chareau, and Jean Michel Frank are considered the most important representatives of this movement. M. Breuer and Le Corbusier, to name but a few, received important inspiration from the constructivists.
Other prominent representatives were Degué, Cheuret, Daum, le Verrier, and Majorelle (bronze casting). René Lalique was one of the first representatives of this guild to have his designs produced “only” according to his own specifications. This marked the beginning of industrial production in larger quantities in France as well.
