What is Art Deco Furniture?

Is there any style more enchanting than Art Deco? Ranking high among design’s most theatrical styles, Art Deco showcases dynamic forms and striking finishes that make it instantly recognizable — even to design outsiders. But summing up Art Deco furniture can be difficult. Particularly because Art Deco has merged with dozens of other designs styles over the years. (Perhaps most notably, fusing with Postmodernism in the 1980s). So what is true Art Deco furniture? Here, we walk you through the basics.

Art Nouveau, Art Deco’s Precursor

It’s nearly impossible to talk about Art Deco without first talking about Art Nouveau furniture. Art Nouveau was a style movement that rebelled against the industrialization of the late 19th Century. Study furniture and art from the Art Nouveau era and you’re likely to see it’s flush with sinuous curves that recall botanical-like forms.

Art Deco adopts many of the natural motifs found in Art Nouveau, but also factors in a more geometric approach. Feathers, palm fronds, and other spire-like leaves are central Art Deco design motifs. From a more architectural perspective, stepped forms and waterfall forms are common among Art Deco pieces. A common misconception is that Art Deco furniture maintains no sweeping curvature. While this is generally true of Art Deco buildings, a great deal of Art Deco-era furniture showcases curvature. Minimalist cabriole legs are common finds on Art Deco tables, as are swooping pedestal bases. Swedish Art Deco club chairs often feature swooping polished wood arms as well.

Luxurious Art Deco Finishes

Part of what makes Art Deco furniture so distinctive is its luxurious finishes. From marquetry to lacquered goat skin, Art Deco integrated specimen-grade materials without batting an eye. The adoption of high-end finishes was due in large part to the increase in travel and transportation that accompanied the era. As travel (and in association, supply chain pathways) became more accessible, rare and exotic materials were more easily transported from one place to another.