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Art Deco is 100 years old

(97 Posts)
Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 08:57:10

And still looks fresh and modern today.

It is one of my most favourite periods both for the architecture, the art and style. It was the last of the total styles.

Our house built in the 30s reflects this period, with its huge bay windows, rising sun gates, and the new “built in kitchen’. So whilst I have embraced more modern design in the kitchen, bathroom etc, I have retained the art deco style for the living rooms etc.

I love it. I also find the history of that period fascinating. So much of the intellectual thinkers, from Keynes, to Huxley to Picasso to Orwell to Christie to Freud and so much more.

My goodness what a wealth of riches that period produced.

Allira Fri 14-Nov-25 16:40:32

TerriBull

Your windows sound wonderful WW, it appears they got to grips with curving glass in the '30s. I always think it's a real shame when people get rid of those iconic features.

There was a lovely Art Deco sun Ray's style window on the landing of MIL's house.
Unfortunately, the house was rented so we couldn't have it replaced and taken it with us!

A while later the new owners invited us to look around and sadly, the stained glass window had been replaced.

IOMGran Fri 14-Nov-25 16:38:13

Casdon

You’re right Whitewavemark2. Art Nouveau to me is all about craftsmanship and detail, a continued style evolution of the Victorian era, whereas at peak, Art Deco was a smack in the face style wise, with bright colours, simple shapes and fun. It’s comparing a Victorian portrait with a Monte Carlo poster in my mind.

More Clarice Cliff.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 16:05:54

Oh yes! Think of all those railway and holiday posters.

Casdon Fri 14-Nov-25 16:01:22

You’re right Whitewavemark2. Art Nouveau to me is all about craftsmanship and detail, a continued style evolution of the Victorian era, whereas at peak, Art Deco was a smack in the face style wise, with bright colours, simple shapes and fun. It’s comparing a Victorian portrait with a Monte Carlo poster in my mind.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 15:50:27

Oh! And the latest jaguar car tips its hat at art deco. Rather smart

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 15:48:59

The point with that period, everything was affected from houses to public buildings to factories. From post boxes to road signs. Jewellery and radios. Crockery and cutlery.

It can be seen everywhere.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Fri 14-Nov-25 15:33:15

JamesandJon33

I think some posters are confusing Art Deco with Art Nouveau.

Ah.
Me for one then JamesandJon!

“Charles Rennie Mackintosh is not considered an Art Deco artist; his work is primarily categorized as Art Nouveau and is a key part of the Glasgow Style. Art Deco emerged later, but some of his later designs, such as his work at 78 Derngate, show influences of geometry that hint at Art Deco”

Source: Wiki

OldFrill Fri 14-Nov-25 13:47:08

JamesandJon33

I think some posters are confusing Art Deco with Art Nouveau.

Agree

JamesandJon33 Fri 14-Nov-25 13:27:08

I think some posters are confusing Art Deco with Art Nouveau.

J52 Fri 14-Nov-25 11:41:26

Often houses (ones for the ordinary folk) were built by local builders who learnt their trades as apprentices. Their building styles were a reflection of what they were taught at the time. So an older builder who learnt his trades in the Georgian or Victorian times would continue to build houses in that style.
Our 100 year old cottage has mostly Victorian features, but ‘modern’ for the time, bay windows.
Our son’s house in the same village, was built at the same time as ours, but is definitely Art Deco in design.
We once had an 1850 house that was Georgian in design.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 11:22:04

TerriBull

I think architecture reached a zenith in the 30s before it all went tits up and the war came, afterwards architecturally there was nothing much to write home about. I don't like the Brutalist style of the 60s, maybe late 50s?. I know flats in the Barbican for example, typical of that style, are highly sought after, but slabs of concrete as opposed to bricks aren't attractive to me.

Lathyrus lovely door. I think Art Nouveau was inclined to the curly and flowery, Beardsley prints and William Morris so intricate, I do love that style too.

Yes I dislike Brutalism intensely. It was the post WW2 use of all that ghastly concrete.

Granmarderby10 Fri 14-Nov-25 11:16:17

Ooh ‘eck! Whitewavemark2

Lathyrus3 Fri 14-Nov-25 11:14:35

cosier

Lathyrus3 Fri 14-Nov-25 11:14:24

I think I’ll be like Casdon. And do a bit of educating myself.

I was all modern and minimalist in my last house. Now I like the vizier feel of this one.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 11:02:13

Yes! Last time we were there my DH fell down those stairs, and sort of rolled around the wall. They were more worried about the wall than my DH 😄😄

I like the garden.

TerriBull Fri 14-Nov-25 11:01:45

I know Lewes well, the Woolfs' house is on my NT list as a place to visit.

I also love Arts and Crafts houses.

This is a nice thread smile

Rosie51 Fri 14-Nov-25 10:56:47

www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eltham-palace-and-gardens/

As per my post at 10:05. The entrance hall.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 10:51:49

windmill1

William Morris "Arts & Crafts" style has always been my favourite.

That’s my sons favourite. His house is an Arts and Craft style built between 1900-1910. I do like it.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 10:50:24

Woolf drowned herself in the River Ouse that runs through Lewis. She walked there from the house with pockets full of stones.

windmill1 Fri 14-Nov-25 10:47:26

William Morris "Arts & Crafts" style has always been my favourite.

TerriBull Fri 14-Nov-25 10:47:09

When we lived near Richmond there was a blue plaque to denote a house where Leonard and Virginia Woolf lived. I remember going to see the film "The Hours" in which she featured in the Richmond cinema. There was a line in the film where Virginia says "If there's a choice between living in Richmond and death, I'd choose death" The whole cinema erupted in laughter grin Of course later on she did choose death, but in Sussex not Richmond. At least that house wasn't on the one way system then as it is now shock

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 10:46:59

Yes! That’s the one. The church is worth a visit as well as they daubed scenes on the wall.

The wall art to my mind is pretty primitive, but certainly of it’s time.

The garden is interesting.

RosieandherMaw Fri 14-Nov-25 10:39:15

Whitewavemark2

Near us is Charlestown Farmhouse occupied by the Bloomsbury set, and further East is Sissinghurst. I do think as a group they were a tad up themselves, but the creativity was explosive.

Do you mean Charleston @*WWm2 ?
Garnett, Clive Bell and Maynard Keynes lived at Charleston for considerable periods; Virginia and Leonard Woolf, E. M. Forster, Lytton Strachey and Roger Fry were frequent visitors. Inspired by Italian fresco painting and the Post-Impressionists, the artists decorated the walls, doors and furniture at Charleston

TerriBull Fri 14-Nov-25 10:38:07

I think architecture reached a zenith in the 30s before it all went tits up and the war came, afterwards architecturally there was nothing much to write home about. I don't like the Brutalist style of the 60s, maybe late 50s?. I know flats in the Barbican for example, typical of that style, are highly sought after, but slabs of concrete as opposed to bricks aren't attractive to me.

Lathyrus lovely door. I think Art Nouveau was inclined to the curly and flowery, Beardsley prints and William Morris so intricate, I do love that style too.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 14-Nov-25 10:26:32

My guess would be Art Nouveau. How old is your house, although that would necessarily make any difference. I guess the question is how old is the door.

Maybe it is the “style of” 😊