Art Deco 1919 – 1935

Art Deco represents the style of decorative arts popular between the world wars.  The end of World War I brought about many changes in the social structure.  Women had taken another giant step forward in the workplace.  There was a new class of wealthy people that had profited from the war.  Speakeasies sprang up overnight.  The glamour of Hollywood was very much in vogue.  The roaring twenties were off to a roaring start.    

Early Art Deco styling was influenced by both Edwardian and Art Nouveau.  The discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922 brought another Egyptian revival.  Diamonds remained the main gemstone often with sapphires, rubies or emeralds in well-defined, geometrical designs.  Synthetic ruby and synthetic sapphire were also widely used.  Diamonds and gemstones were fashioned in new shapes: baguette, emerald, triangle, shield, pear and marquise.  The European cut diamond was still being used along with the newer modern or round brilliant cut.  Platinum was still favored but white and even yellow gold provided more affordable jewelry toward the end of this period. 

Designers around the world such as Tiffany & Co, Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Boucheron, Harry Winston, Black Starr & Frost, and many others were manufacturing Art Deco jewelry.

As dancing became freer during the roaring twenties, women were wearing multiple strands of pearls and long gold chains that would swing with their every movement, and compliment their “flapper” dress.  Cultured pearls were first marketed in the 1920’s and imitation pearls had become popular.  Costume jewelry rose to a new level with designers like Coco Chanel.  Advances were made in plastics and cut glass.  Other costume materials included aluminum, chrome, marcasite, and rhinestones. 

The Wall Street crash of 1929 brought international financial disaster.  The crisis was coming to and end by 1936, but World War II loomed ahead, bringing the fun-loving sophistication of the Art Deco period to an end.