MD6001 Week 4 - Art Deco Research

To look for inspiration to make paper and foil snowflakes as well as my Aduna brief, I was asked to borrow some library books on art deco, a style of interior design and architecture that was most popular in the 1920s and 1930s. I managed to find two library books: Bayer, P. (1997). Art Deco Interiors. London: Thames and Hudson Ltd and Bayer, P. (2005). Art Deco Source Book. Hoor near Rochester, Kent: Grange Books.

The following pictures are from Art Deco Interiors. Particular elements that have inspired me are chiselled details, wavy lines and geometric shapes.

Fig 1: Crosby, T. (1979 - 83). The interiors of London’s Unilever House [Interior design] (Bayer, 1997, p. 11).

I especially like the chiselled ceiling and pillars.

Fig 2: Fig 2: No creator (1928). Shot from Our Dancing Daughters [Interior design]. (Bayer, 1997, p. 12).

The decor behind the sofa at the back of the room consists of rectangles in various shapes. It makes a unique pattern for making snowflakes.

Fig 3: Quiber, R. (1925). Photo of dining room [Interior design]. (Bayer, 1997, p. 34).

The light on the ceiling looks like a starcase and is made up of rectangles.

Fig 4: Saarinen, E. (No date). Dining room in the president’s house at Cranbook [Interior design, furniture]. (Bayer, 1997, p. 120).

The chairs and the table support have influences of art deco interior.

Fig 5: No creator (1931) Shot from Captivation [Interior design]. (Bayer, 1997, p. 158).

The back wall has shapes based on art deco architecture chiselled in it.

Fig 6: Charles Lee, S. (1929 - 31). Interior of Los Angeles’s Wiltern Theatre [Theatre interior design]. (Bayer, 1997, p. 168).

The chiselled part in the ceiling that looks like a fan is particularly inspirational.

Fig 7: Iondies, B. (1929). Back entrance of London’s Savoy Theatre [Interior design]. (Bayer, 1997, p. 172).

I especially liked the chiselled wavy lines in the celiling since they would make great snowflake patterns.

Fig 8: B.C. Sanitan (Late 1980s). Astoria bathroom suite [Interior design]. (Bayer, 1997, p. 207).

The mirror, sink, bidet, toilet, bath and walls all have good rectangular chiselled detail added to them.

The last four pictures are from Art Deco Source Book.

Fig 9: Argy-Rousseau, G. (No date). Vase with stylised floral pattern [Ceramics]. (Bayer, 2005, p. 72).

I like the pattern and colour of this vase. The pattern makes a beautiful snowflake design.

Fig 10: Carder, F. (c. 1930). Green prong vase [Glasswork]. (Bayer, 2005, p. 86).

This prong vase bears a strong influence on art deco interior design and architecture.

Fig 11: Van Alen, W. (1930). Chrysler Building [Architecture]. (Bayer, 2005, p. 118).

This is an iconic exapmple of art deco architexture because it is one of New York City's most recogniseable buildings as well as the Empire State Building.

Fig 12: Atkinson, R. (1931). Reception Hall of London’s Daily Express building [Interior design]. (Bayer, 2005, p. 119).

There is a lot of chiselled detail in the hall, especially in the ceiling, the wall and the stairs.

#md6001 #artdeco #architecture #interiordesign