(Very much a work in progress, comments and suggestions welcome)
A
Aalto, Alvar (1898 -1976)
Finnish architect and designer, regarded as one of the founding fathers of modern design.
Adnet Jacques (1900-1984)
French furniture designer. With his brother Jean, exhibited at the 1925 Paris Exposition.
Argy-Rousseau, Gabriel (1885 -1953)
French glass designer. Unlike Lalique and other decorative artists, Argy-Rousseau never resorted to mass-produced glass. Specialized in pate-de-verre technique
Art Deco
The term Art Deco comes from a large international exhibition held in Paris in 1925. It was called “Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes”. (Iinternational Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Art)
Innovation was mandatory, as you can tell by this quote from the Exposition’s charter:
“Works admitted to the Exposition must show new inspiration and real originality. They must be executed and presented by artisans, artists, manufacturers, who have created the models, and by editors, whose work belongs to modern decorative and industrial art. Reproductions, imitations and counterfeits of ancient styles will be strictly prohibited”.
No ambiguity there then!
Attwell, Mabel Lucie (1879-1964)
Prolific English artist & illustrator, usually cute chubby children. Although not strictly Deco she has become synonymous with the era, mainly due to her work for Shelly Potteries.
B
Bauhaus (c1919-1933)
Highly influential German design school. Driving principle was combining form and function.
Bergman, Franz (c1898-1970)
Austrian sculptor. Medium, mainly cold painted bronze
Bouraine, Marcel
French sculptor. Often worked for Etling, Paris.
Brandt, Edgar (1880-1960)
French designer, renowned for his metal working skills, (wrought iron). Exhibited at the 1925 Paris Exposition.
Burgh Island
Art Deco hotel off the coast of Devon, England.
C
Chiparus, Demètre (c1886-1947)
Romanian born sculpture, lived and worked in Paris in the 1920’s. Wonderful figures, often using ‘Chryselephantine’, a mix of bronze and ivory.
Chryselephantine
Combination of ivory and a metal, usually bronze
Cliff, Clarice (1899-1972)
British ceramics designer and manufacturer, renowned for her extravagant patterns.
Coates, Wells (1895-1958)
English designer and architect of Canadian descent. Born in Tokyo the son of Canadian missionaries.
Colinet, Jeanne Robert (1910-1953)
French sculptress.
Colotte, Aristide (1885-1959)
French sculptor and glass designer. Experimental, for example he would shape glass using a chisel underwater.
Cooper, Susie(1902-1995)
British ceramics designer, highly influential in the British ceramics Art Deco scene. Prices dramatically increased since her death in 1995.
Crown Devon
One of the many British potteries (Stoke-on-Trent) that produced Art Deco wares. Parent company Fieldings and Co. (Example of their work top right hand picture, pattern unknown but possibly M263)
D
Daum Freres (est c1875-1878)
French brothers Auguste and Antonin, glass makers and designers. Paul, son of Auguste, is chiefly associated with the Art Deco period.
Davidson, Glass works (1867-1987)
The Davidson Glassworks were located in Gateshead, in the Northeast of England. A ‘pressed glass’ factory, founded by George Davidson in 1867, the factory was run by his son, Thomas (1860-1937), after George’s death in 1891. The company thrived in the 1920’s after introducing a new, innovative design called ‘Cloud Glass’ in 1922-1923. It was called Cloud Glass due to the cloudlike streaks that were formed by adding dark pieces of glass right at the end of the production process. Another line was introduced in 1930 called ‘Chippendale’. The factory was taken over in 1966 by Abraham’s.
Decoeur, Emile (1876-1953)
Orient inspired French potter. High quality pieces, especially stoneware.
Décorchement, Françoise-Émile (1880-1971)
Ceramics trained French glass designer. Perhaps greatest art deco exponent of pâte-de-verre method.
Designer, The
Undoubtedly The Art deco period was the time that 'The Designer' came of age. It was the first time that someone could be described as a designer and turn his or her attention between different mediums. Therefore, one was no longer considered as only an architect or a jeweller or a cabinetmaker and restricted to working just in that area of expertise. So, for instance, Donald Deskey would not only design buildings but also interior rooms, right down to the furniture and fabrics. For example, the apartment for ‘Roxy’ Rothafel above The Radio City Music Hall.
Deskey, Donald (1894-1989)
American architect and designer. Inspired by the European Art Deco style he was to contribute to the look that would become known as ‘Streamlined Modern.’ Famous examples of his work include The Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Deveriez, Phillippe
Polish sculpture. He exhibited at the 1926 Salon of the Societe des Artistes Francais.
Dupas, Jean (1882-1964)
French painter and designer, notably posters.
E
Egyptian Influence The Egyptian influence was largely a result of the discovery of Tutankhamen’s tomb by Howard Carter in 1922. Other ancient civilizations such as Babylon and Aztec also influenced Art Deco designers
Eltham Palace
London Art Deco residence open to the public.
Erté (1892-1990)
Russian born illustrator and designer. Real name Romaine De Tirtoff.
Etling
Parisian retailer who commissioned and distributed works of art in bronze, ceramics, and glass during the 1920’s and 30’s.
F
Faguay, Pierre La
French sculptor
Fitzgerald, F. Scott (1896-1940)
American author whose work’s include ‘The Great Gatsby’, the novel that is probably most synonymous with the Art Deco period. He is also attributed with coining the term 'The Jazz Age'.
Follet, Paul
French designer.
Fouquet, Georges (1862-1957)
French Jeweller. Originally noted for his Art Nouveau pieces in collaboration with Alphonse Mucha, he revived his flagging fortunes by turning to Art Deco in the 1920’s. Described as ‘Art Deco’s Grand Master’, (presumably regards jewellery), he ceased major production in 1935 due mainly to the effect of the Depression on luxury items.
G
Goldscheider, Arthur
Viennese ceramics manufacturer.??
Goldscheider, Marcel (1885-1953)
Viennese ceramics manufacturer.??
Goupy, Marcel (1886-1954)
French artist and designer, predominately ceramics and glass. Artistic Director for Georges Rouard from 1929 until his death in 1954.
Gray, Eileen (1878 -1976)
Irish born furniture designer and self taught architect. Trained at the Slade School of Design in London she moved to Paris c1906. Working chiefly in lacquer. “To create, one must first question everything.”
Gropius, Walter(1882-1969)
German architect founded the Bauhaus.
H
Hancock, Molly
Ceramics designer (Sampson Hancock, Stoke). Noted for her children’s ware designs.
Heals, Gordon Russell (1892-1980)
English furniture designer. Made modern furniture inspired by the Cotswold Arts and Crafts tradition.
