Art Deco

Although most associated with the 1920s and 30s, Art Deco began in France prior to World War I. During the interwar years the style evolved and was adopted by an international elite set as the perfect expression of modern opulence and elegance in an age that gave birth to jazz, the Charleston, speakeasies, glamorous Hollywood films and engineering marvels such as skyscrapers. At the height of its popularity the Art Deco influence was seen in a wide variety of remarkable and innovative applications from decorative arts such as jewelry, metalwork, ceramics, and glass to massive scale applications in architecture, interior design, fashion, public works projects and consumer goods from automobiles to telephones to jukeboxes. This unique book is a collection of the most beautiful examples of Art Deco style from personal statements in jewelry to skyscrapers that defined city skylines, and examines the social and cultural climates of the 1920s and 30s which were perfectly aligned with the optimism and elegance of Art Deco. It traces the seminal influences in its evolution including the Ballets Russes, Cubism and the Bauhaus and explains why Art Deco style continues to attract new collectors and enthusiasts who connect with this design styles' impeccable ability to convey opulence, elegance, and exclusivity.

Eric Knowles began work at Bonhams, the London auctioneers, in 1976 and became head of the ceramics department in 1981, rising to become a director in 1985. He became a well-known television personality in the 1990s as a regular expert on the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow and has appeared on many television programs since and currently co-hosts BBC’s Antiques Master. He is a regular contributor to BBC Homes and Antiques magazine, is antiques expert for The Sunday Times and the author of several books on antiques and the decorative arts. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and operates today as an independent valuer and fine art journalist.