Art Deco Collecting Guide
Collecting vintage Art Deco items is a love affair. There are times when you are infatuated by the beauty and moved by the quality of the artwork and there are times when the piece doesn’t quite live up to what you had expected. Yet, you are still in love. Knowing the value of an Art Deco piece is an art within its own right. The Following are five tips that should help fuel your Art Deco fire.
1) Art Deco is defined by repeating geometric patterns. Repeating chevrons, in particular, are examples of the type of geometric style one must look for when trying to identify most Art Deco pieces. Geometric shapes were easily mass-produced which was important to manufacturers.
2) Jewellery of this period is known for its high level of craftsmanship. Settings are generally made of platinum, which complemented the rich colours of the precious and semi-precious stones that were used. This type of jewellery was almost always marked and numbered by the artist.
 ANTIQUE ART DECO VINTAGE BLOODSTONE ONYX MENS RING 9CT SIZE 11 UK V1 2 48 GRAMS £409.50 |
 REPRO ART DECO HUGE SIMULATED DIAMOND PAVE RING £9.42 |
 MALTESE TERRIER GLAMOUR FASHION DOG ART PRINT Deco £12.50 |
 Early 20th century ART DECO wooden box Hand Painting £94.50 |
 LOVELY SOLID SILVER ART DECO STYLE HEART RING £9.99 |
 LOVELY ART DECO STYLE SILVER ENAMEL NECKLACE £9.99 |
3) Nearly all Bakelite jewellery does not have seams. The process used in creating bangles, brooches and earrings was resin based. It was initially cast in long tubes or blocks that were then machined or carved by the artisan. Bakelite also has a very distinct formaldehyde odor. When an item is heated, generally by rubbing it, this odor becomes stronger.
4) Deco furniture comes in two categories: mass-produced and hand crafted. The mass-produced variety generally is made up of cheaper varieties of materials such as veneered woods, plastics and steel. Hand crafted furniture was created using higher quality materials such as leathers, parchments, solid woods and semi-precious and precious metals. Almost all of this furniture is streamlined and geometric.
5) Painting is one of the few Art Deco mediums that did not allow for mass-production of the original. While posters and prints were often made from the paintings, the paintings themselves were unique. Many artists of the time period produced work that was geared toward the empowered feminine ideal. It involved stylised female figures that were often contrasted against an environment that included futuristic, streamlined machines and buildings. Soft erotic overtones are abundant amidst hard geometric lines and shapes.
Art Deco is easily one of the most recognisable phases of all the artistic periods. Because of this, it is one of the most desirable art forms to collect for both the novice and the seasoned collector. For those that choose to search out estate sales, auctions and art markets to find those valuable and rare pieces, it is very nearly an addiction. However, be aware, Art Deco is also one of the most imitated of all the different forms, so the market can be saturated with imitations. With enough research, though, collectors can seek out and find that rare gem that relentlessly beckons to them.
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