It’s exactly 100 years since the French government kickstarted the Art Deco movement with its International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts. The style even got its name from the French title: “arts décoratifs”. Although the ideas at the Exhibition were breathtaking and innovative, many of the brands we now associate with Art Deco […]
By Emma Bastin Lego. Weetabix. Volvo. Tetley. Gillette. No doubt when you read these words, they immediately conjure up an image or idea of an item or product. This is precisely what the companies behind them want you to do, and the importance of brand and advertising is so important today that in 2024 £41 […]
By Emma Bastin Picture yourself in the last shopping centre or high street you visited. One of the images which probably immediately springs to mind is that of the large windows of the shops, artfully filled with a select number of goods, designed to entice you into the shop and make a purchase. Today, window […]
By Sam Mee The jewellers of the time didn’t know it – but the common themes in their work make the Art Deco period one of the most recognisable eras when it comes to rings and other jewellery. Ring makers, alongside other craftsmen of the time, benefitted from new manufacturing and gem cutting techniques and […]
Words and photos by Lachlan Finlayson During the Inter-War years, modern jazz age designs became popular in many mass produced products across the globe. Perhaps one of the most ubiquitous range of items, that sold in volume and are still easily collectable today, were made of pressed glass. Having developed a particular fascination with glass […]
Words and photos by Lachlan Finlayson Art Deco Buildings and Designs from Bucharest, Romania Bucharest is a popular destination for those interested in Art Deco design and architecture because of its abundance of buildings and monuments. Many are in the central city area or nearby and are easily accessible by public transport. Some buildings are […]
Event report by Paul Smith The latest Art Deco Society IRL event took place on the 12th August 2023 in the form of a walking tour entitled ‘From Streamform to Arts and Crafts’ hosted by Marilyn Greene. Marilyn is a local resident, historian, seasoned walking tour guide, and has written articles about the ‘Suburb’, so […]
By Lucy Jane Santos, historian and consultant and writer of The Deco Echo Arrival The arrival at Burgh Island alone is a truly remarkable experience. Not only do you have the anticipation of what is to come but the unique thrill of riding on a sea tractor (depending on the tides) adds to the excitement. […]
The Art Deco Features of Buildings in Houston and Nearby Towns by Lachlan Finlayson As the largest state in the USA, it’ll come as no surprise to hear that Texas has multiple areas with fine examples of surviving Art Deco architecture. During a recent trip to Houston, I was able to travel to numerous places […]
Recently launched, LaidByMonty.com is a web site dedicated to the Art Deco stores built by Burton the Tailors from the 1920s to the 1950s. The website’s creator and Burton aficionado Jeremai Smith guides us through the formation and development of the firm, and their distinctive high-street shops. Burton was a familiar name on our High […]
by Lachlan Finlayson The west coast of the USA has long been synonymous with Streamline Moderne and Art Deco architecture, and although many fine examples have sadly been lost over the years, there’s still plenty to enjoy. Globetrotter, Art Deco admirer, and regular ADSUK contributor Lachlan Finlayson explores San Francisco’s financial district, camera in hand…. […]
Words and photos by Lachlan Finlayson Melbourne is considered Australia’s second biggest city, slightly smaller than Sydney, and is the capital of the State of Victoria. It has multiple areas with fine examples of Art Deco architecture, including office buildings, residential buildings, public infrastructure and recreational facilities. On a recent trip down-under, I enjoyed visiting […]
ADSUK member Craig Stephen discovers an Art Deco oasis smack bang in rural New Zealand. Photos by Craig. In a former goldfield region in the South Island, among tussock grasslands, rocky outcrops and traditional rural townships, lies an unlikely myriad of Art Deco buildings. Welcome to Ranfurly in the province of Otago, a small town […]
Words and photos by Lachlan Finlayson, edited and expanded by Adam Watson Brown Hamburg is probably best known for Brick Expressionist architecture, but there are many buildings from the post-World War One era that incorporate elements of later Art Deco design. On my recent trip I enjoyed visiting and photographing both the exterior and interior […]
Words and photos by Philip Butler (unless stated) Imagine, if you will, it’s 1952, and you find yourself in a sprawling state of the art, industrial-scale dairy in north Devon. A substantial rebuilding programme has just been completed and you are met with a sweeping streamline complex displaying elements of both pre and post-war design […]
by Lachlan Finlayson New Zealand’s premier destination for Art Deco lovers is surely Napier, a city on the east coast of the North Island. It suffered a severe earthquake in 1931, destroying much of the town centre. The subsequent rebuild was executed mainly in the Art Deco Streamline style, and today is a popular tourist […]
by Guy Inchbald The Golden Age of aviation lasted from the early 1920s until the outbreak of World War II, coinciding almost exactly with the Art Deco period. It was an age of high glamour and high adventure as the great pioneers such as Amy Johnson opened up the world. Art Deco could not help […]
by Lucy Jane Santos, historian and consultant and writer of The Deco Echo For more of an overview of L’ Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes read With 15,000 exhibitors spread across twenty countries, there was a real need for the exhibits to be divided into categories. So, the displays were separated into […]
by Lorna Mcculloch The trajectory for Scottish Art Deco cinema builds seems to be; opulent place of the cinematic arts, Bingo Hall, sticky floored 90’s nightclubs called Babylon and finally blocks of flats. Greenock’s Babylon has been burned (or rather razed). When the former Odeon BB Cinema and Babylon nightclub closed, circa 2013, the building […]
by Paul Stewart Having been a collector and restorer of early and rare radio receivers for over twenty years, the Society’s president delves back to the darkest days of broadcasting and reveals how Art Deco and Modernist design helped consumers accept this new medium into their homes. We’re all familiar with the scene of families […]
by Lucinda Gosling Time to fire up the boat-backed Bentley and scorch out to the nearest roadhouse with the GF/BF for cocktails, sun bathing, dancing and a canoodle. Lucinda Gosling has the story, from its beginnings in 20s party time through to ‘Lights out’ in 1939. In January 2019, when the Maidenhead Advertiser reported on […]
By Helen Bowman In Curated Decay (2017), Caitlin DeSilvey explores the decommissioned Thyssen ironworks at Duisburg-Meiderich in Germany’s Ruhr region. Today it is known as the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord (LDN)[i]. The difficult, careful, and ultimately effective thinking that took place in relation to this site following the closure of the works in 1985 sits in distressing […]
by Steph Webb (Curator), Wakefield Museums & Castles Here at Pontefract Museum, we have recently opened our latest special exhibition, a celebration of the Pontefract-born artist, Charles Pears (1873-1958). The first retrospective of Pears’ work in his hometown, the exhibition focuses particularly on his prolific career as a travel poster artist in the interwar period. […]
by Helen Bowman ‘It is what it is’ – Donald Trump, 2020 ‘It’s just a big box – this should be easy’ – former colleague, English Heritage Solving the Battersea ‘problem’ has exercised many creative minds over the decades. Cedric Price’s ‘Bat Hat’ (1983) is a lot of fun, embodying a raised eyebrow at the […]
by Helen Bowman They’ve only gone and bloody listed it…. Sweeping in and listing Battersea power station at Grade ll in October 1980 was nothing if not characteristically Heseltinian (‘Heseltinian’ – to act with swagger, resolution, and significant hair volume). Michael Heseltine’s action annoyed and perplexed some but delighted others and was executed with rapidity […]
by Helen Bowman “There’s a message floatin’ in the air, Crazy horses ridin’ everywhere, It’s a warning, it’s in every tongue, Gotta stop them crazy horses on the run.”The Osmonds, Crazy Horses, 1972 By 1955, the unapologetically ‘designed’ electricity power station at Battersea, its four-chimney profile in place, was complete. Despite the achievement, the building’s […]
by Helen Bowman ‘There is nothing in the world so beautiful as a great generating station.’Filippo Marinetti (1876-1944), Futurism co-founder and poet That Battersea Power Station exists at all is of course a reflection of a period of immense and intense technological advance during the late 19th and early 20th century. The development and increasing […]
In a new departure for the Society, Helen Bowman offers members a five-part trek through the life and times of Battersea Power Station, starting with the development of coal-generated electricity for the masses, a sometimes fraught operational life, a notoriously messy retirement, transition to Art Deco pin-up, and now, as a bit-part player in a […]
How about a genuine Art Deco cocktail recipe to cheer up a very unusual New Years eve?! Lucy Jane Santos has very kindly provided details on how to mix a classic and explains the back story behind its creation. Ingredients 40 ml dry gin 20 ml Lillet Blanc 20 ml crème de cacao 20 ml fresh […]
by Lorna McCulloch I’ve had a framed copy of this wonderful poster of Portobello Lido on my wall for years, and have occasionally mused about what it would have been like. After the fascinating lecture on Seaside Architecture by Dr Kathryn Ferry, I was inspired to do a bit more research on Portobello Bathing Pool […]
by Jenny Steele During my recent project The Maiden Voyage, I explored the design of transatlantic ocean liners that sailed from Liverpool to New York, partly through research at the Cunard Archive, University of Liverpool Special Collections. Between the 1860’s and 1930’s, Liverpool was the main UK port for transatlantic travel, predominantly for emigration and […]
by Helen Bowman On the predominantly nineteenth century main thoroughfare in Auchterarder, Perthshire, one of Scotland’s first purpose-built picture houses has recently been listed in recognition of its special architectural and historic interest. An unexpected flourish of Modernism is always a treat and its survival is redolent of an exciting time when a developing art […]
Rebecca Watson Brown encourages members to cherish this famous modernist estate. Maxwell Fry and Elizabeth Denby’s Kensal House (1937) is a flagship building of pre-war UK modern architecture, appearing on the front cover of J.M. Richard’s widely-read contemporary tome An Introduction to Modern Architecture. The estate merits the society’s interest because its continuing renovation […]
by Lauren Livesey The Stockport Plaza opened in 1932 as part of a chain of ten cinemas around Greater Manchester owned by the Read, Snape and Ward Circuit; it was intended to be their flagship cinema. The architects fulfilled their brief. The Plaza is striking and monumental on the outside. Cecil B. de Mille could […]
When he isn’t wrestling with the intricacies of modelling Art Deco cinemas, ADSUK member Paul Smith likes to takes part in coach rallies. Here he tracks down a lost style of south coast streamline travel. Read on and relive the romance of thirties coach travel! With guest appearance by Miss Marple. Transport in the 1930s […]
This morning, the vintage community, and indeed, the nation, or even the world, were saddened to hear about the passing of Dame Vera Lynn, the Forces Sweetheart, at the grand age of 103. Over the last few months, Dame Vera’s lyrics have become a tonic for the difficult days we have been facing in lockdown. […]
by Lucy Jane Santos What is considered beautiful varies according to the historical place and period, and according to gender, ethnicity and class – but beauty has always been a prized attribute. The 20th century, however, saw a massive change in how beauty was understood and achieved. The beauty industry was soon firmly established. Its […]
Garry Ashton-Coulter, a collector of Art Deco and Moderne furniture for over twenty years, shares his appreciation of the Epstein Brothers’ creations. Garry is the society’s south-east representative. Top photo: Art Deco Dining Table by Epstein in Sycamore c1930. Photo courtesy of thefurniturerooms.co.uk Whilst having none of the skyscraper ‘theatre’ of American deco from the […]
Moving on from Poirot, our continental creative director Adam, Twitter’s @artdecoist, recommends a series that all lovers of Art Deco should sample during their confinement. Even as Nordic Noir has found a special place in the hearts of the British television-viewing public, there is one dog-that-didn’t-bark in the night time question: why has no German […]
by Stuart Ferguson Edinburgh is not blessed with many Art Deco or Modernist buildings, but what it lacks in quantity is more than made up for in quality. St Andrew’s House, home of the Scottish Government and the Streamline Moderne Maybury Roadhouse, on the way into the city from the airport are the best examples […]
by Lucy Jane Santos If you are on this site (hello!) then chances are that Art Deco by the Sea at the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich, is already on your radar. And the good news is that it won’t disappoint even the most ardent Art Deco aficionado- in fact it is delightful. It begins with a […]
By Paul Smith My interest in Art Deco lies in the architecture of the period. I am also a passionate railway modeller and enjoy creating unique ‘scratch-built’ structures for my layout, and sometimes these two interests overlap. One building that I was keen to model was the long-lost Rio cinema in Sheerness, one of a […]
by Craig Stephen As any tourist will tell you, Japan has a vast array of temples, shrines and Imperial Palaces, often dating back centuries. This isn’t the full story, however, as Japan has a varied assortment of architectural styles including an array from the Twentieth Century. Some of you may be surprised to learn that […]
text and photos by Jeeves Little did I realise that when on a short break to the Granite City to research my family history that I would find a wealth of Art Deco architecture – with some buildings well-preserved and others in need of some loving restoration. After taking the Jet 727 bus from the […]
by Michael Barker Although his long, prolific and versatile career spanned the Arts and Crafts era as a fully-fledged member of the New Sculpture movement and Art Nouveau, it is Gilbert Bayes’ Art Deco period which left such an enduring visual mark. He was responsible for more public sculpture than any other artist working in […]
text by Genista Davidson / photos by Philip Butler Sunday 13th October 2019 saw the very last public tour of 55 Broadway. The Grade I listed building that has stood as an iconic creation of the London Underground system and headquarters of the city’s public transport for nearly ninety years is about to start a new […]
by Philip Butler A semi-rural dwelling within easy reach of central London. A groundbreaking design incorporating both ultra-modern technologies concealed within the character of a historic property. Lavish, fashionably co-ordinated interiors and formal gardens with ample space for entertaining. You’d be forgiven for thinking this was the specification for last week’s episode of Grand Designs, […]
by Paul Stewart In the dark ages of broadcasting, which had begun in 1922 with just a few talks and news items per day, the appeal and scope of a national radio service were hard to predict. Receiver equipment was expensive, cumbersome and unreliable and there were many amateur stations up and down the country […]
Kevin Trickett MBE, president of the Wakefield Civic Society looks into the boom period of pressed Art Deco glass with British market leaders Bagley. I guess I fell in love with Art Deco long before I knew what the term meant: indeed, I can trace my fascination with the design style back to when I […]
As we approach its centenary, Society Chair and storied ‘Art Deco Traveller’ Genista Davidson looks at the 1925 Paris Exposition and its legacy. This hugely successful world fair attracted sixteen million visitors over its seven-month run from April to October 1925. It is deemed to be where Modernism and Art Deco were born and transported […]
Adam, our Brussels correspondent (Twitter’s @artdecoist) marshals his little grey cells to probe the relative art deco-ness of the three film and TV adaptations of Murder on the Orient Express… Adaptations of Agatha Christie novels have helped to revive and sustain public interest in art deco. Those of us who viewed the Poirot TV series […]
After a long search, a relatively unknown British film featuring air racing, made in 1932 at Brooklands, finally got its public airing at London’s inimitable Cinema Museum recently. Two feature films were made at Brooklands within a few years of each other in the early ‘30s and both starred Dorothy ‘Chili’ Bouchier. Hailed as Britain’s […]
