In Richard Fishman’s shop, Art Deco Collection, the largely European art deco merchandise attracted place artists in the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, who came to the showroom at San Francisco shopping for pieces to use to the show. European art deco furniture is glistening, of high quality and more expensive — think $8,000 and up. Even though Hollywood usually has deep pockets, not everyone does. If you are a fan of the design and want an art deco piece for the living space, we have a few tips about the best way to save money.
Before we begin, I want to share Fishman’s easy explanation of the growth of 20th century design, because it made it rather clear for me what art deco is and isn’t.
Here is what he says: Think of a curlicue that, over the years of the 20th century, gradually straightened before it dropped the curve also became straighter. From the pre–art deco period, known as art nouveau, lines are organic, curly and floral.
Then came the trademark waves of art deco, approximately from the 1920s to the 1940s.
Those waves straightened, creating a pit stop.
Bernard Andre Photography
Next came midcentury modern. Since you look at midecentury interiors and exteriors and items, you are going to see those curves and lines in action.
CL Phillips Fine Furniture
Art Nouveau Queen Bed – $22,000
An art nouveau bed.
Light Grey Design
Venetian Round Bed – $2,442.84
An art deco bed.
Hardwood Artisans
Linnaea Bed – $3,520
A mattress.
Shannon Ggem ASID
How to Save on Art Deco
Buy American pieces. Within art deco, there’s a split between European and American schools. European pieces are uber-high-quality craftsmanship and constructed of good materials; American-style pieces are more from the machine era. The latter have less artwork and less deco, clarifies Peter Loughrey, director of Los Angeles Modern Auctions. For this reason he prefers to call American portions of the time American moderne.
The artistry in Western pieces makes them highly collectible and costly. American work comes cheaper. Let’s define “more affordable,” though: Instead of paying $24,000 for a French Jules Leleu sideboard, you might pay $6,800 for a Donald Deskey desk.
Other notable American names to shop for are Walter Dorwin Teague, K.E.M. Weber and Wolfgang Hoffmann, who had been the son of Austrian deco furniture maker Josef Hoffmann (of the European school, whose items are highly prized and quite expensive).
Astleford Interiors, Inc..
Prevent names that are highly collectible. Ruhlmann in furniture ; Lalique in glassware, for instance. They do not come cheap. Fishman advises searching for those who trained under Lalique but broke off to start their own businesses, such as Muller Freres and Degué.
Loughrey enjoys the work of American glassmaker Ruba Rombic, who is sometimes connected with Lalique. “However, the faceted nature of its surface is much more akin to cubism compared to art deco,” he says.
And instead of Deskey, Loughrey says folks should look at Gilbert Rohde. “He was probably just as talented, but because he had been focused on mass-produced works, his pieces are more readily accessible,” he says.
Troll auctions, estate sales and eBay. You never know what you might discover. But because many pieces are unsigned, you do have to know what things to look for or buy at your own risk. Even though metalworker Edgar Brandt did sign his pieces (see photo), the untrained might not be able to spot a bogus signature. Forgeries happen in furniture as in art, Fishman says. Also be careful of phrases such as, “in the design of Ruhlmann” or “from the faculty of …” That doesn’t mean Ruhlmann.
Amy Renea
Buy a fixer-upper. Exactly the exact same principle applies for furniture as for houses.If you are willing to buy something in imperfect state and fix it, you are able to find a deal. Remember, lots of the pieces are now closing in on their centenarian birthdays.
Shop reproductions. Reproductions can be quite excellent. Be warned: A reproduction is not always cheaper, but it will likely match a modern lifestyle with its wires and chords. A reproduction paired with a statement piece could be glorious, Fishman says.
John Tribble of J. Tribble Antiques in Atlanta sells original art deco pieces, mostly from France and Hungary, as well as reproductions, such as both sink foundations shown here that he’d crafted in England. Prices for them begin at roughly $3,800.
Or simply go ahead and splurge on one statement piece. Art deco bars are pretty incredible, with secret compartments, mirrors and glass etchings. The bar of the 1930s was a focus. Yes, they drank a lot.
This bar is in the streamline moderne design, dated to the late 1930s. It was found in Missouri and is currently at Art Deco Collection.
Can you have an art deco treasure? Please tell us in the Remarks.