Quick Look:
- Art Deco became one of the defining design movements of the 20th century, characterized by geometric forms, symmetry, luxurious materials and a modern interpretation of elegance.
- The style flourished during the 1920s and 1930s across architecture, furniture, jewelry, glass and decorative arts.
- Collectors continue to prize Art Deco objects such as glass by René Lalique and Tiffany Studios, sculptural lighting, luxurious furniture, geometric jewelry and polished silver objects.
- Building a meaningful Art Deco collection requires attention to maker attribution, authenticity, provenance, material quality and condition.
Guide to Collecting Art Deco Objects
Art Deco is one of the most recognizable art movements of the 20th century, defined by geometry, symmetry, rich materials and a modern vision of luxury.
The movement rose to international prominence after, and borrowed its name from, the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. The French government designed this exposition to highlight the most modern designs in architecture, jewelry, furniture and other decorative arts, prompting technical and artistic advancements and an examination of modernity.
| Overview of the 1925 Exposition of Decorative and Industrial Arts. Source. |
If you’re looking to add these historically significant and unique objects to your own collection, continue reading this Art Deco collecting guide to learn more about Art Deco objects, furniture and glass, as well as important makers to know and market considerations.
What Is Art Deco?
Art Deco flourished as a design language primarily during the 1920s and 1930s, sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age, reflecting the culture of opulence and indulgence. The style can be seen across every design medium, including architecture, interior design, furniture, jewelry, glass, silver and decorative arts.
When looking for Art Deco objects, there are some essential visual cues to look for. The style is most distinctly defined by striking geometric forms that include symmetry and repetition. Art Deco designers also incorporated highly stylized florals, sunbursts and zigzag patterns into architecture and furniture designs, as well as stepped and streamlined silhouettes.
| Cartier Art Deco Table Clock. Circa 1935-38. M.S. Rau. |
Materials were also central to Art Deco design. Fine woods, lacquer, glass and shagreen were popular in furniture, and jewelers used colored gemstones and precious metals.
Visually, Art Deco objects found a delicate balance between historical inspiration and machine-age modernity.
Collecting Art Deco Objects
Because the style reached every visual aspect of life, Art Deco is approachable at many different scales while still offering exceptional museum-caliber works for sale.
Glass
Art Deco glass remains one of the most recognizable and celebrated collecting categories. Tiffany, Lalique, Daum, Schneider and Moser are among the most coveted glassmakers of the Jazz Age. They produced vases, perfume bottles and bowls with showstopping opalescent finishes, acid-etched decoration and molded relief designs that continue to capture the attention of museums and collectors alike.
Among Art Deco glassmakers, René Lalique and Tiffany Studios stand out as giants of innovative design. However, while both transformed the history of glass design, they represent distinct artistic practices.
René Lalique began his career as a jeweler, but began experimenting with glass around 1890 before devoting the rest of his career to the medium and becoming one of the defining figures in glassmaking.
Lalique glass designs are characterized by opalescent glass, molded relief decoration and frosted surfaces. His unique perfume bottles, car mascots and architectural glass featured natural motifs including birds, fish, flowers and sinuous female figures.
| René Lalique Danaides Opalescent and Stained Glass Vase. Circa 1926. M.S. Rau. |
Tiffany Studios, associated with Louis Comfort Tiffany, is strongly tied to American glass, especially Favrile glass, leaded-glass lamps and the iconic Tiffany windows. Tiffany Studios was at the forefront of the late 19th- and early 20th-century “chromatic revolution” in which artists pushed the chemical and technical limits of glassmaking, producing new, rich color effects.
One of Tiffany’s most notable innovations is the invention of iridescent Favrile glass. Tiffany’s Favrile designs are inspired by the corroded glassware unearthed from Roman ruins. With this new scientific discovery, Tiffany Studios created luxury glass items with naturalistic designs, floral motifs and strong roots in American Art Nouveau that continued to influence early 20th-century decorative arts.
| Tiffany Studios Favrile Glass Vase. Circa 1900. M.S. Rau. |
When looking to collect Art Deco glass objects, collectors can expect different things from each maker. Lalique’s glass is representative of sculptural elegance, refined surfaces and an unmistakably French Art Deco identity, while Tiffany appeals to those who gravitate toward rich colors, scientific and technical innovations and iconic design history in the United States.
Lighting
Tiffany Studios also often comes to mind when looking for Art Deco lighting, known for its beautiful and iconic leaded-glass lampshades. Art Deco lamps and chandeliers from Tiffany and other makers often combine sculpture and architecture in remarkable ways, employing glass, bronze, chrome or alabaster with architectural silhouettes. Original period lighting remains highly sought after because it functions equally well aesthetically in historic and contemporary interiors, being among the most dramatic and architectural expressions of the Art Deco movement.
| Tiffany Studios Acorn Lamp. Circa 1900. M.S. Rau. |
Furniture
Furniture is one of the finest and most recognizable crafts of the Art Deco era. Makers created desks, cabinets, commodes, cocktail tables and consoles with the movement’s finest materials and elegant proportions. French designers in particular elevated furniture to exceptional craftsmanship, motivated by the modern ideals promoted by the 1925 Paris exposition.
Art Deco furniture designers employed rich materials such as striking Macassar ebony, amboyna and rosewood to create geometric surfaces with deep natural contrast. The inclusion of lacquer, parchment and shagreen incorporated texture to create interest while retaining the refined silhouettes of the style.
Material was also used to reflect the modernity pursued by adherents to the style. By the 1930s, the use of chromed steel, aluminum, mirrored and colored glass and Bakelite and Catalin plastic became especially important in Art Deco furniture design, reflecting industrial progress and quickly changing tastes.
Several furniture forms became closely associated with the Art Deco style. Sideboards and cabinets emphasized structural geometry and luxurious veneers, while writing desks, console tables and sideboards reflected the sophistication of urban entertaining culture. Mirrors, vanities and folding screens also became central features of fashionable Art Deco interiors, balancing decorative richness with architectural restraint.
| La loge de Zizi Jeanmaire by Erté. Painted 1974. M.S. Rau. |
Major Art Deco furniture designers to pay attention to include Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, Jean-Michel Frank, Jules Leleu, Süe et Mare, Paul Follot, Armand-Albert Rateau and Dominique.
Art Deco furniture remains highly collectible as its combination of proportion, material quality and originality successfully balances luxury with restraint, allowing the objects to remain timeless.
Jewelry
Art Deco jewelry remains highly sought after for its precision and glamour. Designers combined platinum settings and geometric patterns with diamonds and colored gemstones to create bold visual compositions. As with other mediums, Art Deco jewelry designs reflect modern architecture and global decorative influences. Many jewelers took inspiration from Egyptian, Asian and classical motifs, particularly after international archaeological discoveries captured public imagination during the 1920s.
| Art Deco Diamond and Onyx Bracelet. Circa 1925. M.S. Rau. |
Silver and Metalwork
The movement’s fascination with polished surfaces and streamlined forms is especially present in Art Deco silver and metalwork. Collectors interested in practical decorative arts can find stunning tea services, trays and cocktail accessories that balance elegance with functionality.
The functionality of these objects also reflects the convergence of sophistication and social engagement associated with the Jazz Age and vintage cocktail culture.
| Thirst Extinguisher Cocktail Shaker by Asprey & Co. Circa 1932. M.S. Rau. |
Decorative Objects
Decorative art objects are one of the most accessible entry points into collecting Art Deco style. Requiring less space than major furniture pieces, clocks, bookends, sculptures and desk accessories communicate the movement’s identity while complementing an already sophisticated interior.
When grouped thoughtfully, smaller decorative arts objects can create a significant visual impact without the major investment larger Art Deco objects call for.
| Marcus & Co. Art Deco Cloisonné Enamel Desk Clock. Circa 1930. M.S. Rau. |
What to Look For When Collecting Art Deco Objects
As with any collection, more than aesthetics alone should be considered when acquiring Art Deco objects. As demand for Art Deco continues to grow, it is important to distinguish authentic period works from later reproductions.
Maker attribution plays an important role in desirability. A signed object carries great importance when collecting Art Deco pieces, and it becomes especially important regarding major makers such as Lalique, Tiffany Studios or Ruhlmann. Works associated with renowned designers reflect superior craftsmanship and material, and their historical significance increases their desirability greatly.
| Lalique Citrine and Enamel Brooch. Circa 1910. M.S. Rau. |
Provenance and documented design history for works by makers can also help assess value, and collectors should compare objects against documented examples in books, museum collections and auction archives whenever possible.
Material quality and construction can also reveal authenticity. Authentic Art Deco objects often show natural aging, and excessive restoration may reduce desirability.
Building a Meaningful Art Deco Collection
A strong Art Deco collection does not need to be limited to one category. Bringing together glass, furniture, jewelry and decorative objects can represent the movement’s fascination with modernity.
The Art Deco era was a moment when artists, designers and makers reimagined luxury for the modern age, and a thoughtful collection can bridge the gap between the period’s history and today’s aesthetic and cultural values.
Works Cited:
Goss, Jared. “French Art Deco.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, June 2010.
“6 Famous Art Deco Artists and Makers.” By Rau Staff. M.S. Rau, September 20, 2022.
“Lalique, René.” M.S. Rau.
“Collecting Art Deco Jewellery.” Christie’s, April 12, 2024.
“Art Deco.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Britannica Editors.
