6-4-2017
The Lure and the Luster of Art Deco and Art Nouveau | LuxPOP!
FASHION / CULTURE / PEOPLE / TRAVEL / COLLECTING What to Own
Bouraine Art Deco bronze nude dancer.
Bouval bronze Art Nouveau vase.
Graceful Art Deco gures on display at Antwerp's Deconamic.
by Cathy Whitlock
The Lure and the Luster of Art Deco and Art Nouveau Dealer Spotlight: Marjolein van der Slikke of Deconamic
During the heady
apper and Prohibition
gin-infused days of the Roaring Twenties and into the 1930s, Art Deco style was all the rage. One can look no further to the history books or the great classic
lms to see how wildly
popular the style was. Famed
Hollywood
Gibbons American
(who
Art
Director
introduced
cinema)
was
Art
struck
Cedric
Deco by
in and
succumbed to the style's streamlined and symmetrical designs, which he
rst saw at
the Musée des Arts Décoratifs retrospective https://www.rubylux.com/luxpop/The-Lure-and-the-Luster-of-Art-Deco-and-Art-Nouveau-Issue-19
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The Lure and the Luster of Art Deco and Art Nouveau | LuxPOP!
Marjolein van der Slikke of Deconamic.
of the 1925 Paris Exposition. Inspired and, now a devotee, Gibbons brought Art Deco to millions of moviegoers via his Busby Berkeley musicals and dramatic Greta Garbo lms. The sensual and geometric interiors of the style became a national hit as it formed the perfect backdrop for the rich at play.
Greta Garbo's lms personi ed Art Deco styles of the twenties as seen here in The Kiss (1929). Photo courtesy of MGM. https://www.rubylux.com/luxpop/The-Lure-and-the-Luster-of-Art-Deco-and-Art-Nouveau-Issue-19
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The Lure and the Luster of Art Deco and Art Nouveau | LuxPOP!
In contrast were the starker, minimal styles of Art Nouveau. As RubyLUX dealer Marjolein van der Slikke of the Antwerp, Belgium-based gallery—Deconamic—which
specializes
in
exclusive bronzes, sculptures, paintings and objects from both the Deco and Nouveau periods, explains, "Art Nouveau is the style period that originated and became most popular between 1890 and 1910 when the architects
and
inspiration
in
designers nature.
found
their
Decorations
of
whiplash curves and motifs like plants, feathers and leaves were used to create unique sculptures, objects and furniture."
Pair of French Art Deco Child Bookends by Janle, 1930.
Many of Deconamic's Art Deco items embody the best of the style with their sublime lines, exotic motifs and elegant straight lines. And as Van der Slikke points out, "The human body was depicted in a stylized, idealistic way —women with short hair are depicted dancing, juggling and balancing while male athletes are javelin throwers and archers."
Guiraud-Rivière Art Deco bronze. https://www.rubylux.com/luxpop/The-Lure-and-the-Luster-of-Art-Deco-and-Art-Nouveau-Issue-19
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The Lure and the Luster of Art Deco and Art Nouveau | LuxPOP!
Much like the trends of the 1920s and 1930s, today's interiors are rarely Art Deco and Art Noveau from
oor to ceiling (unless you are
Barbra Streisand whose Malibu guesthouse pays complete homage to the styles). Says van der
Slikke,
contemporary
"Personally, paintings
I
love
with
to
Art
mix Deco
sculptures, and place Art Deco bookends on an antique table as the days of the 'total look' are over."
Art Deco and Art Nouveau accessories are all about symmetry, curved ornamental lines and rich materials.
In terms of trends, van der Slikke notes, "Art Deco bronzes and bookends are very popular at the moment. They are easy to mingle in a modern, eclectic interior as well as in a more traditional decoration." And the designs immediately elevate a room to another level, pedigree wise.
French Art Deco bronze Sculpture of two greyhounds or whippet dogs, 1930s.
https://www.rubylux.com/luxpop/The-Lure-and-the-Luster-of-Art-Deco-and-Art-Nouveau-Issue-19
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The Lure and the Luster of Art Deco and Art Nouveau | LuxPOP!
If you are a collector or an a cionado, van der Slikke advises to "buy with the eye, as the best investment is one you enjoy every day." She also recommends good quality bronzes that are signed and in perfect condition along with the works of well-known French artists such as Bouraine, Le Faguays, Deschamps, Becquerel, Prost and Kelety whose pieces are highly collectible. And look for items made of ivory, gilt, silvered bronze and marble.
Art Deco set on the 2011 Oscar-winning lm The Artist. Photo courtesy of The Weinstein Company.
Whatever style or accessory you choose, Art Nouveau and Art Deco will always add glamour, elegance and a touch of modern to any dĂŠcor.
Lux meets Art Deco in this two bedroom set of The Great Gatsby (2013). Photo courtesy of Warner Brothers.
CONTACT THE EDITORS
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