Art Deco furniture is the epitome of sexy! Glamorous mirrors, gleaming woods, polished metallic finishes, lush leathers, jewel tones, and exotic embellishments are all hallmarks of Art Deco-style furniture.

Antique furniture is making a strong comeback and Art Deco sofas, tables, cabinets and chairs are in high demand these days. These are the most common features.

Characteristics of Art Deco furniture

metallic finishes

The 1920s are commonly known as the machine age. It was then that industry and manufacturing saw a huge boom. Factories began to pump out products at lightning speed. The rise of sophisticated machinery allowed for the mass manufacturing of all kinds of goods…planes, trains, automobiles, and a host of other common everyday products like radios, refrigerators, lamps, etc. So it’s only natural that the furniture also has a ‘futuristic machine’ aesthetic. This was most easily achieved through the use of metallic accents and finishes.

luxury ornaments

Another furniture trend that emerged during the Art Deco era was luxury trim. The furniture would have added accents of luxurious stones, quartz and jewels. Some of the most popular accents were onyx, jade, ivory, and lampwork glass. Interior decorative pieces like lamps, chandeliers, clocks, and radios would also contain items like this. All the pieces together would create a very rich, modern and luxurious overall look.

mirrored furniture

Deco style was at its peak during the Roaring Twenties. The economy flourished and society became interested in luxury items. One of the most luxurious and glamorous investments would be furniture with mirrors. Coffee tables, dressing tables, dressing tables and all kinds of furniture were made from mirrors. If that’s not glamorous, I don’t know what is!

Tips for finding and buying furniture

online auctions

The quickest and easiest way to find authentic antique furniture from the 1920s is to search luxury online auction sites like 1stdibs, Sothebys, and Christies. However, be prepared to pay a pretty penny. Genuine antique furniture can be quite expensive. An Eileen Gray “Dragons” chair sold for $28 million at auction in 2009!

old shutters

Once you’ve exhausted your search online, you can find vintage and antique stores in your area. Find furniture dealers in your local directory and give them a call to see who might specialize in antique-style furniture. These people are usually a wealth of information. If they don’t have what you’re looking for, they can at least point you in the right direction.

More information on antique furniture