Art deco or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and jewelry, as well as the visual arts such as painting, graphic arts and film. The term “art deco” was first used widely in 1926, after an exhibition in Paris, celebrating the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) that was the culmination of style moderne in Paris.
The structure of Art Deco is based on mathematical geometric shapes.[14] It was widely considered to be an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism, being influenced by a variety of sources.
Art Deco was an ornamental style, and its lavishness is attributed to reaction to the forced austerity imposed by World War I.
As you can see……… this was a design period from approximately the 1920’s to the 1930′. So how is it the bed I have posted here was one that was made in the mid 1800’s. It seems many iron beds being made in thousands of small independently owned foundries, during the 1800’s, were designs that were truly out of step with the current times. Some , bed I’ve posted here, were way before their time.
Many of the beds I’ve come across over the years, were ones that could be blended beautifully with the strong Deco interiors of the 1920’s and 30’s. Surprisingly metal beds were not popular in the Deco Period. Most of the beds being used then were either wooden or a compound material of plastic. Upholstered headboards were extremely popular and replaced the thin metal beds of the 1800’s. Although Deco was synonymous with “stream lined”, it had a heavy look to it. Antique iron beds offered a lighter airier look…….not something Deco was described as. But even this bed has a heavier look because of the flat metal art display panels.
Iron beds…..sometimes before their time.
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