Art Deco

The Art Deco period began around1920 until 1935. It was a design style that had been developed in France, in the post First World War years, in protest against the over embellishment of Art Nouveau. The new style was all about geometrical and abstract shapes and straight, clean lines. These modern, more austere trends, started to appear in architecture and various areas of the decorative arts, spreading throughout Europe and particularly the USA. Art Deco jewelry, also, were characterized by geometrical motifs and sharply zigzagged lines.

Significant social developments during this time meant improve status for women and a move towards "liberation", a trend which produced a lighter approach to women's clothing. The waistline dropped, while necklaces and strings got longer and lower. Short haircut style was all the rage, a style which, with the ears now in view, was well suited to long earrings. Sleeves were also dispended with, and women were covering their arms with paired bangles instead. Rings were frequently designed in geometrical shapes and set with diamonds and gems.

In the more prestigious jewelry, platinum, white gold, diamonds and pearls were widely used, giving the artifact its "white looks", a feature which had its roots in Edwardian times and continued well into the 1930s. Other jewelry was designed with Bakelite, celluloid, tortoiseshell, and ivory.

Art Deco was greatly influenced by the exotic, ethnic are of the Far East, particularly China and Japan, as well as India, Africa, ancient Egypt, Mexico and American Indian art.