A century after the Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes opened in Paris in the spring of 1925, we invite you to rediscover an artistic movement that spread across Europe and the Western world between the two World Wars, leaving a lasting impact on all forms of artistic expression. To mark this anniversary, we’ve selected images of seven design objects from Scala archives, offering a glimpse into the history of this iconic style and some of its key figures.
The Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, held in Paris in 1925, was one of the defining events of the twentieth century for art and design. Along the banks of the Seine, the exhibition aimed to showcase the best in modern Décorative and industrial arts, celebrating the innovation and creativity emerging in France and beyond.
While artists, designers, and architects from across the globe contributed, French works dominated the scene. The pavilions featured a stunning array of innovative creations, from furniture and jewellery to Décorative objects, ceramics, cars, and planes—each distinguished by their use of luxurious materials and cutting-edge techniques.
The 1925 exhibition was a huge success: it showcased how design could seamlessly merge functionality with elegance. It promoted the idea of a close collaboration between art and industry, while also helping to establish the Art Déco movement worldwide.
Influenced by modern art and archaeological discoveries, such as the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, Art Déco blends cultural and historical references with a forward-thinking, avant-garde spirit. The style not only captures the essence of modernity but celebrates it through innovation and sophistication. It features bold patterns like zigzags, stepped lines, and stylized depictions of plants and animals, appearing in everything from building facades to furniture, jewellery, and even advertising posters.
The so-called “decorative arts” of this period were characterized by bold geometric shapes, clean lines, and the use of luxurious, often exotic materials such as ebony, ivory, and lacquer. This style embodies the glamour and industrial progress of the 1920s and 1930s. It was embraced by the worlds of fashion and film, spreading Art Déco’s allure from Hollywood to the salons of Paris.
Art Déco’s influence was so widespread that it has come to symbolize an era of opulence and vitality. The style not only captured the dreams and ambitions of society between the two World Wars, but also pushed the boundaries of aesthetic taste, shaping a vision of the future defined by accessible luxury and flawless geometry.
The term Art Déco comes from the abbreviation of the title of the 1925 Paris Exposition, Exposition internationale des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes. However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that critics began using the term.
The phrase Style 1925 is specifically used to describe the aesthetic of the creations showcased at the 1925 Paris Exposition. At the time, it referred to the emerging decorative style, which was distinct from earlier movements like Art Nouveau. In fact, Style 1925 encompasses artistic objects and products made from luxurious materials, highlighting exquisite craftsmanship paired with a modern vision. It can be seen as a symbol of “modern luxury,” typically reserved for the elite.
Art Déco is therefore a broader term that also encompasses the style’s evolution from the 1920s to the 1940s. During this period, the style became less opulent, using more accessible materials and featuring simpler, less intricate details.
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René Lalique, a master jeweller and glassmaker, is one of the most iconic figures associated with the Art Déco movement, although his career and style first emerged during the Art Nouveau period. From the 1930s, Lalique adapted his style, creating jewelry that embodied the geometric shapes, symmetry, and refined elegance characteristic of the new Art Déco aesthetic.
In his designs, Lalique combined gold, platinum, and precious stones with innovative materials like enamel, horn, and opals. This fusion of traditional and modern elements challenged the conventions of jewellery design, making his creations both contemporary and more accessible. Lalique not only redefined the concept of jewellery but also played a key role in establishing Art Déco as a timeless style.
Glass became one of the most prominent materials used in Art Déco objects. Explore a selection of vases, glasses, and decorative pieces.
A global fascination with Egypt sparkled after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb by Howard Carter in 1922 and had a major impact on Art Déco design. This “Egyptomania” influenced a wide range of artistic fields, from jewellery and architecture to furniture, but specially fashion.
Art Déco embraced Egyptian motifs such as scarabs, lotus flowers, pyramids, sphinxes, and hieroglyphics, often stylizing them to align with the movement’s signature geometric and symmetrical lines. The vibrant colours of Egyptian art—lapis lazuli blue, turquoise, malachite green, gold, and black—became staples in fashion, both in clothing and accessories.
Sonia Delaunay, renowned for her contributions to the Orphism movement and textile design, was also influenced by the Egyptomania of the 1920s. She reimagined Egyptian motifs into abstract designs that seamlessly integrated with the modernist Art Déco style.
We’ve curated a collection of images to inspire you with Art Déco fashion.
Art Déco bridged the divide between elitism and mass production, merging handcrafted artistry with the advancements of industrial manufacturing. This movement offered a refined aesthetic alongside a modern industrial approach, appealing to both the affluent élite and the rising middle class eager to embrace contemporary design.
Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann a renowned French designer and cabinetmaker, emerged as a leading figure in the Art Déco movement during the 1920s and 1930s.
His work symbolized luxury and sophistication, with furniture characterized by graceful lines, exquisite materials, and meticulous craftsmanship. Ruhlmann often used rare woods like Macassar ebony, ivory, and rosewood, frequently incorporating precious metals into his designs to create elegant pieces. While he drew inspiration from classical and traditional styles, he skillfully integrated these influences with the geometric forms and symmetry that defined Art Déco.
Beyond just furniture, Ruhlmann designed entire interiors, carefully coordinating every detail—from the furniture and wall treatments to decorative accents—to cultivate a luxurious, harmonious environment. His designs were aimed at an élite clientele and hailed as genuine masterpieces of art.
In Scala Archives website, you can explore a rich collection of photographs and sketches of interiors. You’ll also find a stunning array of still-life images showcasing individual pieces of furniture —tables, chairs, wardrobes, and accessories— that highlight the craftsmanship and elegance of the Art Déco era.
In Germany, Art Déco developed a unique path, shaped by the social context and the influence of the Bauhaus. Unlike the French, more focused on luxury, German Art Déco embraced key principles of the international style, adapting them to a more functional and minimalist approach. The German version of the style emphasized simplicity, practicality, and the use of modern materials, resulting in a more restrained and functional aesthetic.
German designers favoured materials such as steel, chrome, glass, and wood—affordable and ideal for mass production. Marianne Brandt, a notable German designer trained at the Bauhaus, stands out for her modernist take on Art Déco. Her creations—teapots, ashtrays, lamps, and more—feature geometric forms with minimal decoration, reflecting a commitment to functionality and modern design principles.
In the 1930s, forward-thinking companies began adopting integrated marketing strategies, which included advertisements in newspapers and magazines. The British company Twinings quickly recognized the potential of advertising and billboards, particularly for a product like tea—an iconic symbol of elegance and refined taste.
During Art Déco, tea consumption became a cultural hallmark, embodying modernity, sophistication, and global influence. The act of tea drinking was reimagined into a fashionable ritual, complete with carefully designed objects and luxurious settings.
Tea-related items —such as teapots, cups, sugar bowls, and trays— were crafted with meticulous attention to design. Tea drinking became chic ritual in settings like the salons, cafés, and tea rooms of upscale hotels, particularly in cosmopolitan cities such as Paris, New York, and London. These spaces were furnished with Art Déco-inspired décor, featuring upholstered chairs, stained-glass lamps, and intricately framed mirrors.
Art Déco fabrics were defined by bold geometric patterns and zoo-botanical motifs, reflecting the era’s colonial influences and the growing interest in global travel. Exotic animals like tigers, lions, peacocks, and elephants were frequently depicted, adding an air of exoticism to the textiles.
Paul Poiret, a key Art Déco figure, played a significant role in shaping this industry. While not being a textile designer himself, his clothing collections had a profound impact on textile design. Poiret collaborated with some of the leading artisans and fabric manufacturers of the time, selecting luxurious materials such as satin, silk, brocade, and chiffon. His creations often featured geometric patterns and incorporated shapes inspired by exotic animals.
The parrot, a recurring motif in Art Déco, is a prime example of the style’s embrace of exotic and symbolic elements. With their vibrant plumage and vivid colours, parrots perfectly captured the decorative spirit of the period.
Ceramics, historically considered one of the “minor” arts, gained new recognition during the Art Déco period. Thanks to a renewed focus on design and decorative arts, ceramics emerged as an art form, capable of expressing innovation, beauty, and functionality.
Giò Ponti one of the most influential figures in 20th-century Italian design, played a key role in shaping the Art Déco style in Italy, particularly in the field of applied arts and ceramics. His collaboration with the renowned Richard Ginori manufactory is a prime example of how Ponti blended classical influences with modern design principles. The result was a collection of pieces that exemplified both sophistication and innovation.
Ponti skilfully merged neoclassical elements, inherent to Italian tradition, with the geometric and stylized forms characteristic of Art Déco. His creations for Richard Ginori—vases, plates, and tableware—featured clean lines, simple shapes, and decorative motifs inspired by antiquity, while also incorporating a sense of modernity. Bright colours, along with gold and silver accents, lent his pieces an air of luxury and elegance, perfectly reflecting the tastes of the time.
Ponti’s vision extended beyond individual pieces; he designed complete collections, ensuring that ceramics became integral elements of the modern home environment.
Explore our gallery dedicated to Art Déco ceramics from around the world.
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