Art Deco Design
Art Deco-Inspired design is a personal favorite here at Alx&Co. and we get many requests for custom and bespoke rings that reference this era. It’s easy to see why the aesthetic is so popular: done well, Art Deco design balances intricacy with simplicity and often suites people who want something that feels extremely special without feeling frilly. By combining the gorgeous clean lines of a skyscraper-spotted skyline with the hand-edged migraine filigree so commonly found in this era, Art Deco design perfectly blends old craftsmanship with new geometric playfulness and somehow always feels current.
The Art Deco design period was popular in the US and Europe during the 1920’s and 1930’s. The defining characteristics of the decades include strong geometric elements, reverence to modernity and machinery, and a deep adherence to symmetry in pattern. Art Deco design is inherently celebratory: it speaks the language of progressivism, modernity, and the triumph of man through technology, but at the same time pieces were designed to be functional and wearable. I think in many ways, this is why Art Deco design feels so relevant in especially bridal design today: clients are still seeking the sensationalism of a beautiful, brilliant work of art but they want it to feel functional and wearable for a modern lifestyle.
Classic Art Deco design employs antique methods and craft with modern lines. You can see it in pieces with custom sapphire accents, repeating chevron engraving patterns, textural milgrain accents, sweeping curves, and sunburst shapes:
One trend we have been noticing of late is clients asking for Art Deco design, but with an updated edge. Rather than requesting some of the more classic, antiqued elements of Art Deco influence, clients are opting for the just clean, linear lines and patterns of Art Deco design and leaving the format unadorned. This might mean including trapezoidal shapes or sunburst rays, but leaving out the milgrain or engraving. We’ll post more about this updated Art Deco trend soon, so stay tuned for photos of our work in this niche!
