Art Deco Reference Works?

[Jelly]

I'm looking for a detailed reference work on Art Deco Woodwork (both Furniture and Interior Joinery would be interesting, but the former moreso).

My usual tactic of googling the hell out of it is not producing results, so I'm appealing to the collective knowledge of the forum; does such a thing exist (either as a book or as an obscure website) or am I going to have more luck searching for either: A more general reference that is comprehensive enough to include those things or Works on specific schools/designers?

 

[barkwindjammer]

Don't know about references as such (plans etc) but Google Images is a good place to start your search.

 

[Jelly]

That's a big part of what got me interested, there's loads of really nice looking stuff out there; But I'm struggling to find more on the design philosophies, choice of techniques and materials etc. that would let me attempt to design things for myself, rather than trying to ape someone else's designs.

 

[AndyT]

This list from the V&A might help:

http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/a/art-deco-reading-list/

If you're lucky some of those contemporary magazines will have been scanned and made available on line - at least knowing the titles should help. Search for them at the Internet Archive and Google Books Search.

But there's another project which could be a big help, though it's still in the early stages - the Europeana Cultural Portal which aims to be a source for the digital collections of loads of European galleries and museums.

http://www.europeana.eu

I've not got time to look far at the moment, but I was quite pleased to see that searching there for 'art deco' led to a run of the monthly periodical "Art et Decoration" from 1897 to 1939 at the "Pomeranian Digital Library" which was certainly a new one on me!

(Can you tell that I'm still quite pleased that a cheap home computer can bring millions of items from the world's libraries and galleries to you for a few clicks? ;-) )

 

[Harbo]

Have a look for books on refurbishing The Orient Express which were originally built in the Art Deco Style?

The wife of the American owner wrote on - as seen on TV a few months ago.

In fact the BBC did a series about AD - they may have produced a DVD of it?

Rod

 

[Jelly]

Can you tell that I'm still quite pleased that a cheap home computer can bring millions of items from the world's libraries and galleries to you for a few clicks? ;-)

It's wonderful isn't it! Thanks for the pointers, It just occurred to me reading your post that I should search within the British Library too, if anything of interest comes up I should be able to order stuff from the catalog to the Uni Library with my reader card!

Ta Harbo! refurbishing the orient express sounds like a good one to look out for, I don't know that it would have technical detail, but I imagine it would be an interesting read regardless.

Edit: The British Library looks to have some good stuff, and pointed me at some journals I can access online (including strangely an article in The Lancet! Thanks for the inspiration there!

 

[Harbo]

A lot of the original work was done by famous craftsmen of the time like Lalique but the marquetry was carried out in this country and the son of the original maker still carries on the business and still had a lot of the original woods used.
Another famous place is Eltham Palace which the Courtaulds family lavishly refurbished in AD Style and recently restored by English Heritage

Rod

 

[Jacob]

That's a big part of what got me interested, there's loads of really nice looking stuff out there; But I'm struggling to find more on the design philosophies, choice of techniques and materials etc. that would let me attempt to design things for myself, rather than trying to ape someone else's designs.

Perhaps best start with a general guide to 20th century design of which there are many. Look for Bevis Hillier.
Art Deco was more of a tendency than a cohesive movement - they didn't have a manifesto like some other design movements.
The best way to get in to design is to try to ape someone else's design IMHO. Copy, copy! It's like learning a language - you have to copy how they speak it, not make up your own.

 

[bugbear]

(Can you tell that I'm still quite pleased that a cheap home computer can bring millions of items from the world's libraries and galleries to you for a few clicks? ;-) )

Oh yes. It's a fine thing.

BugBear

 

[yetloh]

The best way to get in to design is to try to ape someone else's design IMHO. Copy, copy! It's like learning a language - you have to copy how they speak it, not make up your own.

I am sure Jacob's approach will work but if, like me, you really don't want to copy you could try my approach which has been to look at as many examples as I can (preferably actual pieces rather than images) and work out in my own mind what really works, what I like about them, what I don't, and what it is about them that gives them the art deco essence. Some museums have good art deco collections where you can spend looking as much time as you want. There are antique dealers who specialise in art deco and most will be happy for you to browse. There are also regular deco fares around the country which you can find on line. If you do this looking and analyzing I think things will soon start to crystallize in your mind and you will ideas developing for your own designs.

So far as books are concerned, the V&A held a big art deco exhibition several years ago and published a book to go with it. I have the one for their arts and crafts exhibition which is very good. No doubt the deco book is equally good and I am sure you will find it on the V&A website.

It is always good to see people wanting to have a go at design as many people are too timid. Good luck and do post some pics of your pieces.

Jim

 

[andersonec]

That's a big part of what got me interested, there's loads of really nice looking stuff out there; But I'm struggling to find more on the design philosophies, choice of techniques and materials etc. that would let me attempt to design things for myself, rather than trying to ape someone else's designs.

I was into Bonsai for many years and used to meet up with a Japanese teacher four times a year for about ten years, once you understood what you were trying to achieve, what would happen if you did something, what would you need to do to achieve a certain outcome? It took a long time but the big picture gradually came into focus until you were confident to carry out procedures knowing what the result would be, then you could produce trees which achieved he impression of a large old tree but in miniature, not easy..........

I can see the same with this and many other skills, study and practice but you have to start somewhere and looking to others for inspiration is an everyday practice now

Andy

 

[Mike Wingate]

Art Deco is the theme for this years ResMat exam in technology.

 

[Mike Wingate]

http://www.technologystudent.com/prddes1/deco1.html
A good tool for tech teachers and their pupils.

 

[eribaMotters]

Mike, very useful thank you. I have just opened the link and it should save me a lot of time and help my year 11 this year a lot.

Colin