Paris was the origination of the art deco movement. Art Deco refers to a specific style that had a mixture of cultures such as African, Japanese, Egyptian and more. Art Deco was bold and relied on geometric shapes to make a statement. Sharp lines, bold colors and unusual materials were the trend in Art Deco jewelry.
Some say that Art Deco didn’t really die; it sort of just went into hibernation. Indeed, that could be the case with some of the jewelry you can find today. The boldness of design is still alive and there are some elements of Art Deco jewellery even today. Art Deco was not for the traditional person who preferred romantic pieces or clean, sparse lines. If you find antique Art Deco jewelry today, you will see that it fit a person with a bold or lively personality because that what the Art Deco period was all about.
Art Deco jewelry originated between 1900 and 1930. The Art Deco look died a slow death thanks to the crash of the stock market in 1929. All decorative types of art were affected by the geometric style and bold lines from architecture to car design and yes, to jewelry. That is why there is such a huge following for all things Art Deco today. It was a brief period in time that was greatly influential in some of the most outstanding buildings and jewelry every constructed.
You can find vintage Art Deco jewelry today. Dig deep for it though. It is highly sought after by collectors who scour antique shops, estate sales and even flea market. Some people may have art deco jewelry in their jewelry boxes that were handed down by grandparents and great-grandparents. Just remember that old does not necessary mean not worth anything when it comes to jewelry. Because of tarnishing, a piece of Art Deco diamond jewelry could look like a simple piece of jewelry with rhinestone in it.
Therefore, if you have had old jewelry passed down to you, get it appraised. What you thought was junk just might be a valuable piece of Art Deco antique jewelry. And don’t forget what it was housed in! That old looking jewelry box that housed the antique jewelry just might be an Art Deco jewelry box, worth almost as much as the jewelry itself. Just remember that Art Deco jewelry is comprised of a variety of mediums such as ceramics, metals, glass, rhinestone, enamel and more. While precious metals and gemstones were used, they were not used in exclusivity.
