Art Deco Glass

Channeling the clean geometry and multifaceted motifs of the movement, Art Deco glassware celebrated luminescent glazes and innovative design to become one of the most treasured aesthetic approaches of the early 20th century. Epitomized by influential figures such as René Lalique, Art Deco glassware captivates collectors for its clean design and frosted finishes.

The Art Deco approach to design was unveiled in the 1920s, in part in response to changing tastes of contemporary consumers. Channeling the appeal of contemporary architecture and modern machinery, Art Deco designers borrowed the sleek lines and clean forms. They also incorporated a rich array of references from history. From the Cubists, for example, they borrowed straightforward geometry; from the ancient Egyptians, they borrowed the stylized motifs and angular symbols.

It was because of this rich sourcebook and the fluid blending of these sources that the Art Deco approach became a monumental success. Still infusing its presence into contemporary designs, antique Art Deco glassware is a beacon of classic yet cutting edge genius.

Quick Facts

• On the news of the inaugural Art Deco exhibition in 1925 in Paris, US President Herbert Hoover sent a team of experts to take notes, which resulted in a profusion of stateside Art Deco design in the following decades
• The emphasis on geometric motifs in Art Deco motifs has led some experts to call it "Cubism Tamed"
• Art Deco styling decreased in popularity following the Great Depression, but it experienced renewed interest around mid-century, when Pop Artists, like Patrick Nagel, began sourcing its approach for inspiration