Arts & Culture
Applied Ornament in Art Deco Furniture Design
Quick fact
Art Deco furniture often used exotic materials like ivory, tortoiseshell, and sharkskin (shagreen), which were applied as veneers, inlays, or mounts, making each piece a unique work of decorative art.
Why this is interesting
You've seen sleek, geometric furniture from the 1920s, but what gives it that opulent, glamorous feel? The secret lies in ornament that wasn't just carved into the wood, but applied onto it like jewelry.