Art Deco

Spanning the boom of the roaring 1920s through to the bust of the Depression-ridden 1930s, Art Deco drew on timeworn traditions while simultaneously celebrating the modern, mechanised world. This extraordinary blend of tradition and progress, combined with a lively eclecticism, is found throughout the V&A's Art Deco objects.

The Art Deco objects in the V&A collections span furnishings, ceramics, glassware, metalwork, fabrics, prints and fashion. Decorative elegance and exquisite craftsmanship is displayed through the works of Clarice Cliff, Frank Lloyd Wright, Rene Lalique, Emile-Jaques Ruhlmann and Jeanne Lanvin, providing lively insight into the development of one of the world's first truly global design movements.

Features

Collection highlights

islamic tile
person working with clay with their hands
two women sat on a long green chair looking away from camera
woman working with a pen in hand on a black mannequin head

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Header image:
Background image: Frieze panel, designed by Walter Gilbert, made by Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Art, 1933, England. Museum no. M.262-1984. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London Frieze panel (detail), designed by Walter Gilbert, made by Bromsgrove Guild of Applied Art, 1933, England. Museum no. M.262-1984. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London