I'm interested in silver done in the art deco style. Where did the best examples come from?
WHAT THE EXPERT SAYS
'Art deco silver was made all over Europe and later in North America, but the main centres were Paris, Copenhagen and Brussels,' says Erik Mullendorf, director of Mullendorf Antiques. 'The silver usually bears hallmarks that permit the dating and the attribution of the piece.'
'The term 'art deco' was coined in 1925 when an exciting new current in decorative arts was shown in Paris at the Exposition des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels, or in short Art Deco,' says Mullendorf. 'Now the term is applied to silverware from the 20s through to the 50s, with the exception of historical pieces.'
ELEMENTS OF STYLE
'Clear lines and geometrical design,' Mullendorf says. 'The influence of the modern era, with its stylised forms and cubist shapes, shines through. Because the form is reduced to the utmost simplicity, emphasis is put on rich materials such as rosewood, ivory and precious stones.'