ART DECO

 This period is widely remembered for its cocktail-sipping, fringe-shaking flappers, its jazz and its Great Gatsby-esque lifestyle. It’s also known for its spectacular, bold jewellery. In fact, the styles of Art Deco jewellery are still widely imitated today.

Advances in jewellery-making meant that gemstone settings could be easily hidden, creating the illusion of a solid, unbroken line of stones. Sometimes, this is referred to as a ‘mystery setting’.

In 1922, Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered, along with all the treasures inside it. These bold, colourful items captured the imagination of designers around the world – including jewellery-makers. In many Art Deco pieces, you can see the nod to Ancient Egypt, in the sharp lines, rich colours and luxurious materials used. Many of the motifs are borrowed from Egyptian history too, such as scarabs, pyramids and the eye of Horus.

The jewellery designers of the Art Deco era were keen to break away from the fluid lines and natural themes of Art Nouveau jewellery. Instead they embraced modernism and the advances in technical innovation and machinery. A new genre of design was born – bold, geometric shapes with clean lines and symmetry.