Abstract

American Art Deco was an architectural and interior design style that took direct influence from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris, the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in Egypt, European Cubist artwork, and pre-Columbian and Caribbean cultures. The image of the Art Deco style in American society has been misconstrued as a movement based off the industrial and automobile progress America experienced during and after World War I. However, the rapidly moving design and architectural trend that swept across America was impacted by historical events and foreign cultures that gave hope and glamour to interiors and buildings during the Great Depression years. Unlike any other design fad in American history, the geometric forms and indigenous symbols of overseas cultures were dispersed across the nation in not only the residential and commercial realm, but in ocean liners and Hollywood movies, creating a lavish and luxurious image in society which resulted in distinctive American Art Deco opulence. This style combined motifs from autochthonous cultures with representations from the mechanical and automotive industries that were prospering throughout 1930s culture. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate through images the comparison between the forms of rediscovered, ancient cultures and the architectural characteristics of American Art Deco.