GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Although some American designers worked in a style closely akin to French art deco, many more embraced the concept of streamlining. Giving objects, even stationary ones, streamlined shapes was seen as a sign of progress and dynamism in the Depression years of the 1930s. Thanks to the emerging profession of industrial design and the need to enhance slumping sales figures, streamlined silhouettes were given to everything from buildings to buses and from cocktail shakers to vacuum cleaners. Furthermore, the modernity of these products was often enhanced through the use of new materials, including plywood, plastic, chromed steel, and aluminum. The end result was fashionable yet relatively inexpensive products that could be consumed on a mass scale and were not restricted to the wealthy upper class.
Drawn from
Charles Venable, wall text from the 11/18/2001 to 5/20/2002 exhibition "Art Deco and Streamlined Modern Design, 1920-1950”
NOTES
see this note for possible consolidation: art deco/art moderne/art nouveau
ASSOCIATED CONTENT CHUNKS
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
apply to objects where department_id equals 60
apply to objects where date_end lte 1955
apply to objects where date_begin gte 1930
apply to objects where geography_ancestor_id equals 7012149
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
Although some American designers worked in a style closely akin to French art deco, many more embraced the concept of streamlining. Giving objects, even stationary ones, streamlined shapes was seen as a sign of progress and dynamism in the Depression years of the 1930s. Thanks to the emerging profession of industrial design and the need to enhance slumping sales figures, streamlined silhouettes were given to everything from buildings to buses and from cocktail shakers to vacuum cleaners. Furthermore, the modernity of these products was often enhanced through the use of new materials, including plywood, plastic, chromed steel, and aluminum. The end result was fashionable yet relatively inexpensive products that could be consumed on a mass scale and were not restricted to the wealthy upper class.
Drawn from
Charles Venable, wall text from the 11/18/2001 to 5/20/2002 exhibition "Art Deco and Streamlined Modern Design, 1920-1950”
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
Notes
see this note for possible consolidation: art deco/art moderne/art nouveau
rules
Apply To
Objects
department_id
Equals
60
Apply To
Objects
geography_ancestor_id
Equals
7012149
source file
time_and_place-0019.xml.nores