Dominated by conservative politics, social conformity, atomic anxiety, and a soaring birth rate, the 1950s also brought prosperity to many industrialized countries, especially the U.S. Once again, people had money to spend on entertainment and consumer products. Aided by growing mobility due to widespread car ownership, Americans created the "casual" lifestyle.

During the 1940s, World War II devastated the lives of countless people; however, the war effort produced many important technological advances. Foremost were the development of the first nuclear reactor (1941) and the construction of the electromechanical computer (1943). Many artists and designers of the 1940s and 1950s were inspired by the freedom and power suggested by such scientific advances.

The 1930s were dominated by the economic chaos of the Great Depression and political events leading up to World War II. Before the world was engulfed in war, however, this decade was a time of great innovation and apparent progress despite its economic problems. World trade fairs, such as those held in the United States in 1933 (Chicago), 1936 (Dallas), and 1939 (New York), showcased numerous new inventions and redesigned products.

The 1920s were generally a time of great prosperity for most of Europe and the United States. Until the stock market crash in 1929 ushered in the Great Depression, many individuals were able to afford growing numbers of consumer products and spend more money on entertainment. For art and design, the 1920s were momentous indeed.

Although World War I dominated the second decade of the 20th century, many other significant events occurred. Industrial and financial monopolies controlled much of America's wealth and political processes, but protest and reform was also in the air. The nation's romance with the automobile and the movies also began in this decade, and the art world experienced many important movements.

The turn of the century heralded the dawn of a new age in many ways. In the design field, the century opened auspiciously with world's fairs in Paris (1900)  and St. Louis (1904), where designers, manufacturers, and consumers compared products from around the world.

Gold is an inert metal which does not corrode on contact with dirt, air, or chemicals, unlike iron and silver. As a shining material that does not decay or tarnish, it has been prized by people all over the world. Among the Greeks, Etruscans, and Romans, valuable gold jewelry was often buried with the dead in tombs.