Dictionary

Art Deco en · PROPN

Pronunciation

• /ˌɑːɹt ˈdɛkəʊ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌɑɹt ˈdɛkoʊ/ (General-American)
• (General-American) audio

Etymology

Borrowed from French Art déco, first used in the catalogue of an exhibition at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris, France, in 1966. Art déco is a clipping of arts décoratifs (“decorative arts”) (from the name of an exhibition called L’Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes (The International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts) held in Paris in 1925), from arts (plural of art (“art”)) + décoratifs (plural of décoratif (“decorative”)).

Meanings

1. (also, attributive) A style of decorative art (often used in household objects) and architecture originating in the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by bold geometric forms, strong contrasting colours, and simple composition.
   • A pair of Armada flagons were bought for £1,900 and a four-piece Art Deco tea set on a matching tray was sold at £1,500. 1978 July 26, Paula Judge, “Saleroom: Jane Austen Ms [manuscript] sold for £38,000”, in Financial Times, number 27,620, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 5, column 8:
   • These properties reflect the wide variety of resources that represent the American heritage. They include skyscrapers in Chicago and mining structures in Alaska; prehistoric petroglyphs in Nevada and World War II fortifications in Guam; a district of art deco buildings in Miami and a district of prominent artists' and writers' homes in Santa Fe. 1989, “Introduction”, in National Register of Historic Places 1966–1988, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers; National Park Service; Nashville, Tenn.: American Association for State and Local History, →ISBN, page ix, column 1:
   • This project has stripped away modern PVCu and aluminium shop fronts to reveal original or 1930s Art Deco work, with judicious repairs and replacements as necessary, plus stonework repairs and the restoration of traditional London Transport signage. 2021 December 15, Robin Leleux, “Awards Honour the Best Restoration Projects: The Great Western Railway Craft Skills Award: Victoria Arcade”, in Rail, number 946, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 59:
   • Always in the same district, at 61 Olive Street, is the Oviatt Building, one of [the] most important examples of Art Deco architecture found within Los Angeles city limits, and once a prestigious clothing shop boasting such clients as Rudolph Valentino and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. […] The store was replaced by today's Rex II Restaurant, decorated as an^([sic – meaning a]) 1920s ocean liner in keeping with the overall Art Deco decor. 1995, Rosanna Cirigliano, “Los Angeles”, in California, Florence: Casa Editrice Bonechi; San Francisco, Calif.: Smith Novelty Company, →ISBN, page 119:

Forms

Deriveds

Deco · decopunk

Synonyms

Deco

Translations (66)

sh Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · ca art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · mr आर डेको (style of decorative art and architecture) · ro Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · ru ар-деко́ (style of decorative art and architecture) · ms Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · ast Art Decó (style of decorative art and architecture) · ru арт-деко́ (style of decorative art and architecture) · pt art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · nb Art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · fr Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · ka არტ-დეკო (style of decorative art and architecture) · th อลังการศิลป์ (style of decorative art and architecture) · ar فن زخرفي (style of decorative art and architecture) · fi art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · mk Ар деко (style of decorative art and architecture) · zea Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · vi Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · bn আর দেকো (style of decorative art and architecture) · ja アール・デコ (style of decorative art and architecture) · eo artdekora (style of decorative art and architecture) · sv Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · he אר דקו (style of decorative art and architecture) · uk ар-деко́ (style of decorative art and architecture) · li Art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · pcd Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · kk ар-деко (style of decorative art and architecture) · it Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · de Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · el Αρ Ντεκό (style of decorative art and architecture) · bg А́ртдеко́ (style of decorative art and architecture) · eu Art Déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · tl Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · sk art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · ta எழில்படுக் கலை (style of decorative art and architecture) · cs Art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · af Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · pnb آرٹ ڈیکو (style of decorative art and architecture) · hy արտ-դեկո (style of decorative art and architecture) · sl Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · et Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · cmn 裝飾派藝術 /装饰派艺术 (style of decorative art and architecture) · tr Art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · lt Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · ko 아르데코 (style of decorative art and architecture) · es art decó (style of decorative art and architecture) · cmn 裝飾藝術 /装饰艺术 (style of decorative art and architecture) · gl Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · fa آرت دکو (style of decorative art and architecture) · id Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · sk art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · da Art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · nn Art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · kk арт-деко (style of decorative art and architecture) · be Ар-дэко (style of decorative art and architecture) · arz ارت ديكو (style of decorative art and architecture) · lv Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · hy ար-դեկո (style of decorative art and architecture) · pt art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · nl art deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · hu Art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · uk арт-деко́ (style of decorative art and architecture) · ga Art Deco (style of decorative art and architecture) · az Ar-deko (style of decorative art and architecture) · pl art déco (style of decorative art and architecture) · ext Art decó (style of decorative art and architecture)

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