Art Nouveau period (1890-1914
Art Nouveau is an elegant decorative art style characterized by intricate patterns of curving lines. Its origins somewhat rooted in the British Arts and Crafts Movement of William Morris, Art Nouveau was popular across Europe and in the United States as well.
Art Nouveau remained popular until around the time of World War I, and was ultimately replaced by the Art Deco style.
• Preceded by Arts & Crafts movement – late 1800’s.
• Decorative style highlighted by off balance designs.
• Many designs based on plant forms.
• A response against machine-made products.
• Seen in art,furniture, lamps and other decorative applications.
Roots
Art Nouveau style in architecture takes its roots in neogothic style, baroco, japonism, Arts & Crafts, rationalism and new raw materials that appeared in the 19th century such as iron, steel, industrial glass and later concrete and reinforced concrete.
Furniture styles
Art Nouveau to many is characterised by natural organic forms with curvilinear shapes & contours of rhythmic content. Sinuous plant like forms with languid female figures veiled in allegory and sensuality and illustrated by symbols. Asymmetrical shapes, ethereal figures, tall plant like growth and whiplash curves.
Apperances of furniture
In formal the furniture is elaborately detailed and has a somber appearance.
This kind of furniture can be said deliberated from Victorian style.
Chairs
In this era chairs were designed balloon shaped, bentwood and curved pieces of wood.
The curve of the arms of the chairs were curved outward.While the chair legs were straight and tapered.The chair seat itself was designed in many ways, some used curved, the other are square but some also designed something different like Horseshoe with a rounded or serpentine front, and the materials used for the seating are differed like cane, upholstered or even wood.
Motif and Ornamentation
The motifs used are usually used to symbolize the nature so the design itself were curvy like floral and foliage.Even some ornamentation can be added to the furniture, some thing like inlays or a carving.
Materials
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