All in all the Art Deco period is my favorite...known for a distinct design and aesthetic style which carries through multiple media and art forms, the Deco period dates roughly from the end of World War I through the start of World War II (1920’s and 1930’s). The jewelry from this period varied between graphic and glittering and whimsical. The materials ranged from early plastics such as celluloid and bakelite, hand cut and studded with handmade paste crystals to bright and shiny rhodium-plated sterling glittering with flourishes of marcasite and both clear and colored crystal, moving up to the finery of ornate diadems, large geometrically shaped rings, platinum set with diamonds and contrasting precious stones, intricately chased white gold bands, pearls and cut-glass beads draped around all necks in dramatic lengths, fashion started boyish in the 20’s and elided into silky siren sensuality with bias-cut body-conscious gowns in the 1930s which sensationally caused most undergarments to become optional...Cleopatra and Egyptian influence reigned on screen and off, Josephine Baker and the Ziegfeld Follies were at the center of the zeitgeist...American prohibition caused the glitterati to seek underground grottoes where the music of jazz and crooners with orchestras entertained late into the night...choosing to recreate a flamenco influenced look, I asked Nico to weigh in on my jewelry and this is what we chose from our personal collection...a serpentine paste coiled bracelet, a stack of faceted bakelite and celluloid cream and black bangles, a paste and pearl sterling cocktail ring, 1930’s sapphire and diamond wristwatch, a black bakelite and paste crystal tennis bracelet, and a treasured paste-crystal channel-set sterling bangle which I bought at the @bkflea years before we even thought of selling our wares there...the mantilla hair comb is one of a set of two and is a translucent celluloid in pale yellow meant to imitate horn which was partially painted over in green and set with pale blue crystal. Olé! Find more like these at our shop in DUMBO @theagrantdesign or at our weekend #TheaGrantOutpost at the #bkflea #brooklynflea (at Brooklyn, New York)
