Sadly, wars have a way of changing everything. Families, economies, and socio-cultural practices all can be upended by the winds of war. These conflicts often provide demarcation between the era that came before and the era that follows. Even art and design, frivolous as they may seem, are subject to this cycle of revision, renewal and reinvention.
With the onset of World War One, the Victorian and Art Nouveau periods ground to an end. After The Great War, people were ready for something new, fresh and modern. Enter Art Deco—with its aerodynamic, forward-looking, and mechanized aesthetic. Art Deco was huge; all manner of products—from automobiles to toasters, from giftwrap to electrical plugs—fell under this Modernist school of design. Art Deco captured the progressive spirit of a people who had been devastated by years of war and wanted to turn-the-page on the past.
Once again, after World War Two, the world was hungry for something new. This time, Modernism took the form of Mid-Century Modern—with a healthy assist from Scandinavian design (and other avant-garde European movements). Although Art Deco had "a long tail," lasting into the Fifties, the writing was on the wall: Modernist Design was ascending, destined to replace the Art Deco of the previous three decades.
Shown above, a handsome set of eight Modernist cordials made in the Sixties (also appropriate for sherry, liquors, port, aperitifs, or "shots" of alcohol). The clean, Modernist design is embellished with a simple rim-band of platinum (which provides punctuation and helps to protect to rim against chipping). Besides holding alcohol, other interesting service ideas present themselves. One could use them to place candies at each table place setting. They could be used to hold sauces (sweet or savory) to be poured over a guest's course serving (sweet or savory). Perhaps individual portions of chutney (or homemade mayonnaise, ketchup or mustard) would look elegant within each slender glass. Or they could be used to serve an amuse-bouche before dinner (or a palette cleanser between courses). Please click on the photo above to learn more about this set of eight handsome Modernist stems.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
We also can be found in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, at The Antique Center of Strabane (www.antiquecenterofstrabane.com).
Or call to arrange to visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only). 917-446-4248