Product Description

"A visually exciting look into the world of French Art Deco textile designs…..Highly recommended."—Library Journal

The 1920s and 1930s were a time of great social and cultural upheaval, as well as a period of immense creativity in all artistic fields. The decorative arts experienced a boom that was to shape the lifestyles of a generation, and French artists and designers found themselves at the center of these developments. Whether following the elitist decorative trends of Ruhlmann and Süe, or the more egalitarian, functionalist movement led by Le Corbusier, the worlds of interior decoration and fashion went through radical changes that were both influenced by and reflected in the textiles of the day.

This is an invitation to discover the spectacular world of French Art Deco textiles. Hundreds of full-color photographs bring to life the age when craftsmanship and industry worked side by side: Lyons silk and the first artificial fibers, carved wooden printing blocks and huge multiple-cylinder rotary presses, indigo and madder and aniline and alizarin dyes, tradition and progress. By turns sumptuous or minimalist, featuring extravagant floral patterns or simple arrangements of shapes and colors, timelessly classic or celebrating the most recent triumphs of contemporary life, these fabrics will provide endless inspiration to designers and collectors. 316 color illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #41299 in Books
• Published on: 2006-06-26
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

About the Author
Alain-René Hardy is a former university lecturer and a specialist in twentieth-century decorative art.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Resource
I'm a textile and clothing designer and have a large collection of print reference books. Since I first purchased this book it has been the first book I pull out when I want inspiration. Because of that I have also given it as a gift to several other designers, and it has become one of their favorites too. The collection is inspired and diverse and the printing shows beautiful detail. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves great contemporary design, as well as those interested in vintage textile design.

A reference 'Bible' of both hand made & machine-made textile
Art Deco Textiles is an informed and informative survey of art deco fabrics which packs in color examples drawn from a diverse range of designers in the field, from Marrot and Benedictus to Chanel. Alain-Rene Hardy's research through museum holdings, manufacturer's archives and private collections alike produces an unparalleled reference 'Bible' of both hand made and machine-made textiles, creating an outstanding textile oriented history and survey of the entire field.