Art Nouveau Style
The style consists of two distinct looks: curvy, elongated lines, or the more linear look of artists such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh. There were elements of stylised natural forms, such as flowers, roots, buds and seedpods, and the pre-Raphaelite female form was often seen also. Vertical lines, with height were a feature, with the whiplash line being prominent. From the stylised natural forms of flowers also came spider webs, peacock feathers, locusts, thistles and more, appearing on wallpaper, furniture and accents. Exotic woods, iridescent glass, silver and semi precious stones were the materials of choice in this elaborate and exuberant era.
Art Nouveau Furniture
Most Art Nouveau furniture was based around the greatly influential designer, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. He was renowned for his extremely high-backed chairs in a glossy black lacquer. A more conservative option would be more curvy shapes, upholstered in stylised floral fabrics. Furniture however, was not a big element of Art Nouveau design, and the focus was mainly on beautiful and elaborate ornaments. Art glass was a must. The typical Nouveau glass was iridescent with patterns of liquid oil. Glasswork also came in more opaque matter, with detailed etched designs. Of particular mention is the Galle “cameo glass”, which has a raised design cut out of the glass with acid. Tiffany lamp -shaped like an umbrella with bold colored favrile glass between bronze and metal latticework was a symbol of the art nouveau period, very expensive, and has now had thousands of lesser quality imitaions made. Silver and pewter were also popular materials for ornaments, and it is not difficult to find Mackintosh-style clocks, frames and jewellery boxes today.
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