Art Deco City

Art Deco reflected the new industrial age drawing from a variety of influences including ancient Egyptian, Moorish and Mayan motifs and the Cubism, Fauvism and De Stijl movements.The Art Deco style gained prominence in the 1920s, but it was not only architects that embraced its new design ideas: interior and product designers and craftsmen also took inspiration and none more so than architectural furniture designers.Drawing inspiration from the UK, Europe and the USA, this beautiful and comprehensive book celebrates the world's greatest Art Deco buildings, displaying the stunning and diverse range of architecture and design that announced this new movement's aesthetic intent.

Schwartzman's vast treasure trove of images taken over the span of sixty years... This book highlights some of the world's most extraordinary examples in photos that zoom in on murals, mosaics, flooring, ironwork, and other ornamental flourishes... Gorgeous!, A truffle hound with a Nikon, Arnold Schwartzman is constantly on the hunt for overlooked treasures, from the Jewish cemeteries of eastern Europe to the decorative riches of LA. The brilliance of Art Deco, a style that flourished from the mid 1920s through the late 1930s, has been dimmed by over-exposure; here its luster is restored. As a graphic designer, Schwartzman has a gift for composition and a sharp eye for details that are hidden in plain view. I share his love for this era and kick myself for missing so much of what he found. , Take confidence in the artistic eye of this man as he directs us on an aesthetically pleasing journey... [The photographs] are all fascinating and aptly represent the style, a style utterly distinguishable from anything else before or after. Art Deco design, at its peak in the 1930s, pervaded all aspects of twentieth century living and Schwartzman’s photographs include domestic and commercial premises: front doors, leaded glass windows and marble bathrooms; hotel signage, inspirational frescoes and tiled facades. This is a super book to buy for friends with large coffee tables. It’s ideal for design enthusiasts (architecture and graphic design in particular), and the perfect present for armchair travellers.

Arnold Schwartzman is an Oscar-winning film-maker, a noted graphic designer,and the author of a score of books. He began his design career in British television. In 1978 he moved to Hollywood. He was the Director of Design for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and for a number of years has designed many of the key graphic elements for the annual Academy Awards. In 2010, he created the two murals for the Grand Lobby of Cunard's "Queen Elizabeth". In 2001 he was awarded an OBE and in 2006 he was appointed a Royal Designer by the RSA.