Art Deco Complete: The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s Reviews

Review by Robin Benson for Art Deco Complete: The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s
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Although the book is called Art Deco Complete you should know that the editorial is really focused on the European fine art aspects of this wonderfully exuberant style. It doesn’t cover architecture or the way the style was used for commercial products. Having said that I found the book a fascinating overview of Deco. Duncan has written several books on the style and this huge volume probably has much taken from all of these. His book American Art Deco covers the style in the US where he does include architecture, graphics and commercial products.

The book is in two sections: Media and Masters with sections on: Furniture and Interiors; Sculpture; Paintings, Graphics, Posters, Bookbinding; Glass; Ceramics; Lighting; Silver, Metal, Lacquer, Enamel; Jewelry. The second part is an A-Z of Designers, Artists and Manufacturers. The last pages have reasonable bibliography, index and a couple of pages I found useful: a glossary of French technical terms.

Each of the sections in the first part (304 pages) is divided into the leading artists with large photos of their work. In fact the images (over a thousand with most in

color) throughout the pages are something, I feel, that lifts the title above many other books on the subject. The four Chiparus figures on 108-109 just jump of the page, similarly the quite stunning bookbinding on 144-145 or the Puiforat clocks on 296 -297 will really hold your attention. The second part (212 pages) design index also presents large photos to go names. The index does broaden out to include some commercial creative folk like Breuer, Kem, Loewy, Rohde or Russel Wright.

Author Duncan has managed to write what might end up as the standard work on the fine art aspects of Art Deco though I still think the word Complete in the title is rather misleading, it is after all a decorative art style and its influence traveled much further than the other `ism’ styles from the early part of the last century. Art Deco 1910-1939 by Benton and Wood is a book that justifiably could have included the word Complete in its title. Own both books and you’ll have the complete works.

***SEE SOME INSIDE PAGES by clicking ‘customer images’ under the cover.

Review by circawdm for Art Deco Complete: The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s
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Once again, expert Alastair Duncan has authored a book which is not only visually lovely, but one which is packed (and at 500+ pages it is truly packed) with detailed narratives and descriptions, similar to his other books on Tiffany Studios lamps and similar topics.

This is not just another “coffee table” book. It serves as the most highly advanced “primer and beyond” for anyone who likes fine furniture and decorative arts produced during the Art Deco period. Throughout the book, the best and most appropriate photos (many of them as good or better than what one can see in a top auction or museum exhibition catalog) jump off the page to create the complete and scholarly narrative from Duncan on the various pieces, artists and background material. The photographer (s) responsible for the photos and their editing with Mr. Duncan, is to be commended for their knowledge of the subject, as well as for their sensitive and artistic eye.

As a collector and appraiser of fine American decorative art, including items from the Art Deco era, I highly recommend this book. At a time when an auction catalogs cost $40-50. and run-of-the-mill books on various art and antique related topics can cost $75-150. easily, this book is a bargain even at the full retail price. It is a great reference and learning source for anyone who collects, sells, or otherwise is involved with items from the Art Deco period. As a book which is simply lovely to explore on the sole merits of lovely photos and interesting and well written text, it is a book that would be at home in anyone’s library.

There might be those who will fault this weighty book for various things – from being “incomplete,” not having the title they felt would be more appropriate, or containing material or even photos they might have read or seen elsewhere. In the end, I have never seen a book that is all things to all people. In my experience with books on the arts and decorations, (American, Asian or European), it is rare to find a book as complete as this, with the level of photos, accurate information and ease of “navigation.” Duncan’s decades of experience and study in the area of Art Deco comes shining through in this book in many areas. Small wonder his other books on Tiffany and early 20th century decorative arts are in high demand by collectors, dealers and institutional libraries worldwide. It is hard for me to imagine devoting so many years to educating people in a clear and beautifully illustrated manner time after time. The effort and years that must have gone into compiling and editing this beautiful and very well done book should be apparent to the reader and I hope a great source of pride to the author. Well done Duncan! This book will make its way to more than one person on my long list of business and personal friends this holiday season.

Review by RJohnston49 for Art Deco Complete: The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s
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Having read the other reviews, I find much of what I was going to say already very well stated. I would like to comment on the great care taken in this book on the very highest quality photographs and the superb job of editing. Books like this in my experience, can be boring and only full of lovely photos, or they can be very academic and lofty, with fair photos and a steep price. It is rare to have a well written, very complete book on this kind of topic which combines academic yet understandable reading for anyone, with photos that are by themselves educational and profuse.

Mr. Duncan is known for his books on Tiffany related things of course, which also are very useful to the student, the serious collector, or the interested who want a lovely book to enhance their library or perhaps their Art Deco table. One review pointed out that at this price it is hard to comprehend how a book that is over 500 pages, on quality paper, with hundreds of color photos, can sell at such a reasonable price. I bought a similar type book on European art glass which had much less content, honest substance or quality of photos, and paid over $120. for it. Whoever is paying Mr. Duncan, the photographer and the rest who were involved with this book, either had them commit to this book after a few drinks, or somehow managed to compile a $200-250. book and market it here for under $100. And I am so glad they did.

This is really a book that would be welcome in anyone’s home who enjoys art history, fine architecture, antiques, and particularly the magnificent era which as the title states, is simply called Art Deco. Five stars to all concerned, including Amazon, for bringing it to us at such an affordable price.

Review by L. Kramer for Art Deco Complete: The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s
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Having collected and loved all things Art Deco for over 25 years, I already have a library of books from other “experts” and authors on the subject. Some have lovely photos and fair to good informative text, some have very dry academic text and fair photos, and others are variations on those themes. This book by Alastair Duncan, long known for his extensive (and in my opinion “last expert word”) on objects by Tiffany Studios, is the best book yet on the extensive world of things from the Art Deco period.

This lovely book is weighty in size, weighty in informational and broad content and loaded with beautiful photos and illustrations. From section to section, whether he is writing about a furniture maker, a sculptor, a glass maker or a jewelry artisan, the words and the photos flow smoothly and well. This luxurious looking tome on Art Deco is both educational as well as a joy to read. It is not a “quick read” to be sure, nor is that it’s purpose I am sure. As one previous reviewer noted, the time it must have taken to compile over 500 pages of quality text and very well edited and appropriate professional photos for a book of this nature, must have been quite long and for and author, arduous and demanding. My suspicion, having read other books by Mr. Duncan, is that it was all of those, along with being a labor of love.

Standing on his merits as a world renowned scholar in decorative arts and decoration from the Art Deco period, Mr. Duncan has compiled an immense yet friendly work of art in itself with this book. From the lovely cover design to the glossary at the back of the book, it is all put together with it’s own fine style, well planned direction and good taste. I wish I had this book years ago when I was first collecting, since it would have saved me a great deal of time and considerable money I spent on books that turned out to be huge disappointments. Buying books on the topics of art and antiques is not easy, since they tend to be fairly expensive, and one never quite knows what they will get unless they have a chance to hold it and page through it before they make a purchase. I can assure anyone with doubts on this book, you will not be disappointed by the content, the beauty of it as a book on your table or in your library, or by its timeless use as a practical reference guide.

My thanks to Mr. Duncan and whoever helped him with all of the wonderful photos throughout this book. I now have the gem of my Art Deco library books, and I was pleased and surprised with the low cost for such a helpful and visually appealing addition to my collection of fine art related books. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys or collects decorative arts from the Art Deco period, as well as to any museums or public libraries, as a fine and comprehensive guide to the colorful and interesting era affectionately known by so many worldwide as simply “Art Deco.”

Review by Avotas for Art Deco Complete: The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s
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Art Deco Complete: The Definitive Guide to the Decorative Arts of the 1920s and 1930s is overflowing with wonderful pictures, and a represents a wealth of accurate digestible knowledge for anyone interested in the period. However the title “Complete” is a misnomer, and book completely omits of exterior architecture. I can’t tell you why the author left out some of the most iconic and easily identifiable Art Deco structures worldwide, but the exclusion is a noticeable even to the most casual reader. Still, overall, this is a wonderful book and will provide many hours of enjoyment. 4/5 Stars.