Art Deco & Machine Age Style

The larger than life glam and opulence of the Art Deco era makes jewelry of this time bold, eye-catching, and heirloom worthy. The bold lines and geometric designs fit beautifully within a modern wardrobe. The era is generally considered to have occurred from the 1920s to 1930s, however like most style-eras, there is some overlap and crossover evident with other contemporary styles creating subcategories such as Art Nouveau-Deco and Art Deco Machine Age. There was also a surge in 1890s nostalgia during the 1920-30s, much like the 1980s nostalgia for the "simpler time" of the 1950s.  Popular Art Deco costume jewelry designers included Whiting & Davis, Coro, Eisenberg, Boucher, and others, while collectors today also seek more signature pieces by the likes of the Neiger Bros. (Egyptian revival), Jakob Bengel (German machine age), or fabulous works of Czech glass and early plastics. Silver, white gold, and platinum took over popularity from gold-toned pieces. The availability of lab grown and synthetic stones along with precision tools and equipment allowed for fancy and unusually shaped gemstones. Long beaded necklaces worn by flappers were often crafted from fabulous art glass designs using a variety of techniques like foiling and mixing in metals (think uranium glass) for new finishes and effects. New innovations in plastics manufacturing introduced pieces from materials like celluloid and bakelite.

While Art Deco dazzled in the ballroom, its industrial cousin — Machine Age design — found beauty in the factory, the locomotive, and the skyline. Machine Age jewelry emerged alongside the rapid industrial and technological advancements of the early 20th century, celebrating modernity through streamlined forms, industrial materials, and functional design. Influenced by factories, locomotives, aviation, and urban architecture, these pieces favored clean geometry, chrome finishes, Bakelite, steel, aluminum, and minimalist construction over ornate decoration. Closely tied to early modernist and Art Deco movements, Machine Age design captured the fascination with speed, precision, and the promise of the modern world.

Discover our curated collection of Art Deco and Machine Age vintage jewelry — bold relics of an era that dared to make beauty out of both opulence and industry.