Early 20th Century Furniture Styles
Early 20th-century furniture is not so much a style as a collection of styles popular at that time. In North America, these included the following:
- Art-Nouveau (popular from 1890-1914) – This style focused on intricate hand-made craftsmanship. The designs were influenced by the natural world and included flowers, vines, animals, and shapely women with long hair and flowing clothing. The materials used were often exotic woods with some metal and glass.
- Mission (popular beginning at the turn of the century) – This style was influenced by Spanish Missions in the southwestern U.S. Mission furniture is the North American equivalent of the Arts and Crafts style that was popular in Britain around this time. This furniture style features simple designs and materials, typically oak with copper or iron hardware.
- Art Deco (popular from 1925-1940) – This style originated in the early 1920s in France. This style uses geometric shapes and a variety of floral and animal designs. Common materials used in Art Deco items include lacquered maple and pine, aluminum, glass, stainless steel and plastic.
- Modernism (popular from 1920 through the 1940s) – This movement incorporated the new technology and materials emerging during the period. The designs for this era focused on functionality and were mainly simple designs that were easy to produce on a large scale. Modern materials, including steel and glass, were used, as well as neutral colour schemes and chromed metal.
The early 20th century had a variety of popular furniture styles and trends. This is reflected in the pieces available at Carrocel. Browse our categories to find the next item for your home.