Art Deco is an eclectic artistic and design style which first came to public attention in Paris with the "Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes" (from which its name derives), held in 1925. It continued to find expression into the early 1940's.

Its stylistic influences were extremely diverse, including modern art movements Cubism, Futurism and Constructivism; the "primitive" art of Africa, as well as historic styles such as Graeco-Roman, Egyptian, Aztec, Assyrian and Babylonian. These latter influences can be attributed to the archeological discoveries in the 1920's of Tutankhamun's Tomb, Pompeii and Troy, etc. This European phase is characterised by more organic, floral and culturally historic forms, compared to the hard-edged, geometric masculinity of the next phase. This second phase, which dates from the end of the 1920's took inspiration from the scientific and technological advances of the era - new forms of transport and communication e.g. aviation, the ocean liner, the automobile, radio, cinema, electric light. Popular shapes and motifs of this style were trapezoids, chevrons, ziggurat style steps, sunbursts, sound waves, zigzagging and anything suggestive of speed and power. This "American Style" of Art Deco is embodied in the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, and the films of Fred Astaire & Ginger Rodgers.

* Available in Fanfare colour range.

** Available in the heritage glaze colour palette (see Plain Wall Tiles).

*** Available in extensive hand painted colour range.