Definition:Art Deco

Art Deco dog collectibles date from roughly 1920–1940, a period when the ‘sentimental’ Victorian dog gave way to a stylized icon of modernism. Art Deco canine pieces are defined by sleek lines, geometric shapes, and a sense of aerodynamic grace. The aesthetic strongly favored breeds with dramatic silhouettes — Greyhounds, Borzois, Whippets, and Great Danes appear far more often than working or terrier breeds. Top Continental makers — Rosenthal, Hutschenreuther, Goldscheider, and Meissen — produced Art Deco dog figurines of exceptional sculptural quality. Bronze and cold-painted pieces are also common in the Art Deco period. For collectors, Art Deco represents the pinnacle of the dog figurine as fine art object rather than decorative accessory.