Collecting Original Art Deco PostersPosters and prints of the Art Deco era represent the best of graphic design in this century. The printer's art had reached previously unknown levels of skill and quality, graphic designers were producing outstanding new and modern images to reflect the progress of the age.
The opulence of the 1920s brought about a period of mass consumerism and mass production which in turn needed an advertising industry to match. Billboards and magazines were the means of reaching the widest audience and graphic design became a hot new profession. What to collect Most collectors of original Art Deco posters narrow down their choice by subject, artist, size or medium. There is a huge range of subjects to choose from. Fashion prints from the magazines of the day allow for a wide choice and are still widely available and affordable. Food, cigarettes, alcohol, or cosmetics are popular subjects for poster or print collectors and there are lots available. More specialised areas include shipping, railways,
London Transport Posters,
Shell Oil posters, Sports and Leisure, Cycling, Motoring and Aviation. Finally,
theatre and jazz
were very popular subjects in the Art Deco era and today. Silent movies also provided a rich vein of inspiration, particularly the Art Deco classic, Metropolis.
Collecting individual artists can be much more difficult and expensive, especially if one picks a big name like Cassandre, Paul Colin, Roger Broders, or, Edward Mcknight Kauffer. However, there are equally attractive Art Deco posters by many lesser known artists which can be very affordable. Even some of the lesser known or later works of the big names can still be surprisingly inexpensive. Collecting Tips My best advice is always buy what you like, and buy the best you can afford. Look out for condition. Small amounts of foxing and dirt can be restored by an expert, but fading by sunlight is impossible to rectify. Investigate your dealer, ask for a detailed receipt with a full description and make sure that your dealer has a clear returns policy. For general advice about buying online, have a look at my Safe Buying Guide The trend these days is to restore as little as possible, but a little gentle cleaning can make a big difference. Conservation Original Art Deco posters and prints should never be repaired using normal adhesive tape which can cause enormous damage. Special acid free tape should be used to repair small tears. Care should be taken to protect both prints and posters from damp, pollution and most of all sunlight. Fading is irreversible although damage from damp and pollution can be fixed by an expert. Mount prints between two sheets of thick acid free board without using any tape or glue if possible, making sure the paper doesn't touch the glass. Special reflective glass is available to minimise damage from sunlight if hanging your print in a bright room.
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