The Decade of the twenties represented a time full of modernization and growth.  It was, perhaps the most rapidly changing era experienced up until then.  Americans watched their economy grow and social values realign, and as a visual representation the home furnishing designs of the 1920’s reflected this new exciting modern age.
   The United States had entered WW1 in 1917, and by the time it ended in 1918, the returning soldiers had to acclimate to the fast paced value changed homefront.  When these men marched off to war,  the women marched into factories.  This change gave women much greater personal independence and they sought to keep it.  In August 1920, the 19th amendment passed, giving women the right to vote.  They chopped off both their floor length skirts and long hair.  Jazz throbbed thru nightclubs, flappers danced the fast paced Charleston, wore low waisted, knee length dresses,  rolled their stockings, and adorned their bobbed haircuts with snug cloche (bell shaped) hats.  Women felt liberated and they took this new freedom into their homes where they eagerly converted to modern furniture.
    Urban areas moved faster toward new ideas, and a changing morality was reflected by political scandals, the growth of organized crime, and the beginnings of a freer sex code.
   1920 brought the 18th Amendment, forbidding the manufacture, transport, and sale of alcohol.  Many sociologists believe this promoted organized crime since various gangs sought to control bootleg whisky.  Their activities became octopus like as they ensnared other businesses as well.  When, in 1933, the 21st Amendment repealed the 18th, new furniture forms appeared.  Cocktail tables, cellarettes, & liquor cabinets graced homes.
   Changes in the 20’s made life a lot easier, industrially. With furniture, production was enhanced by routers, wood lathes, spray guns and multiple carvers, production and volume increased.  Henry Ford’s approach to high volume sales made cars and trucks available and new roadways gave rise to the suburbs.  In 1924 coast to coast airmail began, modern looking trains were in use, and the look of speed in design became incorporated in furniture and accent pieces.  Auto’s, airplanes, greyhounds and deer were depicted in household accessories.  Furniture tended to be aerodynamic with use of metal and tubular steel.
   Telephones were widely accepted now, and special tables and chairs were designed to comfortably accommodate users. Radios brought news and entertainment to over 50 million homes, and fancy cabinets became high in demand.  In 1927 Warner Brothers Produced “The Jazz Singer”,  movies took off and Hollywood stars influenced fashion, furniture, and lifestyle.  Women wanted special makeup tables, some called “Hollywood Vanities.”
   The incandescent light bulb, now a part of everyone’s home, became inserted into specially designed cabinets, vanities,  and chests.  By the late 1920’s electricity both lighted the homes and lightened the workload with new appliances, bathrooms with indoor plumbing were a part of urban living, and commodes and wash stands became outdated.
   The nation enjoyed post war prosperity.  Buying on time became the popular way to furnish houses, and pay for autos and farm machinery.
     Another major influence in the challenging furniture styles thru the 1920’s, was the decline of the timber supply.  As virgin forests became depleted, conservationists passed measures resulting in the increased use of veneers.  Thin layers of decorative wood were glued over a strong core base, keeping furniture attractive and stylish, yet less costly to produce.
   Suddenly this well enjoyed prosperity vanished in 1929 as an economic depression hit most of the world, the frivolous twenties were replaced by the hard time thirties.  That began the depression era, lasting into the post war forties.
   You can easily spot frivolous 20’s pieces in antique shops as they are now rather collectable.  The term Art Deco describes a stylistic movement of that era, short for Art Decorative and coined “Deco” in the early 70’s when it re-emerged in popularity.  So look about in the shops and enjoy the furniture and decorations of this uniquely stylistic era in our history.