Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with artdeco

It can't be an oil derrick, this is Seattle after all

dw — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:03:31 -0800

What is the thing that looks like an oil derrick in this picture? My daughter is starting kindergarten at Daniel Bagley school here in Seattle. It's unusual among Seattle school buildings in that it's somewhat art deco, as the district's architect experimented with art deco design flourishes in this building (built 1930) and then abandoned them for later school designs. The building is decorated with these stone ornaments over all the doors (including a number of "modern inventions" over one door, such as a late 1920s vintage movie camera).

In this picture, you see two of the three shields that are over the front door. The middle one is a book with "1930" written in it (as seen in the photo). The one on the right (not pictured) is of an owl, which obviously symbolizes learning. And that leaves the one at the left, and I'm stumped at what it could be. I'm assuming it's some symbol of learning, but I can't figure out what it is. Any ideas?

Apologies for the blurry; it was taken with an iPhone around dusk.

Art Deco for the home/home office

jbickers — Wed, 06 May 2009 05:47:22 -0800

My Bioshock obsession has turned into an Art Deco obsession. What are some inexpensive ways to turn portions of my home - specifically, home office and bedroom - into Rapture rooms? Looking for ideas for which items to collect, as well as any specific online merchants to acquire them from. Bonus points for photos of great interior spaces made over into Art Deco wonderlands.

image of man pulling lever

stavrogin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:29:12 -0800

I'm trying to find an iconic image of a side view of a man pulling on a very long lever. After seeing an homage to the image in All Star Superman #12, I tried to find the original without any luck. I thought it was either from Metropolis by Fritz Lang or a Soviet Propaganda poster, but I can't find anything at dedicated sites or google image search.

Deco Dereliction

essexjan — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:45:28 -0800

From the 7 train in Queens/Long Island City, on the stretch from Court House Square to Queensboro Plaza, where the line doglegs round a bend, is a derelict art deco factory. It looks to date from the late 1920s, and it has some lovely lozenge-shaped tile detail on the facade. Google Earth tells me (if I have tracked it correctly) that it occupies the block between 23rd and 24th Streets, 42nd Road and Queens Plaza.

What did this building used to be?

It can be seen more clearly on this YT video, appearing at about 23 seconds, through to 40 seconds. Disregard the talk at the end of the YT link where they're talking about a different building - Eagle Electric - that's been turned into condos.

I love art deco and would love to know what this building used to be before it fell into disrepair. Does anybody know?

If I had a time machine this wouldn't be an issue.

you're a kitty! — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:45:10 -0800

Any idea where I can find this deco lamp? I haven't been able to find much of that type online so far, other than the super-expensive (or really trashy) things on eBay. Does anyone know of a company that makes reasonably priced deco reproductions? This company has exactly what I want, but, well, anything that requires a quote is pretty much sure to be out of my (grad student) price range.

NYC filter: How to visit the Chrysler building beyond the lobby?

beautiful — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:03:44 -0800

To go beyond the lobby of the Chrysler building, one must have an appointment on one of the floors. Does anyone know of a doctor or another health practitioner in the Chrysler building? What other kinds of appointments may I have in it? Job interviews? Other professional appointments with a lawyer or accountant, for example (although I have no need of either)?

Any other ideas out there about how to get inside for a look?

art deco christmas trees

whatzit — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 08:45:50 -0800

Help me find images of Christmas trees decorated in an art deco style. Whole tree is ideal, ornaments alone are okay. I do understand what art deco style is in general, but am specfiically looking for Christmas trees.