The jazz age American style in the 1920s

This exhibition catalogue traces the development of modernism within the context of historicism--that is, formal quotation of design elements from a diverse set of cultures such as "Asian lacquers, the interior of the recently discovered tomb of King Tutankhamun (1922), Mayan temples, and the stunning colors used by the Ballets Russes." This would not be a problem had this book not lumped these interests together as "primal forces of exoticism." In addition, though it turns mainly on Paris's 1925 Exposition international des arts décoratifs et industriels modernes, the exhibition, and thus the catalogue, seems to employ the term "Jazz Age" as a way to connect what is essentially an interest in Art Deco stylings and consumption, on the parts of wealthy French and Americans, to the larger social issues of their respective cultures during the first quarter of the 20th century. The illustrations in the catalogue are beautiful, but there is only so much to be said about the objects included, so the text suffers from some redundancies. Summing Up: Recommended. With reservations. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers. --Kirsten Pai Buick, University of New Mexico

The 1920s Jazz Age, an era of great social and artistic change in America, also heralded a new design sensibility that was applied to all manner of built, manufactured, and crafted goods, from hulking skyscrapers to intricate jewelry. As the freedom and exuberance of jazz music flowed from the United States to Europe, modernism in design flowed back to the States. This jazz metaphor and international exchange provide the premise of a new exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt, the Smithsonian's design museum, of which this book is the catalog. As such, it presents a collection of topical essays instead of a single continuous narrative. Coauthors Harrison (Cleveland Museum of Art), Sarah D. -Coffin, and Emily Orr (Cooper Hewitt) delve into the surprising diversity of style in the era, which art deco dominates. Extensively illustrated by contemporary and period photographs, the wide-ranging text mostly covers American consumption of the pinnacles of design in the era, primarily luxury goods ranging from fine art to automobiles, designer clothing, and interior décor. VERDICT A specialized work that distills broad cultural influences and social context into representative objects of beauty and delight.-Megan Farrell, Central Michigan Univ. Libs., Mount Pleasant © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.