Art Deco is an eclectic design style that originated in Paris in 1925 and continued to find expression into the early 1940's.

Its stylistic influences are extremely diverse and include modern art movements (Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism), African art, as well as historic styles such as Egyptian, Aztec and Babylonian. This initial phase - the European phase - is characterised by more organic, floral and culturally historic forms.

In contrast, the second or American phase, dating from the end of the 1920's, has a hard-edged, geometric masculinity which took inspiration from the scientific and technological advances of the era. Popular shapes and motifs include zigzagging, chevrons, trapezoids, ziggurat steps, sound waves and anything suggestive of speed and power. The Chrysler and Empire State Buildings in New York are the quintessence of Art Deco style.