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Art Deco Architecture

By Jackie Craven, About.com

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Symbolic Designs: Art Deco Architecture

From the Tomb of King Tutankhamen

From the Tomb of King Tutankhamen

Photo: ArtToday.com
Ancient Egyptian art told stories. Highly stylized icons had symbolic meanings. Notice the images embossed into this wall from the tomb of King Tutankhamen.

Art Deco architects often lavished their buildings with symbolic images. Perhaps the most famous example is New York's Chrysler Building, designed by William Van Alen. Briefly the world's tallest building, the skyscraper is adorned with eagle hood ornaments, hubcaps and abstract images of cars. Other Art Deco architects used stylized flowers, sunbursts, birds and machine gears.

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