U.S. #4495
2011 5¢ Art Deco Coil
Issue Date: February 11, 2011
City: Charleston, SC
Printed By: Ashton Potter
Printing Method: Offset, Micro "USPS"
Color: Multicolored
Early in the 20th century, a new artistic style developed in Paris that would soon take the world by storm – art deco. Based on the elegant simplicity of geometric shapes, the art deco influence inspired famous buildings around the world. These included New York City’s Chrysler and Empire State Buildings as well as Radio City Music Hall.
Following the Universal Exposition of 1900, a group of French artists formed the Society of Decorator Artists. They held an exhibition to display their works and share their artistic view with the world.
One of the greatest influences on the early art deco artists was the improved means of travel. Now they could draw inspiration from countries other than their own. These included discoveries such as the tomb of Tutankhamun, Pompeii, the lost city of Troy, plus ancient Egyptian and Greco-Roman art. Also influential were modern art styles such as Cubism and Futurism, plus the Machine Age and streamline technologies. What began as an art style was soon used in everything from architecture to pencil sharpeners in the U.S., Spain, India, and across the globe.
Pictured on the 2011 nonprofit stamp is an art deco style bird from the Oak Park, Illinois, Post Office. This Post Office was designed by Charles E. White, a former associate of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
