ART DECO AND MODERNIST
CUSHION DESIGNS
EVOKE EARLY 20TH CENTURY STYLES

Abstractionist Art Movements from the early 20th century have inspired ZIVA’s Art Deco and Modernist cushion designs.  

Their style influence is unmistakeable…… 

• flat, graphic use of colour
• lively semi-abstract patterns with simple vibrant colours
• asymmetrical compositions

 

 These cushion designs recall the experimental and avant-garde trends that artists and textile designers created in the 1920’s and 1930’s…. and they still work today!

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ART DECO DESIGNS

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Our Art Deco cushion designs were inspired by a train….the Orient Express!  

The Venice-Simplon Orient Express was the archetypal train of the Art Deco era.

The 1920’s sleeping cars featured Lalique glass panels, Florentine upholstery and ornate Deco marquetry panels.

We adapted these decorative marquetry panels to create the 3 Art Deco cushion designs.

'DECO MANGO'

The sinuous elongated stylized leaves in soft greens and blue-greens surround the plump luscious mango fruit.

Our exotic and graceful 'Deco Mango' design typifies the era. 

 



 

Whether it accents a sleek contemporary sofa or a modern Art Deco-stylized chair like the one at right…

this glamorous design evokes the alluring mystery of exotic destinations. 



 

 

I'm just putting the finishing touches on this exquisite design before shipping it out.

I thought you would like to get an idea of its scale.

Remember, custom sizes are always available at ZIVA!

Just CONTACT US!

TWO MORE ART DECO DESIGNS FROM THE ORIENT EXPRESS!

We’ve now adapted two more Modernist marquetry panel motifs from the Orient Express to complement our Deco Mango design.

We have repeated the same angular border detail and cushion sizes in all three cushion designs so they will work together in your décor. 

'DECO TROPICAL FLOWERS'

The sinuous stylized leaves in palette of soft warm greens, browns and golds envelop an array of small tropical flowers in a range of blues, greens and golds to create a flowing design called 'Deco Tropical Flowers'.

'DECO EXOTIC FRUIT'

This time we propose a much bolder graphic leaf design with similar leaf colours as the Deco tropical flowers’ motif, plus an addition of a range of soft blue-greens, called 'Deco Exotic Fruit'.

For the fruit, we created a classic Art Deco motif of repeated diamond shapes in a gradated colour range of red-orange, rust-orange, golden-orange and gold….. graphically resembling the exotic ‘Pandan’ fruit.

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MODERNIST DESIGNS

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SILHOUETTES AND REFLECTIONS

 Inspired by Matisse’s stained glass panels in his Vence Chapel in the South of France, this bold design makes a striking statement in today’s minimalist interiors!

Here we’ve created a softer approach to the motif, by removing the dividers for 'Les Silhouettes'.

The accent leaves are very reminiscent of Matisse’s Modernist cut-outs!

The painting at left of 'Les Sihouettes' has just been completed and ready to ship out to be paired with Matisse's 'The Ivy in Flower' motif, as shown below. HAVE A LOOK!

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TULIPS IN A SPRING STORM

A SUCCESSFUL CONTRAST OF TWO MODERNIST STYLES IN ONE CUSHION!

You can feel the dynamic energy of spring rain falling on these multi-coloured tulips!   

 Compare these semi-abstract tulips depicted in a flat graphic manner in a range of colours from pale yellow, rose and corals to blue and black…….

 to the painterly, textured style of greys and browns which represents the strength and intensity of the spring wind and rain in the background.   

What a stunning Modernist accent to this very minimalist interior! 

The ‘Tulips in a Spring Storm’ cushion is approximately 18” wide (approx. 46 cm), shown here with a strong blue border.

Other border colours are available from the colours in the motif to suit your décor….. let us know when you order! 

You can also stitch this motif at a larger scale of 24” or 30” wide (approx. 61 or 76 cm) …..

which includes a bigger border in grey and black as shown.

Again, border colours at these sizes are also your choice! 

WHY NOT HANG IT ON THE WALL TO MAKE A

STRIKING STATEMENT

IN THIS NEUTRAL CONTEMPORARY SPACE!

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 PINES AND NEEDLES    
          

This dramatic design called 'Pines and Needles' was originally created as a wall hanging for our needlepoint art  Modernist Collection.

 

We reworked the design for a custom footstool (see below)….and now we are offering it to you as a Modernist Art Cushion Design!

Its asymmetrical composition, created in a painterly style, displays a vibrant palette of flat colour blocks of golds, rusts, fresh greens and mustards.

This adaptation of an early 20th century Semi-Abstract stylized design, with its bold and dynamic composition, fits beautifully in this 21st century interior!

Just finishing painting the intricate detail of this organic design before shipping out!

Note that there are 24 different yarn colours in this motif!

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FROM A CUSHION TO A CUSTOM
FOOTSTOOL COVER

A CUSTOM DESIGN REQUEST!

We were asked by one of our clients to adapt the Pines and Needles cushion design to create a top cover for her antique footstool.She gave us the cushion's top demensions including its thickness and a photo of the footstool.

HERE ARE THE OPTIONS WE CAME UP WITH........

Options 1 & 2: With both these designs, we had the pattern 'spill over' onto the sides of the top footstool cushion.

Option 3: With this option, we controlled the pattern by putting a border around it at the dimensions of the top, and kept the sides in one colour with a border detail.

NOTE: The 'cut-out' corners allows for a box edge on the footstool cushion when upholstered.

SHE CHOOSE OPTION ONE!

Spectacular!

READY TO SHIP OUT!

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MORNING GLORIES

A celebration of summer and the luminous colours of “Morning Glories”!

In the same painterly modernist style we created for Needlepoint Art, these flowers and leaves display flat and abstract use of colour, and a free-form natural asymmetrical composition….

all the characteristics of Modernist Art Movement from the early 20th century!

 

This contemporary sleek settee (below) upholstered in deep purple velour, is reminiscent of the refined lines of Art Deco...

A perfect marriage with ZIVA’s modernist design “Morning Glories”, which was inspired by the styles from the same period.



‘MORNING GLORIES’ IN PROGRESS!

In the photo, below right, I’m just completing the veins on the yellow and gold leaf.

The photo below left shows it completed, with a only few more details yet to go, then it's ready to be shipped!

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DOGWOOD FLOWERS

DOGWOOD FLOWERS PAINTING JUST COMPLETED!

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CASCADING FUCHSIAS  
              

This rhythmic delicate design called 'Cascading Fuchsias' is full of flowing floral textures… ideal inspiration for the inherent tactile nature of needlepoint.

 

You can feel the energy of the original brush strokes as they display flat and abstract use of colour.

 

The surreal colours of the fuchsia flowers … soft mauves, turquoise and off-white accented with yellow…. are all dramatically outlined in a contemporary grey hue on a black background.

 

A graceful free-form natural composition from the early 20th century updated for today… a perfect complement for the soft curves of this contemporary sofa.

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CHINESE LANTERNS

This jubilant and festive design adds just the right accent to this minimalist day bed! 

Its well-constructed Modernist composition of motion and colour is so effective that the multi-coloured “Chinese lanterns” appear to be haphazardly dancing in the wind! 

 

 

 



JUST FINISHING PAINTING CHINESE LANTERNS MOTIF!

IT'S NOW READY TO SHIP OUT!

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If you like these modernist cushion designs with their painterly style from the 1920”s and 1930’s…

 

you may also like similar styles in ZIVA’s  NEEDLEPOINT ART Collection from the same period.

 

 

 

 

Click here to Go Cushion Shopping with ZIVA!

From these Modernist cushion designs, go back to the main Cushion Designs page to see the great variety of cushion designs offered from the ZIVA Design Collection.

Go back to Home Page for other needlepoint designs.

 



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