Between the Metropolitan Railway, whose line ran north-west out of London through Wembley, Pinner and Chorleywood to Amersham, created the concept of Metro- land as an ideal place for city workers to live, outside the spread of London but conveniently linked to it by train. Given the vogue for fresh air and sunlight, outdoor sports and hiking, it was an inviting prospect which speculative builders helped to fulfil with a rash of tidy suburban homes in the revived ‘Queen Anne’ style.

The house buyer had the choice of a miscellany of fixtures and fittings displayed in builders’ catalogues. In this room, the picture rail could be from an Aesthetic house of the Late Victorian period, and the fireplace with its simple lines and stepped top pays lip-service to Art Deco and the Modern movement, as does the mirror above it. The sunray pattern in the stained glass of the bay window, and the Egyptian-influenced motif in the pelmet, are also inspired by Art Deco.

Antique Collector Magazine

Mass-Produced Medley

Householders in Metroland bought factory- made furniture, ornaments and fittings from the major retail outlets, again in a hotchpotch of styles to suit their own tastes. Here the display cabinet has the spare, functional shape of Modernist furniture. It contains both sentimental Royal Doulton bone china figures and brightly coloured abstract Art Deco pottery by Susie Cooper. The factory-made flying ducks were extremely popular ornaments in the 1930s. They echo the Art Deco taste for representing movement, but loosely. The windowsill ornament too is an adaptation of the favourite Art Deco woman holding back a greyhound. The dancing figure is more authentically Art Deco; semi-nude females in athletic poses were typical subjects.

The brown and beige colour scheme, dowdy to modern eyes, was fashionable in the 1930s. The three-piece suite, with a solid but simple shape that seemed innovative at the time, has upholstery in a geometric pattern favoured by contemporary designers. Such comfortable and practical suites have held a place in the living room ever since.

Geometric patterns appear again in the carpet, which has linoleum around it. Fashionable designer-made rugs of the time were usually small and sat on stained or bare boards, wooden parquet or lino. The curtains have a striking geometric pattern, but they are hung in the uncomplicated way made popular by the Arts and Crafts movement. Net curtains hang over the plain glass.

Electrical gadgets were taken for grante in suburbia. The wireless increased ii popularity and was designed as a piece furniture with a fashionably bold geometri shape. Electric light comes from the centre pendant lamp and from the standard lam with its tasselled parchment shade.

The style of this lounge - imitating, but missing, both the pure Art Deco and the put Modernism of fashionable society - has character that is quite its own. It makes comfortable spot where family and friends ca relax once their commuter train has brought them home from work in the city.

1 Chrome-topped ashtray stand

2 Susie Cooper teacup in ‘Kestrel’ pattern

3 Bronze-painted plaster figurine of woman with German Shepherd dog

4 Sunray-shape bowl in peach pressed glass

5 Doulton bone-china ‘Umbrella Girl’

6 Walnut-veneered display cabinet

7 Step-cornered mirror on chain

8 Statuette of dancing girl, in spelter

9 Chrome companion set of fire irons

10 Free-standing electric fire

11 Set of pottery flying ducks

12 Ekco wireless in walnut-veneer case

13 Glass-topped walnut-veneer side table

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