Art déco was a popular style in the Europe and America of the 1920s and 1930s. It could be seen in architecture, sculpture, painting and graphic art, as well as in utalitarian art. It made reference to the avant-garde artistic conceptions of the cubists, orfists, expressionists and futurists. It accentuated construction, expounded the values of creativity, perfection in realisation, and the functionality of design. It was characterised by a love of geometry and colouristic contrasts, it was inspired by movement and dynamics, characterising the exuberant tempo of changes in life style. Those who created items in the style of Art Déco wanted to reconcile luxury and refined elegance with the comfort and convenience of the practicality and accessibility of their designs. They boldly utilised new technologies and materials. They employed gold, platinum and precious stones, exotic types of wood, as well as artificial materials such as bakelite, ebonite or galalith (erinoid), chromed and nickle-plated metals. The female designers of this epoch had to give shape to their inventuons which entered into contemporary life such as cars and transatlantic liners, gas stoves, radio aerials or electric kettles.