Rolleicord “Art Deco”

The Rolleicord I was introduced in November 1933 by Rollei (Franke & Heidecke)

It was a simplified version of the Standard Rolleiflex, with a cheaper 75mm Zeiss Triotar lens and a knob instead of the crank for advancing the film. It aimed at bringing a larger crowd of amateur photographers to the brand, otherwise perceived as too expensive.

The Rolleicord “Art Deco”, also known as the “wallpaper Rolleicord” (Tapeten-Rolleicord) or even the “Louis XV Rolleicord” is definitely one of the most baroque cameras ever built. The camera body is covered on all sides by a beautiful and intricate art deco pattern making it a unique sight on any collection shelf. Even the knobs are covered in the same style.

The insets are nickel plated giving a very warm and glamorous feel to the device. Rollei wanted to turn an otherwise simple to use camera into a trendy device that amateur photographers would love to use and show off as a design accessory.

The Rolleicord “Art deco” is a stunning and fascinating device, few cameras are more representative of the 30s art deco design.