Vase (USA)

Louis Comfort Tiffany, son of Tiffany & Co. founder, was fascinated by color, nature, and the decorative arts and design of foreign and ancient cultures. He studied the lavish collections of Edward C. Moore, Tiffany & Co.’s head of design, and traveled throughout Europe and East Asia. He became enamored with ancient glass that had been buried for centuries and turned iridescent from decay, and strove to reproduce these effects for modern collectors. In his experiments working with professional glassmakers and chemists, Tiffany developed what he dubbed favrile glass (based on the Old English term fabrile, or handmade), which he patented in 1894. In Favrile glass, the decayed effect is transformed into shimmering colors with inventive patterns and unique shapes—often inspired by nature, as seen in this flower-form vase. The decoration, rather than being etched or engraved after the glass is blown and fired, is created with color while the glass is molten. Tiffany prized the impurities in form and color that resulted from such delicate work, and became famous for these striking wares.

Vase (USA); Manufactured by Tiffany and Co. (United States); Design Director: Louis Comfort Tiffany (American, 1848–1933); favrile glass; H x W x D: 34.5 x 14.5 x 14 cm (13 9/16 x 5 11/16 x 5 1/2 in.); Bequest of Joseph L. Morris; 1966-55-37

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibitions Botanical Expressions and Passion for the Exotic: Louis Comfort Tiffany and Lockwood de Forest.