Artist&Maker: Louis Comfort Tiffany

Louis Comfort Tiffany was the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co – the renowned silver and jewellery firm. Louis chose to pursue his own artistic interests and went on to become one of the most creative and prolific designers of the late 19^th century - embracing virtually every artistic and decorative medium, designing and directing his studios to produce leaded-glass windows, mosaics, lighting, glass, pottery, metalwork, enamels, jewellery and interiors.

_{Lot 51: Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), 'Leaf and Vine' lamp base, circa 1910}

_{To be offered on the December 2022 Sale}

Having been a painter in early adult life, in the late 1870s Tiffany turned his attention to decorative arts and interiors. He had begun studying chemistry and techniques of glassmaking when he was 24, and in 1885 Tiffany established his own firm.  He undertook decorating commissions, but his focus was on new methods of glass manufacture.

_{Lot 70: Tiffany Studios (American 1902-1938), a patinated bronze and green marbled glass 'Grapevine' box and cover, c.1910}

_{Offered in the 2021 November Sale} 

_{Lot 76: Louis Comfort Tiffany (American 1848-1933), a 'Favrile' iridescent glass stemmed bowl, Date code for 1909}

_{Offered in the 2022 April Sale} 

In the late 1890s, Tiffany built a glasshouse in New York, and alongside Arthur Nash, a skilled glassworker from Stourbridge, developed new methods of glass making. Tiffany named the blown glass from his furnaces ‘Favrile’, from the old English word for hand-wrought ‘fabrile’, signifying glass of hand-made and unique quality. The iridescent effect of favrile glass was achieved by treating it with metallic oxides and exposing it to acid fumes.  It was originally intended to re-create the effects seen on ancient Roman glass.  Favrile glass quickly gained international renown.

_{Lot 75: Louis Comfort Tiffany (American 1848-1933), a 'Favrile' iridescent glass Christening beaker inscribed ‘Lizzie’, Date code for 1915}

_{Offered in the 2022 April Sale} 

Tiffany was knowledgeable about jewellery trends and was appointed art director of his father’s firm in 1902. In addition to enamels, Favrile glass vessels, and pottery, Tiffany’s unusual and stunning jewellery was very well received by the art critics of the period.

_{Lot 77: Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933), a Tiffany Favrile Lily-pad vase, Dated 1917, engraved L.C. Tiffany - Favrille, 1516}

_{Offered in the 2022 April Sale} 

Tiffany and his studios are particularly well known for another venture commenced in 1898—lighting and lamps. Although Tiffany’s craftsmen used patterns to make lampshades, each was unique due to the selection of the individual pieces of glass with their varied colours and densities. Centuries-old methods of joining pieces of glass together with metal resulted in the now well-recognised stained-glass designs. The most expensive Tiffany lamps have fetched over a million pounds at auction. 

_{Lot 79: Tiffany Studios (American), a bronze and glass ‘Pine cone’ pattern box with hinged cover Early 20th Century}

_{Offered in the 2021 April Sale} 

The next Design Since 1860 auction will take place on Wednesday 7 December 2022

BROWSE CATALOGUE

Viewing times at Roseberys: 

Sunday 4 December: 10 am - 2 pm

Monday 5 December: 9.30 am - 5 pm

Tuesday 6 December: 9.30 am - 5 pm

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