Collecting 101
Tiffany Glass
Louis Comfort Tiffany and his associates produced an abundance of era-defining designs in glass at the beginning of the 20th century, from the eponymous Tiffany lamps to stained-glass windows for churches across the United States.
Here, we look at the inspirations and innovations of a remarkable creative enterprise—illustrated with highlights sold at Bonhams.
1.
Tiffany glass: A short history
Tiffany glass refers to the glassware produced by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) and his team of designers at Tiffany Studios in New York from 1899 to 1930.
Tiffany, the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany (founder of the jewellery house Tiffany & Co), started his career as a painter. As a young artist, he quickly achieved success, but in the mid-1870s his attention turned to glass – the medium that would make his name.
Tiffany established his own glassmaking firm in 1885, which became known as Tiffany Studios in 1902. The studio specialised in multi-coloured opalescent stained glass, producing windows, lamps and other glassware until 1930.
“It was Tiffany Studio’s consistent quality of production, execution and design that contributed to their legendary success, which that endures to this day and makes Tiffany glass unique,” says Dan Tolson, International Director for Modern Decorative Arts & Design.
“Ironically, this slavish attention to detail and quality led to the company’s bankruptcy in 1932.”
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), 'Lily Pad' Table Lamp, circa 1905. Sold for US$95,750 inc. premium.
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), 'Lily Pad' Table Lamp, circa 1905. Sold for US$95,750 inc. premium.
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2.
Inspirations and motifs
The late 1880s to early 1890s were a period of experimentation for Tiffany and his collaborators, during which they developed new ways of creating coloured glass.
One of his major achievements was to capture the multitude of colours and iridescence he admired in nature, and recreate it in blown glass. He likened the effect to “the wings of certain American butterflies, the necks of pigeons and peacocks, the wing covers of various beetles.”
“Nature is always right. Nature is always beautiful.”
It’s no coincidence that this was the era in which Art Nouveau was flourishing. Like his European counterparts, Emile Gallé and René Lalique, Tiffany’s philosophy was aligned with the movement and its celebration of organic forms. According to Tiffany, “Nature is always right. Nature is always beautiful.” While his studio produced an incredible variety of glassware, all Tiffany designs are inspired by nature in some form.
In some works, details from the natural world are depicted in glass: wisteria and lilies, butterflies and dragonflies all became motifs adorning Tiffany glass windows and lamps. In blown glass pieces, the influence of nature can be found in the flowing, sinuous form of a vase or bowl. And across all types of Tiffany glass, the artisans working at the studio took the lush palette of the natural landscape and translated it into interior design.
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), Special Order Moorish Turtleback Chandelier circa 1900. Estimate: US$US$80,000 - US$120,000
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), Special Order Moorish Turtleback Chandelier circa 1900. Estimate: US$US$80,000 - US$120,000
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3.
Types of Tiffany glass
Favrile glass: This is the name Tiffany gave to the technique he developed with English glassmaker Arthur Nash to create their distinctive iridescent glass. Later, he would use the word Favrile as a general trademark for the studio’s output, encompassing glass, pottery and metalwork. Taken from the Old English word for handmade, it emphasises the craftmanship contained in every item produced by Tiffany Studios.
Opalescent glass: This was an American innovation, first patented by Tiffany’s rival John La Farge in 1879. Typically, window designs were created by painting coloured paste onto the glass. In Opalescent glass, the colour is ingrained in the glass itself. Tiffany advanced the technique in the following decade to produce Tiffany Studios stained glass, known for its extraordinary variations of colour and exquisite detail.
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), Tiffany 'Peacock' Plaque, 1900. Sold for US$16,640 inc. premium.
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), Tiffany 'Peacock' Plaque, 1900. Sold for US$16,640 inc. premium.
Leaded glass: The iconic Tiffany Studio lamps were created using the leaded-glass technique. To make the intricate designs of the shades, hundreds of pieces of glass were cut and arranged on a mould. When all the pieces were in place, they were soldered together to create the legendary look that’s become synonymous with the name Tiffany around the world.
Drapery glass: This technique added another dimension to Tiffany glass windows. The artisans would roll out molten glass onto a steel table and then use hand tools to create folds and ripples in the surface of the material. This was used to great effect in window designs featuring figures, whose garments were given depth, and those featuring flowers, where the petals were imbued with texture.
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), 'Geometric and Turtleback Tile' Table Lamp circa 1910. Estimate: US$20,000 - US$30,000
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), 'Geometric and Turtleback Tile' Table Lamp circa 1910. Estimate: US$20,000 - US$30,000
4.
Tiffany glass lamps and bases
Tiffany lamps have been catching the eye of collectors for over two centuries. The studio produced a dazzling array of designs, many of them featuring flowers and insects – and sometimes both, as shown in this Rare Rose and Butterfly Table Lamp. The majority of the lamps were produced by the Women’s Glass Cutting Department, known as the “Tiffany Girls”, supervised by the designer Clara Driscoll. It was Driscoll who designed some of the most famous lamps, including the Dragonfly & Water lamp that was awarded bronze at the 1900 Paris world’s fair.
While its bright and beautiful shades draw the eye, the bases of Tiffany table lamps are equally important.
The bases are typically made of patinated bronze and the finest examples have bases that are an integral part of the lamp’s design. Some feature ornate detail, such as this Important Tulip Lamp with a rare reticulated ‘Queen Anne’s Lace’ base. The base can also help you tell if the lamp is a genuine Tiffany – look for the “Tiffany Studios New York” stamp and serial number. While table lamps are the most common style of lamp produced by Tiffany Studio, you can also find floor lamps, hanging ceiling lamps and wall lanterns.
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), 'Dragonfly' Floor Lamp, 1910-15. Sold for US$89,400 inc. premium.
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), 'Dragonfly' Floor Lamp, 1910-15. Sold for US$89,400 inc. premium.
5.
On the market
There is a strong market for Tiffany glass of all types, and there are avid collectors of Tiffany lamps in particular, both in the United States and beyond.
The most sought-after Tiffany lamps feature floral patterns in rich and vibrant colours, and regularly sell for five-figure sums at auction. This Rare and Early Trumpet Creeper Hanging Lamp is a spectacular example, which sold for $187,500 in 2018, with the Important Tulip Lamp fetching $175,000 at the same sale. The record for Tiffany Glass was also set in 2018, when a Pond Lily Table Lamp sold for over $3 million.
“Everything across the board for Tiffany Studios – from works below $1,000 to pieces above $1 million – is highly collectible. It is hard to say this for any other designer items,” remarks our International Director Dan Tolson.
“There are ample Tiffany works across various media, design and multiple price points. For me, Tiffany lamps with a geometric patterns deserve more attention from collectors. Thankfully, a younger generation of new collectors are emerging for these types of lamps.”
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), Rare and Early Trumpet Creeper Hanging Lamp, 1902-05. Sold for US$187,500 inc. premium.
Tiffany Studios (1899-1930), Rare and Early Trumpet Creeper Hanging Lamp, 1902-05. Sold for US$187,500 inc. premium.
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