Passion for the Exotic: Louis Comfort Tiffany and Lockwood de Forest
This exhibition was on display from March 12, 2016 to March 26, 2017.
There were 43 objects in this exhibition but right now we can only show you 41 of them. Some objects may not be viewable because they were on loan; this might be due to issues involving image rights or simply because there is no digitized image for the objects.
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In this room built in 1902, patronage connects Lockwood de Forest (1850‒1932), its designer, with Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), its owner-patron, and Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848‒1933), who produced the lamps and the chandelier that originally lit it. Carnegie’s exposure to these designers dates back to their joint participation in, and Carnegie’s support of, the founding of the American Fine Arts Society ten years earlier. Tiffany’s experiments in iridizing glass appealed to Carnegie who purchased a large number of Tiffany’s lamps, which suited the golden glow of de Forest’s wall stencils.
By 1902, Tiffany and de Forest had designed aesthetic interiors together and apart for over twenty years. Their professional careers first intersected in 1877 when they joined Candace Wheeler and Samuel Colman in the formation of the Society of Decorative Arts. By 1879, these designers worked collaboratively through Louis C. Tiffany and Associated Artists; concurrently de Forest joined Tiffany in a separate partnership. In 1880, de Forest sailed to India in search of exotic interior furnishings and set up a studio in Ahmedabad, where mistri (master) craftsmen produced carved teak and ornate metalwork. He regularly corresponded with Tiffany about designs to shop back for their interiors. Tiffany continued to order from de Forest long after their partnership dissolved in 1882, ultimately purchasing the Indian studio from de Forest in 1908.
- Vase (USA), ca. 1898-1900
- mouth-blown favrile glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-8
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Vase (USA), ca. 1900-03
- mold-blown favrile glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-15
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Object ID #18488131
- mold-blown favrile glass.
- Gift of Stanley Siegel, from the Stanley Siegel Collection.
- 1975-32-14
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Dragonfly, model 1462 (shade) Lamp
- stained glass, lead, cut brass, gilt bronze.
- 1977-111-1-a/c
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Vase (USA), ca. 1899
- mold-blown favrile glass.
- Gift of Thomas Carnase.
- 1979-84-1
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Vase (USA), ca. 1909–10
- molded and bronze electroplated semi-porcelain, mold-blown favrile glass.
- Gift of Marcia and William Goodman.
- 1984-84-31
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Hand Mirror, ca. 1890
- cast brass, cut mirrored plate.
- Gift of Unknown Donor.
- n-a-612
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Vase (USA), ca. 1900
- mold-blown favrile glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-26
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Vase (USA), ca. 1903-04
- mold-blown favrile glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-4
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Favrile Bowl Vase, ca. 1895-96
- blown favrile glass.
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 1952-166-33
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Goblet (USA), 1907
- cast gilt bronze.
- Museum purchase from General Acquisition Endowment.
- 1985-76-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Bud Vase (USA), ca. 1900
- mold-blown favrile glass, cast bronze.
- Gift of Stanley Siegel, from the Stanley Siegel Collection.
- 1975-32-10-a/e
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Vase
- glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-9-b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 5 images of this object.
- Vase (USA)
- silver, gold, copper, and mixed metals ("mokume" technique).
- 1976-58-1-a/f
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- Vase, ca. 1895
- mouth-blown favrile glass.
- Gift of Stanley Siegel, from the Stanley Siegel Collection.
- 1975-32-9
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Tall Clock, Tall case clock, ca. 1880
- mahogany, carved teak with dial faces of gilded and patinated metal, glass.
- Cleveland Museum of Art, The Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund,1992.70.
- 21.2013.1
- Cypriote Vase, ca. 1916
- blown glass.
- Gift of Thomas Carnase.
- 1981-50-1
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Vase (USA), ca. 1903
- mold-blown favrile glass.
- Gift of Thomas Carnase.
- 1977-83-1
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Scarab (USA), ca. 1910
- mold-blown favrile glass.
- Museum purchase through gift of K.R. Gerry.
- 1958-51-1
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- Book Cover, The Art Work of Louis C. Tiffany, 1914
- embossed vellum binding painted in red and gold.
- Collection of Smithsonian Libraries.
- 68.2015.4
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Lamp, Daffodil, 1899–1910
- cast bronze, mold-blown favrile glass.
- The Collection of Richard H. Driehaus, Chicago.
- 72.2015.1
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- Fire Screen, early 20th century
- molded and blown glass, bronze, wrought iron.
- The Collection of Richard H. Driehaus, Chicago.
- 72.2015.2
- Inkwell Box, 1900–10
- patinated bronze, blown glass.
- The Collection of Richard H. Driehaus, Chicago.
- 72.2015.3
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- Desk Set, ca. 1910-20
- blown favrile glass, etched bronze.
- Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee.
- 1997-11-4/9
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 7 images of this object.
- Pen Wipe (USA), ca. 1910–1920
- favrille glass, bronze.
- Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee.
- 1997-11-9-a,b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Letter File (USA), ca. 1910-20
- favrile glass, bronze.
- Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee.
- 1997-11-4
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- Pen Tray (USA), ca. 1910-20
- favrile glass, bronze.
- Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee.
- 1997-11-5
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- Box (USA), ca. 1910-20
- favrile glass, bronze.
- Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee.
- 1997-11-6-a,b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Ink Well And Lid (USA), ca. 1910-20
- glass, bronze.
- Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee.
- 1997-11-7-a,b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Blotter (USA), ca. 1910-20
- glass, bronze.
- Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee.
- 1997-11-8-a,b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Flower Form Vase, ca. 1906
- mouth-blown favrile glass.
- Museum purchase through gift of Georgiana L. McClellan.
- 1956-66-1
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Vase (USA), ca. 1900
- mold-blown favrile glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-36
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Chandelier, Turtleback Tile
- patinated bronze, blown glass.
- 2018-1-1
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Tall bud Vase, ca. 1903-04
- mouth-blown favrile glass.
- Gift of Stanley Siegel, from the Stanley Siegel Collection.
- 1975-32-13
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Pineapple Candlestick, ca. 1900
- mouth-blown favrile glass, cast bronze.
- Gift of Stanley Siegel, from the Stanley Siegel Collection.
- 1975-32-12
- This object was made by Tiffany and Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.