Louis Comfort Tiffany (American, 1848-1933). Favrile glass vessel, ca. 1920. A striking gold Favrile glass urn of a classic form that dramatically broadens at the shoulder, corsets inward, and gently resolves in a flared rim. The gold favrile glass is artistically decorated with silvery iridescent, running mirrored zigzag motifs over a seafoam green pulled feathers pattern with additional silvery iridescence visible in feathered motifs running from shoulder to neck of the vessel. The iridescence shimmers not only in its silvery splendor but also with an array of violet, fuchsia, and aqua hues. Simply mesmerizing! Size: 3.875" in diameter x 6.125" H (9.8 cm x 15.6 cm)

Louis Comfort Tiffany developed a type of iridescent art glass called Favrile glass in the 1890s, patenting Favrile glass in 1894. The name "Favrile" was derived from an Old English word "Frabrile" which means hand made. Favrile glass stands apart from other types of iridescent glass, because the coloring is actually embedded into the glass itself. Winning the grand prize at the 1900 Paris Exposition solidified Tiffany's international fame as one of the stars of Art Nouveau glassmaking!

Tiffany's experimentation with Favrile glass led to his discovery that treating molten glass with metallic oxides increased the level of absorption and resulted in mesmerizing iridescence as one can see in this example. This innovation was a marked improvement over earlier glassworks that were painted over with enamels in order to amplify their brilliance. By contrast, Tiffany's glassworks were significantly more impressive, presenting complex coloration as well as sensitively delineated natural forms and motifs. He and his team could create organic motifs, like the wave motifs visible on this vessel, akin to a virtuosic painter.

Provenance: ex-Nancy and Dr. E.F. Simpson collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from 1970 to 2000

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#172273

Polished pontil. Minute nicks to periphery of the polished pontil. Paper label on polished pontil that reads "VISTA 49 5/14/95 TIFFANY". A few minute bumps on the otherwise smooth surface and light scuffs commensurate with age. Otherwise, the glass is in overall very good condition with marvelous iridescence.