Tiffany Studios

A Chance Encounter in Corona

The present and preceding lot are sublime examples of Tiffany Studios’ artistry in blown favrile glass, further distinguished by their provenance which traces back through a single family to Louis Comfort Tiffany’s personal collection at Laurelton Hall.

Gennaro Migliaccio emigrated to the United States from Naples, Italy at just twenty years old, aspiring to a better life for himself and his family than was possible in post-war Italy. Within a few years of entering through Ellis Island, he met and married his wife with whom he moved to Corona, New York. Though he was not aware of it at the time, Corona was the site where Tiffany had established his glass furnaces in 1893, building his businesses which would eventually employ several hundred workers to create his celebrated designs. 

By the time Migliaccio met Tiffany at his factory, his glass production was already winding down as artistic tastes shifted and the economy declined. Scraps of Tiffany glass and design patterns were being cleared out of the building and left in the street before the doors officially closed around 1930. However, Migliaccio’s lifelong passion had just begun. Their chance meeting fueled a deep appreciation of Tiffany glass and compelled Migliaccio to collect with any funds he could sacrifice. 

Much like Tiffany, Migliaccio had a discerning eye and followed his own aesthetic when it came to selecting art. He showed a particular penchant for Tiffany’s vases and lamps. In September 1946, Migliaccio found himself in Oyster Bay, New York at Laurelton Hall. With a Sotheby Parke Bernet auction catalogue in hand, he was ready to seize what would become an unprecedented opportunity and acquired the present and following lots from Tiffany’s personal collection.

Both of these vases are superlative in their execution. Lot 136 exemplifies why the peacock was one of Tiffany’s favorite motifs; sinuous curves of iridescence wrap along the golden yellow body, punctuated at the neck by a vivid violet and royal blue feather. Lot 137 displays a symphony of colors and dazzling iridescence on a monumental scale. The dynamic surface shifts and delights depending on the vantage and light it is viewed from, making this no doubt a feat of excellence for the gaffers. 

Migliaccio lived with these objects, creating a home where his collection was always on display so that the whole family and guests could enjoy these treasures. He also took time to share his passion and knowledge of Tiffany glass with everyone who visited his home, pointing out the unique qualities of color, light and craftsmanship of each piece. He regaled them with stories about how and where each one was acquired, and held particular pride for those objects from Tiffany’s personal collection. In fact, after the auction and before Laurelton Hall burned down, he and a friend seriously considered purchasing the mansion, but it was not meant to be. Instead, his family and friends cherished his collection for years to come as a symbol of one man’s legacy of discovery, passion and possibilities realized.