Tiffany Studios

For the Collector's Cabinet: Abstraction in Miniature

Tiffany’s monumental vases, such as lots 304 and 318, can be visually powerful. They were, however, a minor segment of the glasshouse’s overall production and Favrile vases on a considerably smaller scale were frequently

mentioned in the company’s initial marketing attempts. The company reminded the public as early as 1894 that, although large pieces could be

purchased, “small objects for the collector’s cabinet and lovers of bric-a-brac” were also available, and at a more affordable price.

The miniature vases offered here clearly demonstrate that, although lacking in size, they can be as highly decorative, complex and impactful as any piece five-times their dimensions. The three green vases decorated with iridescent flowers (lots 337, 338 and 339) are discussed elsewhere, but the remaining objects should not be overlooked. Lot 342, with its agate-like decoration in banded swirls of green, yellow and russet, is a fine early example that was imitated 10 years later by Quezal with their “Innovation” glassware. The small yellow vase is of a highly unusual shade of Favrile glass and the stylized flowers are incredibly intricate for a piece of this size. The paperweight vase, an early example of the technique, is superbly crafted, with a lower section in ochre and olive beautifully contrasting with the upper portion streaked in cream and tan. The final miniature, with its tri-dimpled body, is a relatively rare example of dichroic Favrile glass in a vase form.

- PD