Louis Comfort Tiffany

Private Collection, Europe
Sotheby's New York, December 9, 2010, lot 244

Janet Zapata, The Jewelry and Enamels of Louis Comfort Tiffany, New York, 1993, pp. 120-121 (for related designs by Tiffany & Co. with lapis lazuli)

Overall very good condition. Metal test as 18 karat gold. The lapis is a rich blue with typical specks of pyrite. The enamel with two small losses which have been restored: one on the central black roundel between the first and second lapis stones from the left, and the other on the lower blue roundel to the right of the central lapis in the catalogue illustration. Both restorations are visible in the catalogue illustration. One section of the beading decoration on the right-most lapis in the catalogue illustration appears to have been replaced. A very chic and vibrantly colored piece.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

By 1920, around the time the present bracelet was designed, Louis Comfort Tiffany had already spent significant time developing work outside of his mainstay medium of favrile glass. Enamelwork had been part of Tiffany’s repertoire since the turn of the century and in 1902 he became the Design Director of his father’s jewelry firm, Tiffany & Co. However prolific his body of work continued to become, though, Tiffany always characterized his creations by a robust emphasis on color. Turning his eye to jewelry, the artist was keen about stones that were opaque or translucent, and he was particularly fascinated by the densely rich tones of lapis lazuli. With the present lot, Tiffany juxtaposes the stone’s deep blue hues with the opulent, refractive qualities of the green enamel, providing a contrasting yet complimentary pairing between the two materials.