TIFFANY STUDIOS | "Butterfly" Inkstand

with a rare decorated favrile glass inkwell liner and cover

Robert Koch, Louis C. Tiffany's Glass, Bronzes, Lamps: A Complete Collector's Guide, New York, 1989, p. 90
John Loring, Louis Comfort Tiffany at Tiffany & Co., New York, 2002, p. 190
Alastair Duncan, Louis C. Tiffany: The Garden Museum Collection, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2004, p. 368
Alastair Duncan, Tiffany Lamps and Metalware, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2007, pp. 428-429
Martin Eidelberg, Nina Gray and Margaret K. Hofer, A New Light on Tiffany: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls, exh. cat., New York Historical Society, 2007, p. 83, fig. 49

Overall in very good condition. The bronze surfaces display an exceptionally rich green and russet brown patina. The bronze with scattered minor surface scratches and abrasions consistent with age and gentle handling. The recessed contours with traces of surface soiling and oxidation throughout, consistent with age. With a rare period Tiffany decorated favrile glass liner and cover, both in excellent condition. The liner and cover present with intense iridescence and a highly complementary blue and purple color palette. The glass with some extremely minor air bubbles and particulate inclusions inherent in the making. The ruffled molding is finely articulated, and such a dense surface texture catches the light beautifully, making the liner and cover brilliantly luminous. The interior of the liner with a small open air bubble and a small surface irregularity, both inherent in the making and not visible when the cover is placed. The outer circumference of the ruffled molding with a few minor surface irregularities, only visible upon close inspection and inherent in the making. The cover with some extremely light wear to the high point on the center, consistent with age and handling. When assembled with the inkstand, the liner displays very slight side-to-side movement. A superb example of the model displaying particularly fine casting detail and with a rarely-seen decorated favrile glass liner and cover.
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.