Blotter
Classification
glasswares
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee
Accession Number
1997-11-8-a,b
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Louis Comfort Tiffany’s “Blotter,” created around 1910–20, reflects the artist’s lifelong fascination with transforming utilitarian objects into works of art. Best known for his pioneering work in stained glass and iridescent glass, Tiffany brought the same inventive spirit to smaller domestic items during the height of the American Art Nouveau movement. This glassware piece, now part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection, demonstrates how everyday desk accessories could embody elegance and craftsmanship in the early twentieth century. Tiffany’s studio in New York became a labor...