Letter file
Medium
glasswares
Classification
glasswares
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Eric Larrabee
Accession Number
1997-11-4
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933), the renowned American artist and designer, created this elegant *Letter File* around 1910–1920, a period when his Tiffany Studios dominated the world of decorative arts. Best known for his luminous stained-glass windows and iconic favrile glass—famed for its iridescent, jewel-like sheen—Tiffany extended his mastery into functional household objects. This piece, classified as glassware, likely served as a stylish desk accessory for organizing correspondence, blending utility with opulent beauty characteristic of the Art Nouveau movement. Crafted during Tiffan...