Vase
ca. 1903-04
Classification
glasswares
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Joseph L. Morris
Accession Number
1966-55-4
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Louis Comfort Tiffany’s *Vase*, created around 1903–04, exemplifies the American artist’s mastery of glass as both functional object and luminous artwork. Tiffany, a leading figure of the Art Nouveau movement, revolutionized decorative arts by treating glass like a painter’s medium. His innovative Favrile technique produced an iridescent surface that shifts color with the light, giving this vase a living, jewel-like quality prized by collectors of the era. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the piece reflects the early twentieth-century fascination with natural forms and handcrafted beauty. Tiffany’s glasswares bridged fine art and industry, elevating everyday objects into statements of elegance and technical brilliance. Acquired through the bequest of Joseph L. Morris, the vase continues to invite viewers to appreciate the subtle interplay of color, light, and form that defined Tiffany’s legacy. Although detailed research on this specific work remains in progress, its presence in the Smithsonian collection underscores Tiffany’s lasting influence on American design and the enduring appeal of his luminous glass creations.