Medium
glasswares
Classification
glasswares
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Thomas Carnase
Accession Number
1983-60-1
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Louis Comfort Tiffany’s 1913 vase stands as a luminous example of American innovation in decorative glass. Born in 1848, Tiffany became renowned for transforming glass from a utilitarian material into an art form, drawing on the organic curves and luminous color of the Art Nouveau movement. Working at the height of his career, he led a dedicated team of glassmakers who experimented with new formulas and finishing techniques to achieve surfaces that shimmer like oil on water. This particular vase, now part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection, reflects Tiffany’s signature Favril...