An Important American Silver, Copper and Jewel-set "Aztec" bowl, Tiffany & Co., New York, designed by Paulding Farnham, finished 1905

of tapered circular form raised on four flattened ball feet decorated with crenellated and chevron bands, the copper body inlaid and applied with silver bands, the latter decorated with chevrons and double circles, the lower portion applied with silver bosses chased with strapwork and mounted with cabochon opals, shoulders applied with paterae centered by smaller opals, with triangular bail handles chased with geometric motifs and set with faceted rectangular fire opals, marked on base and numbered 15455-5793

Christie's, New York, Important American Furniture, Silver, Prints, Folk Art and Decorative Arts, 27 January, 1996, lot 17.

Illustrated: Loring, John, Paulding Farnham: Tiffany's Lost Genius, 2000, p. 65. 

one handle with chip to central stone underneath, not visible unless handle is lifted; other handle with two small chips to one stone underneath; tiny chips to two cabochon opals on lower body; slight discoloring to copper from downwards points of applied strapwork, particularly under handles, not obvious; Ootherwise good condition, massive and impressive with subtle coloring
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.

This piece is the last and probably the largest of Paulding Farnham's six vases inspired by Native American baskets and pottery.  The first two were shown at the Columbian Exposition of 1893: a "Pueblo" vase inlaid with copper and niello, now in the Tiffany collection, and a small "Pueblo" vase, less than 4 inches in diameter, with enamel and precious stones, now in the Arts and Crafts collection of Crab Tree Farm at Lake Bluff, Illinois. 

Three more vases were shown at the Paris Exposition of 1900: a "Zuni" bowl, a "Navajo" vase, and a "Hupa" vase (height 7 ½ in., now in the Virginia Carroll Crawford collection at the High Museum of Art).  A writer for The Art Interchange recorded:
"In silver articles nothing more original either in shape or in treatment could be found than the bowls, hammered by hand from single pieces of silver, following the shapes of Zuni and Hupa Indian baskets... To the artist's eye they seem better worth the thought and care bestowed upon them than the more elaborate Adams vase" (Loring, op. cit., p. 62).
The 1900 Exhibition also showed a Farnham-designed "Aztec" chocker of fire opals and red tourmalines, now in the Tiffany collection (ibid. p. 71).

Given that these other vases were intended for major expositions, this massive vase, described as "Aztec" in the Tiffany records, may have been originally conceived for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of 1904.  By this time, Louis Comfort Tiffany had become design director and Farnham's role was limited.  The pieces he did contribute were favorably reviewed by International Studio, but, as John Loring notes:
The last of Farnham's great Native American-style objects – his remarkable "Aztec" bowl of sterling silver and copper set with semiprecious stones – which would have brought him far greater honor as a creative artist, was only completed by Tiffany's silver and jewelry shops on August 31, 1905, too late to bring him credit at the St. Louis World's Fair. (ibid. p. 25).

The original design for this piece is held in the Tiffany archives.