Tiffany Studios

"Poppy" Floor Lamp

Auction Closed

December 8, 10:47 PM GMT

Estimate

250,000 - 350,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Property from a Private Chicago Family

Tiffany Studios

"Poppy" Floor Lamp

circa 1910

leaded glass, gilt bronze

shade impressed TIFFANY STUDIOS/24045/NEW YORK

base impressed Tiffany Studios/NEW YORK/377

70 in. (177.8 cm) high

26 1/4 in. (66.7 cm) diameter of shade

Overall in very good condition. When viewed firsthand, the shade displays an exuberant palette of cadmium and golden yellow poppies over a background of sky blue and pale pink and purple. The shade with approximately 17 hairlines dispersed throughout, stable. The shade with some minor traces of surface soiling concentrated to the contours adjacent to the leadlines, consistent with age. The shade with areas of wear and darkening to the gilt patina throughout, consistent with age. The base is in very good condition and displays a rich gilt patina. The patina with some wear and discolorations throughout, concentrated to the base cushion and outer circumference of the base cushion, consistent with age. The cushion on the gilt floor base has been sensitively cleaned, and the patina harmonized in some areas, by a professional Tiffany conservator. The bronze surfaces throughout with scattered minor surface scratches and abrasions consistent with age and use. With period sockets. With a later reproduction finial in very good condition. A superb example of the model which has remained in the family’s collection since the period.

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.

Private Family Collection, West Orange, New Jersey, circa 1910
Thence by descent to the present owners

Dr. Egon Neustadt, The Lamps of Tiffany, New York, 1970, p. 160 (for the shade)
Alastair Duncan, Tiffany Lamps and Metalware, Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2019, pp. 227, no. 884 (for the shade) and 229, nos. 893-895 (for the base)

The present “Poppy” Floor Lamp demonstrates the range and ingenuity of Tiffany Studios’ naturalistic glass production. The botanical realm was an endless source of inspiration for Tiffany, and the perennial poppy held a particularly special place in his garden. The flower was popularized as a decorative motif in the 19th and early 20th centuries due to its prevalence in Japanese art of the Edo period, including the woodblock prints of ukiyo-e painters Utagawa Hiroshige and Katsushika Hokusai. Following the opening of Japanese ports to trade with the western world in 1853, an influx of arts and crafts had a profound impact on how European and American artists depicted nature. Tiffany greatly admired Japanese art as did the women working in his glass cutting department, including Clara Driscoll who has been credited with the design of the conical “Poppy” shade.

Produced in circa 1910, the present 26-inch “Poppy” shade was most likely a special order from Tiffany and has descended within the same family for over a century since its acquisition. The poppies here are depicted in full bloom, with wonderfully ruffled amber yellow petals that unfurl around vivid blue centers. The lower half of the shade displays their long stems and vigorously mottled army green foliage, encircled by three horizontal bands of pale green tiles that add structure to the lush landscape. Finally, the distinct color palette is completed with a lavender and powder blue sky that seems to peek out from behind the wild flowers. When illuminated, the poppies emanate a warm glow that is accentuated by the lamp’s statuesque gilt bronze base. Its grand scale, complex leaded glass composition and pristine provenance make this lot a truly exquisite example of Tiffany’s artistry.