Tiffany Studios

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.