Tiffany Studios

Precursor to Perfection: Early Favrile Glass

Tiffany’s skilled gaffers usually perfected various motifs and decorations, such as flower forms, “Paperweights” and cameos, within two to three years. What are known as Tiffany Studios’ "Lava" vases, with applied thick gold threadings over a textured navy ground, such as lot 317, took them over ten years to achieve. Not only was a highly choreographed and difficult routine among the six to eight glassworkers required in the production process, many of the pieces broke or cracked while annealing.

Some of the earliest pieces of Favrile were noteworthy for their textured surfaces: “Sometimes a piece which has had its surface roughened resembles those articles turned from lava which are offered to us at Naples, or else articles carved from obsidian.” These examples, such as the lot offered here, made circa 1895, was one of the glasshouse’s earliest attempts at a Lava-type vase. In addition to the trefoil rim, the dimpled body features rippled black sections having the texture of weathered leather, offset with glossy striated earth-toned portions and divided by striated blue streaks bordered in cream that seemingly erupt from the base. It is an extraordinary example and a precursor of the company’s future work.

- PD