While flowers often took center stage at Tiffany Studios, the nasturtium is one of few flowers that was translated into designs for both leaded glass and blown glass.
One of the earliest Tiffany Lamp shades features nasturtiums creeping along a garden trellis, while the vibrant red flowers star in a spectacular series of Favrile Glass Paperweight vases dating from the early 20th century.
Tiffany Studios produced a number of leaded glass lamps depicting the Nasturtium flower. One of the earliest Tiffany Lamps ever produced, an oil lamp likely designed by Clara Driscoll, depicted the garden flower growing along a simple trellis - an example of this design is on display in the Gallery of Tiffany Lamps at the New-York Historical Society. As Tiffany expanded production, the nasturtium motif was adapted to a wide variety of leaded glass shades, ranging from several variations of table lamps to larger hanging shades like the one seen here.
Measuring 28 inches in diameter, this example depicts red and orange nasturtiums with variegated green leaves and stems in mottled and striated glass with tinges of light blue. The upper and lower edges of the shade have beaded borders. The glass selection in this shade is richly varied displaying almost every type of Tiffany opalescent glass. The shade is signed.
One of the most beloved types of Favrile Glass produced by Tiffany Studios is known as “Paperweight” glass. Drawing inspiration from popular mid-19th century glass paperweights, Tiffany’s “Paperweight” Favrile Glass sought to elevate the technique, encapsulating botanical forms in a glass environment with a focus on form, color and transparency. These evocative vases typically feature a naturalistic floral or foliate design achieved entirely in glass which is encased in a smooth outer layer of clear or tinted glass, allowing for unusual aesthetic effects - a testament to the skill of Tiffany’s glass workers.
The impressionistic “Paperweight” vases fused modern art with modern techniques. Paperweight vases were incredibly popular with Tiffany’s clientele, and examples of the type were frequently included in the company’s displays at World’s Fairs.
This painterly example features an all-over motif of striated orange nasturtium blossoms and nestled amongst swirling vines and deep green leaves, against a transparent golden background.
The interior of the vase is fumed, resulting in a glowing effect.
This rare Tiffany Paperweight Vase comes from a small but treasured series of Favrile Glass vases depicting the nasturtium flower against a vibrant blue background. This example, unusually large in scale for this particular group of vases, is also notable for its traditional baluster form, which is a departure from the more organic forms typically associated with Tiffany Glass.
A thick layer of clear glass encases an all-over decorative motif of vibrant red-orange nasturtium flowers and their signature round variegated green leaves, which swirl above the rich blue background. The interior of this vase was fumed - an iridescent layer was applied to the interior, which provides a glowing effect.
This rare and exceptional example of Tiffany Favrile Glass is inscribed on the underside.
Related example illustrated:
Martin Eidelberg, Tiffany Favrile Glass and the Quest of Beauty. Pg. 65, obj. 77.
