Glassworks By Louis Comfort Tiffany

Deborah Parker

Professor Mainville

Art 123-2

5 February 2008

Glassworks by Louis Tiffany

Introduction

Louis Comfort Tiffany is always associated with exquisite taste and extraordinary techniques . It is known that even Abraham Lincoln was Tiffany 's client who ed many of his famous works . Moreover Tiffany 's name is also associated with Art Nouveau style as he was famous for his stained glass windows and lamps . Tiffany 's nickname was `Rebel in Glass ' and it is easily understandable because the artists invented many avenues of glass works . After

civil War ended , Tiffany founded `Tiffany and Company ' and involved several artists in the working process to promote his ideas and artistic views

In those times , he couldn 't even dream that his works would become famous worldwide . Nevertheless , firstly Tiffany decided to study painting in Paris , and only after he returned home , he devoted his efforts to developing medieval techniques in glassmaking . In the result Tiffany invented his own `drapery ' stained glass after he tries many techniques of glassmaking . He used this style to represent ripples in robes , as well as figures in glass windows . In 1879 Tiffany wrote : I have been thinking a great deal about decorative work , and I am going into it as a profession I believe there is more in it than in painting pictures (McKittric 2007

Glassworks as Jewels of Decorative Art

Tiffany ' metal and glass productions are the evidence of his genius (see picture . Tiffany originated the trademark `Favrile ' for his glass works and this mark became associated with the hand-made products of the highest quality . Nevertheless , it is argued that Tiffany hadn 't done many of the glassblowing himself , although he was always personally present controlling and encouraging his craftsmen as inventive as possible . Therefore , Tiffany 's glassworks are highly individual and original . He created hundreds of exquisite vases and bottles , lamps and dishes of different techniques and colours

Many of his works belonged to utilitarian styles , whereas others can be defined as a `pure tour de force . Often Tiffany to treat his glass works with acids because it entailed them with iridescent effect and feeling of ancient times . One more type was called lava glass in which Tiffany managed to resemble volcanic lava . However , one of the most complicated glass styles was cameo-style - after 1900 more or less standardized sets of HYPERLINK "http /www .answers .com /tableware " \t "_top " tableware began to be produced they do not have the individuality and attention to detail of the purely decorative pieces (McKittric 2007

The year of 1878 was of great importance or Tiffany as he built the first figure stained glass window . For that window he used opalescent glass from the glasshouse of Heidt . Moreover , Tiffany made the first glass tile at that glass house and opened a factory in Brooklyn . Art critics agree that most of Tiffany 's glass works are unique as they are constructed to ensure the sense of safety , eternity and stability as they would last forever enjoying many...