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A Tiffany Studios New York "Swirling Leaf Geometric" Chandelier.
This Tiffany Studios New York "Swirling Leaf Geometric" leaded glass and patinated bronze chandelier, consists of a dynamic shade with Louis Comfort Tiffany's famed geometric brick design in an ombre of bright to mottled light yellow hues. Interrupted at its girdle by an intriguing band of vined leaf motifs in bright yellow, the addition of splashes of green dappled behind them bring them to life. The swirling leaf patterning dynamically mimics the shape and implied movement of a pinwheel, paired with a patinated bronze ball fringe that provides more movement at the base of the shade, suggesting that the vegetation is about to spin about the lamp as it disperses beautiful light. With custom made Tiffany style reproduction hanging hardware.
- Product Details
- Curator's Notes
Item #: L-21467
Artist: Tiffany Studios New York
Country: United States
Circa: 1905
Dimensions: 22" diameter, 21" height
Materials: Leaded Glass, Bronze
Shade Signed: Tiffany Studios New York
Literature: Dr. Egon Neustadt, "The Lamps of Tiffany," New York, 1970, p. 85 (for the shade configured as a table lamp)
Robert Koch, "Louis C. Tiffany: The Collected Works of Robert Koch," Atglen, PA, 2001, p. 247
Alastair Duncan, "Tiffany Lamps and Metalware," Woodbridge, Suffolk, 2007, pp. 260, no. 978 and 300, no. 1195
Swirling botanical motifs gained popularity during Art Nouveau after Western Artists were exposed to Japanese motifs. Louis Comfort Tiffany's father had commissioned Christopher Dresser to purchase a large collection of Japanese art, arms, armor, and reference books for Tiffany & Co in 1877. Christopher Dresser published a groundbreaking book on Japanese art entitled Japan: Its Architecture, Art, and Art Manufactures. Within the book, Dresser included detailed illustrations of Japanese roof tiles, one of which was called the tomoemon, water-inspired tiles used on the tops of buildings to symbolically repel fire. The swirling Japanese motif gave rise to the Tourbillon, a French whirlpool motif that dominated Western decorative arts for the next century.