Tiffany on the Brain

Ever since gazing up at the monstrous Tiffany stained glass panel at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston last month (Top picture. MFA-Houston has an incredible collection, by the way…) I’ve had Tiffany on the brain. Stained glass has always been intriguing to me but Tiffany in particular — that level of craftsmanship and attention to detail — has always blown me away. And now I get to post an entire article about an upcoming auction entirely focused on the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Oh happy day!

Michaan’s Auctions is pleased to announce its third offering of spectacular Tiffany Studios treasures from Japan’s esteemed Garden Museum with additions from private collections. Approximately 95 lots of fine Tiffany masterworks and decorative arts will be featured. Previews of the sale have already begun but the sale itself will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, April 12 in Michaan’s Auctions Alameda, CA showroom, providing discriminating buyers from around the world another exclusive opportunity to bid on magnificent Tiffany pieces.

A Tiffany Peacock chandelier (bottom picture) is an expected high point from the sale’s Garden Museum Collection lots (estimated $250,000-$300,000). The hanging shade features a repeating, allover design depicting tail feathers. The intense, saturated coloration of the glass remains one of the most striking characteristics of the piece, displaying gemlike shades of blue and green. This Peacock chandelier model was doubly designed for use as a floor lamp shade.

A Tiffany Studios Peony table lamp illuminates the sale at an estimate of $250,000-$350,000. This Garden Museum Collection highlight features a shade 22 inch diameter with a magnificent display of color. Deep crimson blossoms are surrounded by foliage and background petals of subtly varied hues, beautifully expressing the studios’ mastery of color. The shade is mounted upon a fancy reticulated Library base, culminating into one of the finest examples of this model sold in recent years.

Yet another special auction offering from the Garden Museum Collection is found in a circa 1910-1920 Tiffany Studios landscape window (estimate $250,000-$300,000). The scene is composed as a lovely perspective view, with the landscape image centering a classic veranda setting. The depiction is enchantingly brought to life by a variety of lush plants and blooms, including a fountain spray adorned by flowering water lilies.

Additional pieces of great interest include exceedingly rare early Tiffany glass selections and Tiffany & Co. decorative objects. A Moorish style turtleback tile footed lamp features an elaborate supporting bronze and glass base. Also available is an Oriental Poppy window by the Tiffany Studios, as well as a Tiffany Studios mosaic panel depicting St. Andrew. For decades the St. Andrew panel was prominently displayed in Tiffany Studios New York showroom. An outstanding Tiffany lamp in the sale is found in an extremely rare enameled table lamp base with a 16 inch favrille glass shade. Over twelve additional Tiffany lamps will accompany these pieces in the sale, as well as three paintings rendered by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

The auction collection continues with several Tiffany paperweight vases and two extremely fine enamel vases by Tiffany Studios. The auction will end with offerings of two spectacular Pate de Verre lamps by contemporary artist Steven Stelz (who exhibited for the first time in this year’s National Arts & Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn).

For more information on Michaan’s April 12 Tiffany Auction please visit www.michaans.com and happy bidding!