FEATURES ARCHIVE

“…the charm of homes of refinement is in the artistic blending…when everything has its place and purpose, and when every detail unites to form one perfect and complete whole.”  - Louis Comfort Tiffany, 1913, in a pamphlet entitled Character and Individuality in Decorations and Furnishings

A reference to Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) conjures images of elaborate light fixtures, mosaics, translucent glass vases, and colorful enamelwork—if not simply of Tiffany’s trademark affinity for geometric yet naturalistic patterns. This versatile American artist was also a visionary designer whose talents extended into the realm of architecture and painting.

A 600-Acre Work of Art
In 1902, Tiffany (son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany and Co.) set out to fulfill a longtime artistic dream— to create a cohesive work of art that would integrate diverse decorative elements in a single structure. Named Laurelton Hall, this three-year venture culminated in an extraordinary 600-acre estate on New York’s Cold Spring Harbor on Long Island. Tiffany was intimately involved in the design of the residence, from its architecture and interior décor (which housed his vast collection of glass, Egyptian jewelry, Native American artifacts, and more) to its lavish gardens, pools and terraces. This March, appearing at auction for the first time is a rare group of paintings and watercolors by Tiffany, including Sycamores, Main Drive, Laurelton Hall, depicting greenery from his beloved home. The works are being offered by the family of James Ryan, his chauffeur from 1911 until Tiffany’s death in 1933. As a result of their long association, Ryan received numerous gifts which convey Tiffany’s artistic eloquence as well as his mastery of color and light.

And don’t miss...
Also from the descendents of James Ryan are several late works by Tiffany from Comfort Lodge, his home in Miami Beach, Florida, as well as a painting of American Indian Artifacts from the Tiffany Collection at Laurelton Hall by Henry Hobart Nichols, former Director of the Tiffany Foundation.