Lot Essay
Cf. Janet Zapata, "The Jewelry and Enamels of Louis Comfort Tiffany", Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, 1993, page 118
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Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848 -1933) was a master of American decorative arts. He was able to move from one medium to another constantly challenging the American ideal of beauty, with unusual color palettes, exoticism, naturalism and light. Best known for his brightly colored stained glass windows and favrile glass, his "hand wrought" jewelry of the Arts and Crafts style can be viewed as an extension of his innovative work with glass.
While most jewelers of his time used gemstones for their intrinsic value, Louis Comfort Tiffany selected gemstones that would fulfill his artistic visions. He showed a great preference for stones that were translucent or opaque such as turquoise, carnelian, lapis lazuli, opals and moonstones. In this necklace, moonstones are used as a soft whitish blue diffusive element, reminiscent of his stained glass windows.
Enameling was another technique employed by Louis Comfort Tiffany to enliven a piece of jewelry with color. Here the plique-a-jour green enamel plaques within a yellow gold filigree wirework frame are placed in contrast to the cabochon moonstones, giving the necklace a new freshness and luminosity.
This necklace is of historic inspiration an artistic masterpiece that is reminiscent of ancient Greek fringe necklaces.
A RARE GREEK REVIVAL MOONSTONE AND ENAMEL NECKLACE, BY LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY, TIFFANY & CO.
Details
A RARE GREEK REVIVAL MOONSTONE AND ENAMEL NECKLACE, BY LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY, TIFFANY & CO.
Designed as a series of moonstone collets, suspending gold wirework plique-a-jour green enamel fringe, mounted in silver and gold, (slight enamel damage), circa 1910, 18½ ins.
With certificate of authenticity dated 22 March 2001 from Tiffany & Co. stating that the necklace is a genuine Tiffany & Co. item
Designed as a series of moonstone collets, suspending gold wirework plique-a-jour green enamel fringe, mounted in silver and gold, (slight enamel damage), circa 1910, 18½ ins.
With certificate of authenticity dated 22 March 2001 from Tiffany & Co. stating that the necklace is a genuine Tiffany & Co. item
Sale room notice
Please note that there is no letter of authenticity.