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Lot Essay
The grapevine was among Louis Comfort Tiffany’s most favored motifs, appearing throughout his creations in windows, jewelry, and his leaded glass shade patterns. The sprawling leaves and bountiful clusters of grapes lent themselves easily to Tiffany’s glass which could mimic nature’s fluidity and vibrancy. From cerulean blue to indigo purples, luscious grapes could be rendered jewel-like in Favrile glass. The leaves were adapted to depict the season of preference for each project, either in autumnal hazel hues or summer-like vibrant greens and teals.
In the present example, the Grape shade model displays opulent grapes nestled among the leaves tinged with the first notes of autumn hanging from the delicately cast bronze branches making up the crown of the shade. As Tiffany intended, this example is paired with a Tree base executed in brilliant bronze. The meticulously detailed tree trunk is enriched with a warm brown patina accenting the contours of the bark, creating a harmonious union of glass and metal.
This model pairing is documented in the Tiffany Studios 1906 Price List as: “348. GRAPE and shade, No. 342 block…375.00.” The same Price List notes that the Trumpet Creeper and Apple Blossom should also be accompanied with “No. 342 block,” referring to the tree-form base of the celebrated Wisteria [or “WISTARIA”] lamp. Each of these four shades feature a delicate openwork bronze crown, an irregular border, and are paired with the ‘Tree’ base to complete their naturalistic design.
The present lamp boasts extensive provenance, first appearing at Christie’s in 1979, then again in 1980 and 1985. This exceptional example returns to the auction block today, granting collectors the opportunity to acquire a beloved Tiffany motif masterfully realized in sumptuous glass and bronze.
In the present example, the Grape shade model displays opulent grapes nestled among the leaves tinged with the first notes of autumn hanging from the delicately cast bronze branches making up the crown of the shade. As Tiffany intended, this example is paired with a Tree base executed in brilliant bronze. The meticulously detailed tree trunk is enriched with a warm brown patina accenting the contours of the bark, creating a harmonious union of glass and metal.
This model pairing is documented in the Tiffany Studios 1906 Price List as: “348. GRAPE and shade, No. 342 block…375.00.” The same Price List notes that the Trumpet Creeper and Apple Blossom should also be accompanied with “No. 342 block,” referring to the tree-form base of the celebrated Wisteria [or “WISTARIA”] lamp. Each of these four shades feature a delicate openwork bronze crown, an irregular border, and are paired with the ‘Tree’ base to complete their naturalistic design.
The present lamp boasts extensive provenance, first appearing at Christie’s in 1979, then again in 1980 and 1985. This exceptional example returns to the auction block today, granting collectors the opportunity to acquire a beloved Tiffany motif masterfully realized in sumptuous glass and bronze.