AN AQUAMARINE VASE, 1914-1915

Featured in American Homes and Gardens in 1913, Aquamarine glass was one of the final technical achievements publicized by Tiffany Studios. The complex technique of encasing floral and underwater motifs in several layers of globular glass created exceptionally heavy forms that, despite many labor intensive hours, often failed to survive the annealing process. The floral decoration in this vase is hand pulled and present between several layers of glass. In turn, this provides an optical illusion that transforms a flat design into a three dimensional object. Additionally, a characteristic green tint is added to the thick layers of glass to further convey a profound watery realm. The present example is exemplary in its execution as each floral blossom is pulled to the perfect length enabling a rich, saturated color to be retained. Moreover, the placement of each branch delivers a harmonious asymmetry and the botanical definition characteristic in Tiffany's post-1910 glass vessels.