Plaque 1893

This glass plaque, now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, was created by Louis C. Tiffany, whose lifespan saw a period of immense social and artistic change. Born in the aftermath of abolition, Tiffany's life and work developed through the industrial revolution and into the burgeoning art movements of the early 20th century. Tiffany, a white man born into privilege, capitalized on the aestheticism of the Gilded Age, and is renowned for his stained glass and lamps. In this plaque, the radiating pattern pulls the eye towards its center. It's a mesmerizing effect. While Tiffany is celebrated for his artistry, the context of his success raises important questions about labor, class, and the cultural appropriation of craft traditions. This piece invites us to reflect on the complexities of beauty and creation. We must also acknowledge the broader socio-economic structures within which Tiffany and other artists like him operated. We can appreciate the aesthetic achievement of the plaque while remaining attentive to the realities of those whose labor and cultural heritage may have been marginalized in its making.