Vase 1893

This iridescent glass vase was created by Louis Comfort Tiffany, an artist synonymous with the American Gilded Age. Tiffany, the son of Charles Lewis Tiffany, founder of Tiffany & Co., sought to democratize access to beauty through affordable, mass-produced art objects. During this time, rapid industrialization created unprecedented wealth and stark class divisions. Tiffany's creations were luxury items but made in large quantities, reflecting the era's tension between exclusivity and accessibility. Tiffany also employed women artisans, providing them with economic opportunities, while still often marginalizing their creative contributions. The vase's lustrous surface mimics the shimmering colors of a peacock feather, a popular motif that was used in art nouveau. Consider the era's fascination with exoticism and the ways in which Tiffany’s work both embraced and commodified these influences. The vase invites us to consider the complex interplay of art, industry, and identity during the Gilded Age.