Tiffany Studios Powder Box

Tiffany Studios
Powder Box

circa 1925
Favrile glass, enameled bronze
engraved 1823P L.C. Tiffany-Favrile
3 in. (7.6 cm) high
5½ in. (14 cm) diameter

Condition Report:
Overall in very good condition. When viewed firsthand, the box displays a range of soft blush pink and coral hues transitioning to transparent yellow at the foot. This perfectly complements the enameled lid which depicts fuchsia flower blossoms set against green foliage and a bubblegum pink and powder blue ground. The glass presents with occasional minor air bubbles, particulate inclusions and surface irregularities which are inherent in the making and not visually distracting. The glass surfaces throughout with scattered, very fine and light surface scratches consistent with age and gentle handling. The rim with a few slightly more pronounced scratches and minute abrasions to the glass resulting from contact with the bronze lid, not visually distracting. The interior of the foot with a shallow open air bubble measuring approximately ¼ in., inherent in the making and not visually distracting. The bronze is in very good condition with scattered scratches, abrasions, light wear and tarnish consistent with age and gentle handling. The enamel is in very good stable condition with occasional minor surface irregularities inherent to the application and light surface wear consistent with age and gentle handling. The interior with traces of light surface soiling and adhesive residue. The underside of the box is applied with a Doros Collection accession number. A charming form with a rosy spring palette.

Catalogue Note:
Louis Tiffany introduced a line of enamelware at the 1900 Paris Exposition Universelle, where they were awarded a Grand Prix and met with international acclaim. Featuring newly developed enamels, some iridescent and others translucent that allowed the shimmering body to glisten through, and naturalistic designs in repoussé, these objects were unlike anything the world had ever seen. The company continued to create extraordinary enameled objects until 1907, when the department was acquired by Tiffany & Company.

Arthur Douglas Nash and his brother Leslie attempted to revive the technique in the mid-1920s. The company’s name had been changed to the Louis C. Tiffany Furnaces, the Nashes were now in charge of the business as Louis Tiffany was no longer actively involved with the firm’s operations, and tastes had changed dramatically since the end of World War I. The Nashes could not replicate the earlier enamel work, as the skilled artisans that Tiffany had employed were either dead or working elsewhere. What they attempted was a more contemporary appearance that would serve as an enhancement to their glass pieces. Seen primarily on covers for Favrile powder boxes, these enameled works were as colorful as their predecessors but differed noticeably in the refinement of design and technique.

- PD

Provenance:
James D. Julia, Inc., Fairfield, Maine, June 17, 2006, lot 612