Description
Nasturtium Table Lamp
Tiffany Studios
Circa 1900
This magnificent Tiffany Studios Nasturtium table lamp embodies the artistry and innovation that established Tiffany as the foremost artist of his age. The vibrant red and pink nasturtiums unfurl across a radiant golden ground, interwoven with delicate leaves and vines that twist with naturalistic rhythm. The result is a lush, illuminated garden that comes alive with movement and color, transformed by the play of light across Tiffany’s carefully chosen glass.
The first leaded glass Nasturtium shade is attributed to Clara Driscoll, the gifted head of Tiffany Studios’ Women’s Glass Cutting Department, around 1900. Driscoll and her team of artisans, known as the “Tiffany Girls,” played a vital role in selecting and cutting the glass that gave Tiffany lamps their distinctive brilliance. Their sensitivity to color harmonies and ability to capture the essence of natural forms were indispensable to Tiffany’s success, and the Nasturtium remains one of their triumphs.
The nasturtium motif carried a rich cultural resonance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Associated with victory since antiquity, the flower symbolized both triumph and passion in the Victorian language of flowers. Its vibrant symbolism and striking color made the nasturtium a favorite of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s, and he planted it abundantly at Laurelton Hall and incorporated it into many of his lighting designs.
Tiffany lamps such as this are one of the great icons of the American decorative arts, representing Louis Comfort Tiffany’s seemingly limitless creativity and endless quest for beauty. Similar examples of this Nasturtium lamp reside in important museum collections such as the Art Institute of Chicago.
Shade stamped “Tiffany Studios New York”
Base stamped “Tiffany Studios New York 550″
33 5/8″ high x 22” diameter
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