Louis Comfort Tiffany and His Art Nouveau Lamps

Abstract

This paper will address the life of Louis Comfort Tiffany in the context of two products made at his glass studio on Corona Island, New York, around 1900: the Hanging-head Dragonfly lamp, and the Spider-web lamp. First, a close inspection of the two lamps is necessary. Then, this paper will address Tiffany's actual role in their production. Although both of these lamps were produced and sold under the Tiffany name, they were, at least in the Dragonfly lamp's case, designed by an employee of Tiffany Studios, and display a different style than pieces designed by Tiffany himself. Following this discussion, the paper will examine the Art Nouveau question: that is, it will attempt to determine whether or not Tiffany was an important and influential member of this turn of the century art movement. Using illustrations of Tiffany's work at the time, the focal lamps, and other widely recognized Art Nouveau products, this paper will show that although Tiffany certainly created some objects that fit within this rubric, it is impossible to use the term Art Nouveau to encompass his entire career. Finally, this paper will address contemporary criticism of Tiffany and his lamps. Although he was highly acclaimed as an artist in stained glass windows and mosaics, he was also widely criticized for being too commercial. Again, using the lamps as evidence, this paper will prove that although Tiffany himself never came to terms with the "commercial" vs. "fine" arts issue, his lamps can be considered independently as works of art, and should be judged as such. [From Introduction]