Three family Tiffany heirlooms are going off to auction.
As long as anyone in my family can remember, three pieces of Tiffany metal ware have been among our most prized possessions. Our late Mother was much enamored of these which, as her version of the story went, were given to her father by one of his famous clients to pay for financial management services. No matter how many house sales Mother had over the years to raise money, no one would pay her what she devoutly believed they were worth: they were, after all, Tiffany, signed and numbered.
The first is this centerpiece bowl, with its “bronze doré” (gilded bronze) and hollow center foot.
The floral motif on the rim is set off by vivid blue inlay — I cannot tell whether this is enamel or glass. The piece is stamped “Louis C. Tiffany Furnaces, Inc. Favrile” and a similar bowl, with flowers in a different colorway, is in the collection of a prominent New York dealer. Tiffany Furnaces was the glasshouse LCT founded in the 1890s and favrile was the trademarked name applied to his glass, enamel and pottery.
In the early 1990s, I offered to take all the pieces to Tiffany’s main New York store for evaluation and Mother shipped them to me. My taxi ride down to 57th Street yielded the first of several unpleasant surprises. “We have nothing to do with these,” I was informed upon examination of the candlesticks. “They were made by Tiffany Studios, which no longer exists.”
Indeed, the bronze doré picture frame, with Nana’s picture still in place, is stamped Tiffany Studios.
Details of the top center section of the frame shows a vase of flowers with dolphins and scrolling leaves on either side. The central motif on the bottom reminds me of late Victorian Classical Revival images also seen in furniture.
And here’s the bottom corner. I haven’t been able to turn up a similar frame or identify the style. My guess is that it dates to the 1890s since motifs on later pieces became more geometric.
But back to the story. After the disappointment at Tiffany’s I began checking around. It quickly became clear that these early Tiffany pieces were woefully out of fashion.
Our pair of “Zodiac” Tiffany Studios bronze candlesticks have a lovely patina and their condition is excellent.
The tops have incised designs all around the candle well and graceful barleytwist stems. The markings almost look like abstracted Egyptian hieroglyphs.
The irregular bases show a double tier of animal foot brackets (another late Victorian motif) and they are stamped with stylized animals representing the planets.
Several years went by. When Sotheby’s auction house first started their internet auctions, I was cheered by their acceptance in a sale. But they didn’t sell and the pieces were returned to me. None of my siblings wanted them and they didn’t really work in my house. So for a long time, they sat, all wrapped up in the back of a closet.
Historical fact: Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) founded both workshops that made our pieces. In 1902, he became the design director of Tiffany & Co., the jewelry store founded by his father. Hence the natural confusion.
Today, internet auctions have fortunately and firmly established a global art market. Plus there’s been a slight revival of interest in Tiffany pieces. So I decided to try again. Photographs sent to an auction house last week received a positive reaction. So our pieces will be offered again. Perhaps our Mom’s vision of their worth finally will be validated, though I doubt it. Meanwhile, their departure will create space and help transform my house into a more sublimely tranquil place.
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Tricia Rose says
January 8, 2012 at 9:04 pmI applaud your resolve: far better they go to someone who loves them. Family treasures can be a burden.
Your Nana was a babe, wasn’t she!
Black Eyed Susans Kitchen says
January 8, 2012 at 9:10 pmYou needed to take them to the Antiques Road Show…they always go gaga over Tiffanys. The candlesticks are gorgeous!
Scribbler says
January 8, 2012 at 10:51 pmThey are very interesting pieces, but I am afraid I am too sentimental to part with family things, even when I don’t use them.
Jo Ann says
January 9, 2012 at 8:57 amNeat! Thanks for sharing!
Jane F @ Atticmag says
January 9, 2012 at 5:14 pmThanks for the support. I have mixed emotions about selling them but they aren’t mine entirely, my sister needs the money and neither of my brothers cares. They all have other things that were more meaningful and I have different interests. Funny how that works. Also, after having to go through all Mom’s stuff with much still to go, I am determined not to burden our DDs with any of that. Better for me to unload it when I’m able — even at the risk of missing it later — than have it land on them.
Elizabeth says
January 10, 2012 at 11:06 amI know its hard to part with some things, but knowing who ever buys them will really love them is a good thing.
We can’t keep everything that’s for sure, I have bben going though my things and giving “stuff” to my girls for their homes. It just comes a time when we have to start deleting things. Good for you!!!
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth
Puna says
January 10, 2012 at 2:43 pmThey are beautiful. I know they will be cherished in a home somewhere!
RHome410 says
January 11, 2012 at 2:15 pmThose are great pieces! Must be somewhat hard to let go, but if someone will love and appreciate them, and you gain space and necessary funds… win-win.
Tina says
January 11, 2012 at 3:47 pmGood luck with the sale. Hope your Mom was right! Definitely tough to do, but congrats on your willingness to let go and redefine your home for who you are today. You’ve taken lovely pictures, which is a wonderful way to remember. After letting pieces go, I’ve realized that memories and our connection to family exists in our hearts, not in things. I’m sure you still have other treasures you enjoy using. To me, that’s what “home” is all about!
Jane F says
January 11, 2012 at 4:16 pmThe only thing bothering me is how low the estimates are for these. The market is nearly marginal (though it’s certainly improved over several years ago). It makes me wonder why Tiffany bronze pieces electroplated in gold, after all, hold so little value when “junque” oil paintings command such big prices and Tiffany glass pieces fetch astronomical sums. I’m talking about hundreds, not thousands.
Clearing things out this past six months has made me feel better and better. Whatever they bring will be fine.
Roger O says
January 17, 2012 at 11:09 amWhat auction house is going to sell them? I would like to bid.
Jane F says
January 17, 2012 at 12:58 pmIt’s being finalized now and I have your email address — will send you a link when the catalog is online. Thanks for your interest. Are you a Tiffany collector?
Roger O says
January 21, 2012 at 2:30 pmYes. Lamps and bronze pieces mostly. Good luck.
Jane F @ Atticmag says
January 23, 2012 at 11:42 amThanks Roger. I’ll be in touch. Sale looks to be in April.
Anne P says
February 2, 2012 at 7:17 amWould you please email me also when you make a final decision? I have one Tiffany Furnaces piece and I would love to have another! Thank you.
Reg P says
March 9, 2012 at 9:11 amTricia is correct, your Nana took a gorgeous photo.
What are you asking for the Tiffany Frame? Please advise.
My family are going through the same process and it looks like my sister will get the very same frame but w/ green patina w/ pic of my dad. I saw small frame same as yours but green patina at an online antique store w/ asking of 500.00. From the picture yours appears to be what is called “gold dore”. Correct?
Jane F says
March 9, 2012 at 7:18 pmOur pieces will be sold at the April Estates Auction at Rago, in New Jersey. The catalog will be available at the end of March and I’ll post links with the auction estimates when it’s online.
Reg, I’ve not seen a green patina with Tiffany. Our frame is, indeed, bronze dore, and in decent condition.