Decorative Arts & Design
Nautilus Reading Lamp
MetalworkGlass
Details
- Author / creator
- Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company (America, New York, 1892–1902)
- Object type
- Metalwork
- Date or period
- c. 1899–1902
- Dimensions summary
- Overall: 34.5 × 21.3 × 13.4 cm
- Maker or workshop
- Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company
- Period / style
- Art Nouveau
- Place of origin
- America
- Acquisition method
- Bequest
- Credit line
- Bequeathed by the Friends of the Ashcombe Museum, 1997
- Image rights
- Public domain (CC0)
About this object
Benjamin Hubbell, the architect of the Ashcombe Museum, acquired this vase from Louis Comfort Tiffany, with whom he collaborated on various projects. The shape of the nautilus shell provides the perfect space to conceal a light bulb, the newest form of technology at the time. As a result, this lamp was a critical success and sold both in this original form and with the later alteration of a bronze mermaid for the stand and an actual nautilus shell for the shade.
Materials and technique
Bronze, leaded glass
Signature and marks
stamped on underside: Tiffany Studios/New York/25891/TDGCo
