Accession Number
1986.146.10

Title
Firescreen from the entrance hall of the Henry O. Havemeyer house, New York

Artist(s)
Louis Comfort Tiffany

Object Creation Date
1890-1891

Medium & Support
gilt metal and opalescent favarile glass

Dimensions
40 x 44 in. (101.6 x 111.76 cm);47 in. x 4 ft. 3 in. x 7 1/2 in. (119.38 x 129.54 x 19.05 cm)

Credit Line
University purchase 1930, transferred to the Museum of Art

Label copy
March 28, 2009
This delicate firescreen, composed of different colors and shapes of glass set in a filigree metal armature, is one of Tiffany’s most astonishing creations. Placed before the fireplace in the entry hall of the house (therefore just below the peacock mosaic), this piece would have been backlit whenever the fireplace was operating. This diaphanous and translucent firescreen would have been a handsome complement to the décor of the foyer and would have been a rich foil to the mosaics that occupied the upper portion of the room. Among the many sources that Tiffany knew and used for this work would have been Indian art—jewelry and perhaps also carved screens.

Subject matter
This firescreen was set in the entry hall of the Henry O. Havemeyer house, built in New York City 1890-91 with interior decoration by Louis Comfort Tiffany. As with most of Tiffany's designs for the Havemeyer house, this element combines geometric shapes with more curvilinear elements.

Physical Description
Firescreen consists of a rectangular metal frame with glass and metal elements set in rectangular (largely geometric) framing patterns around a central panel of white and purple vertical glass rods. Along the bottom is a border of white, amber, and green glass circular elements in a more naturalistic pattern evoking grapes.

Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts

Primary Object Type
architectural element

Additional Object Classification(s)
Decorative Arts

Collection Area
Western

Rights
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Keywords
architectural elements
fire screens (furniture)