Accession Number
1986.146.5

Title
Portion of a lighting fixture, possibly from the entrance hall, H.O. Havemeyer house, New York

Artist(s)
Louis Comfort Tiffany

Object Creation Date
1890-1891

Medium & Support
silver, gilt bronze and opalescent favrile glass

Dimensions
30 in (76.2 cm);x 30 in x 76.2 cm;x 4 ¾ in x 12.07 cm

Credit Line
University purchase 1930, transferred to the Museum of Art, 1986.146.5

Label copy
March 28, 2009
Although this work was described in the Anderson Galleries auction catalogue as a centerpiece, its size makes it unlikely that it was used on a table. The most recent speculation is that it was a lighting fixture, but it is unclear whether it would have been a wall or a ceiling fixture. Because of the peacock tail motif, it is tempting to imagine that it might have been located in the entrance hall of the house to complement the peacock mosaic, although existing photos of the foyer do not confirm its position.

Subject matter
It is unknown where in the Havemeyer house this fragment of a light fixture was installed; also unknown was the globe or other treatment at the center of the design.

Physical Description
Slivered metal roundel shape with a center opening for a glass globe (suggested). Along the outer perimeter of the roundel are opalescant convex glass shapes evocative of peacock tail feathers.

Primary Object Classification
Decorative Arts

Primary Object Type
light fixture

Collection Area
Western

Rights
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Keywords
architectural elements
gas fixtures