Accession Number1986.146.8A
TitleElement from a mosaic frieze, entrance hall of the H.O. Havemeyer House, New York (one of 10 elements)
Artist(s)Louis Comfort TiffanyObject Creation Date1890-1891Medium & Supportiridescent glass on plasterDimensions 34 in x 22 in (86.36 cm x 55.88 cm)
Credit LineUniversity purchase 1930, transferred to the Museum of Art, 1986.146.8ALabel copyMarch 28, 2009
The foyer of the Havemeyer house contained a frieze that ran very high along the walls, close to the ceiling. The combination of patterning—including the scroll pattern at the bottom that is similar to that on the peacock mosaic—underscores the flat and essentially decorative quality of the frieze. As with the peacock mosaic, here Tiffany juxtaposes translucent and opaque tesserae, or glass tiles, to enliven the patterns. The hexagonal shapes in the mosaic may refer to the six-sided table that originally stood in the entrance hall of the house.
Subject matterThis panel is one of several panels of the same design that formed a frieze in the foyer of the H.O. Havemeyer House in New York City. The geometric patterning recalls Roman and Near Eastern examples, but the serpentine patterning also roots the mosaic in the Art Nouveau style of the time.
Physical DescriptionThis mosaic panel depicts flowers and tendrils against a background with both a chevron pattern and a round flower-like patten. Along either side is a tapering beige element that is half of a blade of a plant; when joined with another panel, they create a full plant blade.
Primary Object Classification Decorative Arts Primary Object Typearchitectural elementCollection AreaWesternRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
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