Accession Number1972/2.223
TitlePersian Rosewater Sprinkler
Artist(s)Louis Comfort TiffanyObject Creation Datecirca 1896-1900Medium & Supportiridescent glassDimensions 17 9/16 x 5 9/16 x 5 3/8 in. (44.5 x 14 x 13.5 cm);17 9/16 x 5 9/16 x 5 3/8 in. (44.5 x 14 x 13.5 cm)
Credit LineUniversity purchase 1930, transferred to the Museum of Art, 1972/2.223Label copyMarch 28, 2009
Henry and Lousine Havemeyer were active collectors of the hand-made, iridescent glass made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Though Tiffany had been known for making leaded glass windows since the late 1870s, he only began to make blown-glass vessels in the early 1890s—not long after he completed work on the Havemeyer house in New York. Tiffany’s term for this opulent glasswork was Favrile (a word derived from the Old English work fabrile, meaning “handmade”); Tiffany obtained a patent for the richly colored and iridescent Favrile glass in 1894.
Working with Tiffany to select outstanding pieces, the Havemeyers amassed an impressive collection of his Favrile glass; much of it was donated by the family to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Nearly all of the Tiffany glass in the University of Michigan’s collection was purchased at auction in 1930, along with the architectural fragments, by Emil Lorch.
Subject matterHenry and Lousine Havemeyer were active collectors of the hand-made, iridescent glass made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Tiffany had been known for making leaded windows since the late 1870s, but only began to make blown-glass vessels in the early 1890s—not long after his work on the Havemeyer house in New York. Tiffany’s term for this opulent glasswork was Favrile (a term derived from the Old English work fabrile, meaning “handmade”); Tiffany obtained a patent for the richly colored and iridescent
Favrile glass in 1894.
Working with Tiffany to select outstanding pieces, the Havemeyers amassed an impressive collection of Tiffany’s Favrile glass; much of it was donated by the family to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nearly all of the Tiffany glass in the University of Michigan’s collection was purchased at auction in 1930, along with the architectural fragments, by Emil Lorch, University of Michigan's Dean of the College of Architecture and Design.
This particular piece is an exellent example of a glass design based on the model of rosewater sprinklers from Persia.
Physical DescriptionThis elongated vase has a small, round base and an undulating, swan-like attenuated neck that ends in a flaring mouth. The length of the neck of the vessel has ridges and the surface has a dark iridescent quality of green and blue
Primary Object Classification Decorative Arts Primary Object TypeglassCollection AreaWesternRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
glass
glass (material)
modern and contemporary art
vessels
vessels (containers)