This spectacular Tiffany Lamp features a rare early Nasturtium Shade model that was likely designed by Clara Driscoll, the head of the Women's Glass Cutting Department at Tiffany Studios. Driscoll is the artist responsible for designing some of the first Tiffany Lamps in the late 1890s under the direction of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Though Tiffany Studios produced a variety of leaded glass shades depicting Nasturtiums in the early 20th century, this model was likely the first to depict the garden flower, a favorite of Tiffany's.
The nasturtiums on this example of this rare model are formed by exceptional early Tiffany Glass and range in color and type, shifting from red with tinges of dark blue to vibrant orange and yellow flowers formed by "ripple" glass, accented by a background of mottled glass in a pale shade of sky blue. The rounded leaves and twining vines, formed by mottled green glass, creep along and through a rectilinear trellis; an irregular border is formed by the blossoms and foliage overhanging the lower edge of the shade. Three flat edges along the lower edge allow the shade to rest on three delicate bronze arms of the lamp base, a feature commonly seen on the earliest leaded glass shades designed for Tiffany Lamps.
The base is formed by an ovoid body which perches on four feet on a saucer base. At the widest point, the base features a horizontal band depicting stylized roses. This base was originally designed to operate on oil or kerosene; the wide body was intended to accomodate an inset oil canister.
Both the shade and base of this rare early Tiffany Lamp are signed.
Diameter: 16 inches (40.6 cm)