This stunning Favrile Glass Vase depicts a vibrant red tulip, utilizing the form of the vase and the expertise of one of Tiffany Studios’ glass carvers to create a botanically accurate rendering of the flower.
In this example, a base of opaque yellow glass was overlaid with a layer of opaque scarlet red glass which was then strategically carved back to reveal the design, revealing the motif of a tulip formed by the red glass which stands in low relief from the yellow background. The petals of the tulip, with curling edges, have been skillfully wheel-carved to allow areas of the base of yellow glass to subtly show through in vertical striations, giving the impression of a fancy frilled or broken tulip. The yellow background features an additional decoration of patterned carving.
The inscription on this vases uses a date code which indicates that it is part of a limited series of related cameo vases produced between 1903-04 in which a core of vibrant yellow glass was covered by an opaque layer of scarlet red glass which was then cut back to create the design. These vases were likely inspired by Chinese cameo glass which was produced in a similar color palette.
Related example illustrated:
Martin Eidelberg, Tiffany Favrile Glass and the Quest of Beauty (Lillian Nassau LLC, 2007), pg. 69 fig. 69
Height: 4 ¾ inches (12.1 cm)
Diameter: 3 ¾ inches (9.5 cm)
