This Pen Tray is part of the Ninth Century Desk Set produced by Tiffany Studios around 1906.
This rare set was one of the most elaborate produced by Tiffany Studios. Period sales pamphlets focusing specifically on Tiffany Desk Sets highlighted the Ninth Century’s highly detailed decorative motif of stylized animals, including birds, squirrels and hares, which Tiffany’s designers adapted as a substitute for the grotesques commonly found in Design and DecorativeArts from the 9th Century. These charming creatures are surrounded by intricate knotwork and interlace designs, described by Tiffany Studios as “carved ornament” and “deeply cut strapwork.”
The Ninth Century set is one of the few Tiffany desk sets which incorporates Tiffany Favrile Glass; in this Desk Set, rounded glass gems in shades of deep blue and green were used to imitate semi-precious jewels.
Length: 9 ¾ inches
Width: 3 ¼ inches