GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The languidly aqueous appearance of this window by Louis Comfort Tiffany's firm suggests the transformation of molten glass providing an appropriately watery effect for images of undersea life. Borders of thick stone-like glass "jewels" and multiple layers of wavy, twisted and rippled "drapery" colored glass provide a setting for starfish, anemones, and other sea life to float suspended in the lower portions of the window. The upper segment reveals the placid surface of the ocean with sky above. Although themes of water and marine life would be revisited in some of his later Favrile vessels, enamels, and lamps, Tiffany produced very few windows with such aquatic scenes, and even fewer exhibiting such sophisticated abstraction as seen in this example and another similar one also in the DMA's collection (2008.21.2.McD). The pair, part of a suite that may have depicted the four seasons, demonstrate Tiffany's appreciation of Japanese art and his innovative approach to stained glass design. Both windows show Tiffany at the height of his creative powers, experimenting with the texture and translucency of glass to create a masterful aquatic fantasy of color and form.
Adapted from
- Kevin Tucker, DMA unpublished material, Label text, 2008.
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012), 209.
NOTES
- samantha updated Provenance, Exhibition History, and Published References in TMS.
- HAB updated geo x ref
- Published References:
- In the Object File, there appears to be a photo of the pair of windows inside a private residence here in Dallas. The photo dates to 1981.
"Golden Movement Emporium: Put $10,000 Worth of Architectural Antiques in Your Home." "Texas Monthly." April 1980.
Havlen, Naomi. "Windows to the nation: Collector's stained-glass pieces go on arts tour." "Aspen Times." August 31, 2005.
Johnson, Marilynn A. "Louis Comfort Tiffany: Artist for the Ages." London: Scala; Easthampton, MA: Distributed by Antique Collectors' Club, 2005. Illustrated: pp. 118-119, cat. no. 19 and 20.
Pepall, Rosalind M. "Tiffany Glass: A Passion for Colour." Montreal: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts; Paris: Skira Flammarion, 2009. Illustrated: pp. 98-100, cat nos. 60A and 60B; catalogue entry, p. 247.
Pitman, Bonnie, ed. "Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection." Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012, 209.
Rheims, Maurice. "The Flowering of Art Nouveau." New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1966. Illustrated: p. 436, cat. no. 580; catalogue entry, p. 425-426.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1960: Joseph H. Heil, New York [1]
1960-1977: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, gift of the above [1]
1977-1980: Carl Heck, Aspen, Colorado, purchased at auction, "19th and 20th Century Works of Art," Sotheby's Parke Bernet, New York, November 25-26, 1977 [2]
1980-2003: Eddie Parker, Dallas, Texas, purchased at the Tenth Annual Golden Movement Emporium Auction [3]
2003-2008: Carl Heck, Aspen, Colorado, purchased from the above [2]
From 2008: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased from the above [4]
[1] The Museum of Modern Art, Valuable and Comprehensive Acquisition on View at The Museum Of Modern Art, press release, 1960 (copy in Collections Records Object File)
[2] Naomi Havlen, "Windows to the nation: Collector's stained-glass pieces go on arts tour," Aspen Times, August 31, 2005 (copy in Collections Records Object File)
[3] See letter from Eddie Parker to Kevin Tuccker (dated August 18, 2008, copy in Collections Records Object File). See also Tenth Annual Golden Movement Emporium Auction advertisement published on pages 40 and 41 of the April 1980 issue of Texas Monthly (copy in Collections Records Object File).
[4] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.
AUDIO ASSETS
13309631: UMO, Kevin W. Tucker, Gallery Talk, "The Ocean's Bounty: Undersea Windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany"
44997821: UMO, Curator Kevin Tucker discusses these windows.
VIDEO ASSETS
DMA.mobi (file: dma_440483.m4v)
Curator Kevin Tucker discusses the original setting for these windows.
DMA.mobi (file: dma_440484.m4v)
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- National Geographic ~Learn about the sea anemones depicted in this window.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History ~Learn about the jellyfish depicted in this window.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 2008.21.1.McD
Category
rules_operator
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General Description
The languidly aqueous appearance of this window by Louis Comfort Tiffany's firm suggests the transformation of molten glass providing an appropriately watery effect for images of undersea life. Borders of thick stone-like glass "jewels" and multiple layers of wavy, twisted and rippled "drapery" colored glass provide a setting for starfish, anemones, and other sea life to float suspended in the lower portions of the window. The upper segment reveals the placid surface of the ocean with sky above. Although themes of water and marine life would be revisited in some of his later Favrile vessels, enamels, and lamps, Tiffany produced very few windows with such aquatic scenes, and even fewer exhibiting such sophisticated abstraction as seen in this example and another similar one also in the DMA's collection (2008.21.2.McD). The pair, part of a suite that may have depicted the four seasons, demonstrate Tiffany's appreciation of Japanese art and his innovative approach to stained glass design. Both windows show Tiffany at the height of his creative powers, experimenting with the texture and translucency of glass to create a masterful aquatic fantasy of color and form.
Adapted from
- Kevin Tucker, DMA unpublished material, Label text, 2008.
- Bonnie Pitman, ed., Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection, (Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012), 209.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- National Geographic ~Learn about the sea anemones depicted in this window.
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History ~Learn about the jellyfish depicted in this window.
Notes
- samantha updated Provenance, Exhibition History, and Published References in TMS.
- HAB updated geo x ref
- Published References:
- In the Object File, there appears to be a photo of the pair of windows inside a private residence here in Dallas. The photo dates to 1981.
"Golden Movement Emporium: Put $10,000 Worth of Architectural Antiques in Your Home." "Texas Monthly." April 1980.
Havlen, Naomi. "Windows to the nation: Collector's stained-glass pieces go on arts tour." "Aspen Times." August 31, 2005.
Johnson, Marilynn A. "Louis Comfort Tiffany: Artist for the Ages." London: Scala; Easthampton, MA: Distributed by Antique Collectors' Club, 2005. Illustrated: pp. 118-119, cat. no. 19 and 20.
Pepall, Rosalind M. "Tiffany Glass: A Passion for Colour." Montreal: Montreal Museum of Fine Arts; Paris: Skira Flammarion, 2009. Illustrated: pp. 98-100, cat nos. 60A and 60B; catalogue entry, p. 247.
Pitman, Bonnie, ed. "Dallas Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection." Dallas: Dallas Museum of Art; New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2012, 209.
Rheims, Maurice. "The Flowering of Art Nouveau." New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1966. Illustrated: p. 436, cat. no. 580; catalogue entry, p. 425-426.
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
Until 1960: Joseph H. Heil, New York [1]
1960-1977: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, gift of the above [1]
1977-1980: Carl Heck, Aspen, Colorado, purchased at auction, "19th and 20th Century Works of Art," Sotheby's Parke Bernet, New York, November 25-26, 1977 [2]
1980-2003: Eddie Parker, Dallas, Texas, purchased at the Tenth Annual Golden Movement Emporium Auction [3]
2003-2008: Carl Heck, Aspen, Colorado, purchased from the above [2]
From 2008: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased from the above [4]
[1] The Museum of Modern Art, Valuable and Comprehensive Acquisition on View at The Museum Of Modern Art, press release, 1960 (copy in Collections Records Object File)
[2] Naomi Havlen, "Windows to the nation: Collector's stained-glass pieces go on arts tour," Aspen Times, August 31, 2005 (copy in Collections Records Object File)
[3] See letter from Eddie Parker to Kevin Tuccker (dated August 18, 2008, copy in Collections Records Object File). See also Tenth Annual Golden Movement Emporium Auction advertisement published on pages 40 and 41 of the April 1980 issue of Texas Monthly (copy in Collections Records Object File).
[4] Works of art given or purchased by The Eugene and Margaret McDermott Art Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, are placed in the custody of the DMA for the purpose of public display on the premises of the Museum or in other recognized art galleries or museum. The title to all works of art purchased (or otherwise acquired) by the McDermott Art Fund remains with the Fund.
AUDIO ASSETS
13309631: UMO, Kevin W. Tucker, Gallery Talk, "The Ocean's Bounty: Undersea Windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany"
44997821: UMO, Curator Kevin Tucker discusses these windows.
VIDEO ASSETS
DMA.mobi (file: dma_440483.m4v)
Curator Kevin Tucker discusses the original setting for these windows.
DMA.mobi (file: dma_440484.m4v)
rules
Apply To
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