GENERAL DESCRIPTION
In 1878, Tiffany & Co. won the grand prix for its Japanese style designs at the Paris Exposition Universelle. The firm attributed the achievement to the use of hammered surfaces, a technique first used by one of its silversmiths in 1876. A contemporary issue of the International Review reported, "A peculiar effect wrought in conjunction with applied ornamentation, engraving, or even chasing, is produced by leaving the entire surface... impressed with the dents of the hammer. This unique finish imparts to the body the appearance not unlike that possessed by Japanese 'crackle' pottery, and it certainly owns a quaint barbaric beauty."
Covered by hammer marks, this monumental punch bowl is typical of Tiffany's contributions to the style. Motifs inspired by Japanese art, such as the plants engraved and chased on the bowl and the dragonfly, cicada, and beetle applied to the stem, complete the design.
Drawn from
- Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art; New York, New York; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994), 176.
- David Carew Huntington. The Quest for Unity: American Art Between World's Fairs 1876-1893 (Detroit: Detroit Institute of Arts, 1983), 202.
NOTES
- I added the following as a TMS Text Entry: Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art; New York, New York; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994), 343.
- I updated Provenance, Exhibition History, and Published References in TMS.
- most CC for this note are incomplete, checked by HAB 4/13/17
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1883: Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Blum [1]
Until 1982: Tiffany & Co., New York
From 1982: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the above
[1] An inscription on the punch bowl reads "Mr. and Mrs. / Alexander Blum / 1st Septr 1883"
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston ~ View a related Tiffany & Co. punch bowl.
- National Geographic ~ Watch the video "The Secret World of Dragonflies" to learn more about the insect depicted on this punch bowl.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1982.84
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General Description
In 1878, Tiffany & Co. won the grand prix for its Japanese style designs at the Paris Exposition Universelle. The firm attributed the achievement to the use of hammered surfaces, a technique first used by one of its silversmiths in 1876. A contemporary issue of the International Review reported, "A peculiar effect wrought in conjunction with applied ornamentation, engraving, or even chasing, is produced by leaving the entire surface... impressed with the dents of the hammer. This unique finish imparts to the body the appearance not unlike that possessed by Japanese 'crackle' pottery, and it certainly owns a quaint barbaric beauty."
Covered by hammer marks, this monumental punch bowl is typical of Tiffany's contributions to the style. Motifs inspired by Japanese art, such as the plants engraved and chased on the bowl and the dragonfly, cicada, and beetle applied to the stem, complete the design.
Drawn from
- Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art; New York, New York; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994), 176.
- David Carew Huntington. The Quest for Unity: American Art Between World's Fairs 1876-1893 (Detroit: Detroit Institute of Arts, 1983), 202.
Fun Facts
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston ~ View a related Tiffany & Co. punch bowl.
- National Geographic ~ Watch the video "The Secret World of Dragonflies" to learn more about the insect depicted on this punch bowl.
Notes
- I added the following as a TMS Text Entry: Charles L. Venable, Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor (Dallas, Texas: Dallas Museum of Art; New York, New York; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1994), 343.
- I updated Provenance, Exhibition History, and Published References in TMS.
- most CC for this note are incomplete, checked by HAB 4/13/17
Catalogue essays
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
From 1883: Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Blum [1]
Until 1982: Tiffany & Co., New York
From 1982: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the above
[1] An inscription on the punch bowl reads "Mr. and Mrs. / Alexander Blum / 1st Septr 1883"
AUDIO ASSETS
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1982.84
source file
object_notes_4_a-0183.xml.nores