1990.186 Edward C. Moore, Coffeepot

In the early 1870s, Tiffany & Co.'s chief designer Edward C. Moore became fascinated with Near Eastern- and Indian decorative arts, which he not only collected but also emulated in his designs. This "Indian" coffee pot is one of the finest examples of American silver in that taste. The overall form is based directly on Indian water vessels characterized by bulbous bodies, elongated necks, and thin handles and spouts. Meanwhile, the intricate arabesque pattern of stylized rosettes and foliage that covers its surface is reminiscent of Turkish textiles and Iznik ceramics of the 16th century. On either side, a long, serrated leaf curves into a "C," the monogram of the original owner, Tiffany & Co. treasurer C. T. Cook. Evidently Tiffany & Co. was so pleased with this piece that they borrowed it from Cook for inclusion in their display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia.

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), 334.

From 1874: C. T. Cook, New York [1]

Until 1990: R & P Kassai (Peter Kassai), New York [2]

From 1990: Dallas Museum of Art, purchased  from the above [2]

[1] See monogram. See also Elizabeth L. Kerr Fish, "Edward C. Moore and Tiffany Islamic-Style Silver, c. 1867-1889," Studies in Decorative Arts Volume VI, Number 2 (Spring-Summer 1999): 51-52. See also John Loring, Magnificent Tiffany Silver (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 2001), 62. 

[2] See letter from Charles Venable to Peter Kassai (dated October 31, 1990, copy in Collections Records Object File). See also R & P Kassai invoice, which reads "Rec'd by Cheque 10/31/90" (dated November 4, 1990, copy in Collections Records File). 

1994: "Silver in America, 1840-1940: A Century of Splendor," Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas, November 6, 1994 - January 29, 1995; Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 12-May 21, 1995; Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 13-August 13, 1995; Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware, September 9, 1995-January 7, 1996, cat. p. 109, fig. 5.6. 

1999: "Tiffany Retrospective: Designs from Tiffany & Co. 1837-1999," Mitsukoshi Museum of Art, Tokyo, February 27-April 4, 1999; Daimaru Museum, Umeda-Osaka, April 14-May, 9, 1999; Mitsukoshi Gallery, Fukuoka, May 21-June 13, 1999; Mitsukoshi Gallery, Nagoya, June 16-June 21, 1999, cat. no. 003. 

An illustration of the coffeepot in Tiffany & Co.'s display at the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia was published in the December 2, 1876 issue of Harper's Weekly. 

Apply to objects where number equals 1990.186