Louis C. Tiffany Louis Comfort Tiffany (American, 1848-1933) was one of the foremost decorative artists of his time. His father, Charles Lewis Tiffany, was the co-founder of Tiffany & Company, the luxury retailer best known for fine silver and jewelry. At an early age Tiffany was exposed to superbly-designed and expertly-crafted objets d’art, undoubtedly stimulating his love and appreciation for exceptional objects and setting him on a self-proclaimed “quest for beauty.” Tiffany began his career as a landscape painter but eventually branched out into interior design and the decorative arts. Over the years he formed a number of companies in both Manhattan and Queens that manufactured leaded-glass windows, lamps, mosaics, glassware, enamels, ceramics, metalwork, furniture, and textiles. These works were available at his Manhattan showroom and in fine retail and jewelry stores throughout the United States and Europe. Special commissions were an important part of Tiffany’s businesses. Many of his clients were wealthy, socially-prominent families seeking unique objects and interiors for their lavish homes. Churches also ordered elaborate interiors, including windows, lighting fixtures, mosaics, and ecclesiastical furniture. Some examples of these interiors can still be seen in New York City. History of Tiffany Lamps Tiffany embarked on the production of lamps in the early 1890s. Although the light bulb was patented in 1879, electricity was not widely available until shortly after the turn of the century and even then only the wealthy could afford it. Tiffany’s earliest lamps, made of blown glass or leaded-glass and bronze, were fueled by kerosene. As electric light became affordable and gained popularity, Tiffany began offering his clients the choice of either oil or electric lamps. Tiffany lamps were available in many different sizes and styles. It is estimated that thousands of lamps, in countless designs, were produced in Tiffany’s workshops. Although multiples of most lampshade designs were created, each one was made unique through the selection of glass. In order to make the lamps even more individual, the majority of Tiffany shades and bases were interchangeable, allowing them to be customized to fit a client’s tastes and needs. Tiffany was deeply inspired by nature and many of his best lamps replicate the exquisite colors and fine details of flowers and plants. He poured tremendous amounts of time and money into developing colored and textured glass enabling his craftsmen to achieve naturalistic effects without painted detail. The glass from this experimentation yielded a boundless palette: streaky glass emulates woody branches and color modulations in leaves and blossoms; rippled glass suggests water and approximates thick flower petals; mottled glass mimics sun-dappled foliage and lends a three dimensionality to blossoms and fruit. Lampshades were assembled on a wooden mold inscribed with the design of the shade. Brass patterns were made as guides for cutting the individual pieces of glass, which were selected from a larger sheet. Each cut piece was wrapped in a thin strip of copper foil and placed on the mold. The copper-foiled edges were then soldered together. The shape of the wooden mold determined the shape of the lampshade. History of the Neustadt Collection Dr. Egon Neustadt and his wife Hildegard began collecting Tiffany objects in 1935 with the purchase of a Tiffany desk lamp in New York City. At this time Tiffany’s lavish designs were out of fashion and Dr. Neustadt noted that when they brought the lamp home their friends “didn't like it." Undaunted, Dr. Neustadt's interest in Tiffany shades and bases became all-consuming. One of the earliest serious collectors of Tiffany lamps, Dr. Neustadt assembled an encyclopedic collection which included desk, reading, library, and floor lamps as well as hanging shades and chandeliers. He also added leaded-glass windows and bronze desk sets to his collection. In 1967, he acquired some 500 crates of sheet and pressed glass made and used by the Tiffany Studios which were left over after the company went bankrupt in the early 1930s. In 1970, Dr. Neustadt published his collection in a book, The Lamps of Tiffany. In it he classified the different types of lamps and developed a nomenclature to describe the various categories of lamp designs. In 1983 Dr. Neustadt donated a selection of lamps to The New-York Historical Society. When he died the following year, his Manhattan apartment still contained a rich variety of Tiffany lamps and windows. This private treasure has become the core of The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass. Since 1995 The Neustadt Collection has had a partnership with The Queens Museum of Art. A permanent gallery featuring changing exhibitions provides an opportunity to display and explore Dr. Neustadt’s collection. It also continues Tiffany’s presence in Corona, Queens where Tiffany Studios and Furnaces were once located. The mission of The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass is to preserve, interpret, and develop its holdings of Tiffany lamps, windows, glass, and related objects. The collection is accessible through changing exhibitions, public programs, and publications. A distinctive feature of the Neustadt Collection is its commitment to foster a better understanding of Tiffany by making its objects available through traveling exhibitions to museums and galleries around the country. For additional information about the collection, exhibitions, conservation and research please contact The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass directly via email or phone at 718-361-8489.