Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Glass, Room 131

Favrile

Vase
ca. 1895 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

'Favrile' was Tiffany & Co's art-glass range. Its name probably comes from 'fabrile', the 'old English' word for 'handmade', indicating that the range was made by skilled glass workers. The historic technique used for this piece involved incorporating coloured canes into the body of the glass and working the glass while it is still hot and malleable.
Louis Comfort Tiffany persuaded Arthur J. Nash, a talented English glass blower from Stourbridge, West Midlands, to join him in America to work on experimental projects. In 1893 the two men went into business and established the Stourbridge Glass Co at the Corona glassworks, Long Island, New York. At first the factory made mostly stained glass, but a glass-blowing shop was soon included.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFavrile (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
Glass, with applied and marvered colours, combed
Brief description
Vase, America, New York (Long Island), designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, for Tiffany Glass & Decorating Co., Stourbridge Glass Co. Corona glassworks, 1893-1900
Physical description
It is thought that "Favrile"glass was so-named after the word "fabrile", "old English"for "handmade" indicating that the range was made by skilled craftsmen. The lustre effect was achieved by treating the glass with metallic oxides and exposing it to acid fumes. It was originally intended to re-create the iridescent effects seen on ancient Roman glass. Inscribed "02508"
Dimensions
  • Height: 31.0cm
Styles
Marks and inscriptions
'02508' (Makers's mark)
Gallery label
It is thought that 'Favrile' glass, Tiffany's art-glass range, was so-named after the word 'fabrile', 'old English' for 'handmade', indicating that the range was made by skilled craftsmen. The techniques employed in this vase are historic ones of incorporating coloured canes into the body of the glass and working while still hot and malleable. Tiffany persuaded Arthur J Nash, a talented glassblower from Stourbridge, England, to join him in America to work on experimental projects. In 1893 the two men went into business establishing the Stourbridge Glass Co. at the Corona glassworks, Long Island, New York. At first much of the glassworks was devoted to the production of stained glass, but a glass-blowing shop was soon included.
Summary
'Favrile' was Tiffany & Co's art-glass range. Its name probably comes from 'fabrile', the 'old English' word for 'handmade', indicating that the range was made by skilled glass workers. The historic technique used for this piece involved incorporating coloured canes into the body of the glass and working the glass while it is still hot and malleable.
Louis Comfort Tiffany persuaded Arthur J. Nash, a talented English glass blower from Stourbridge, West Midlands, to join him in America to work on experimental projects. In 1893 the two men went into business and established the Stourbridge Glass Co at the Corona glassworks, Long Island, New York. At first the factory made mostly stained glass, but a glass-blowing shop was soon included.
Bibliographic references
  • Potter, Norman & Douglas Jackson: Tiffany...see509-1896
  • Greenhalgh, Paul (Ed.), Art Nouveau: 1890-1914 . London: V&A Publications, 2000
Other number
9450 - Glass gallery number
Collection
Accession number
C.58-1972

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Record createdDecember 13, 1997
Record URL
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