Tiffany Studios New York Favrile Glass Vase

This samian red colored glass used in this small bulbous vase was considered by Tiffany to be the "best red ever made." Tiffany named the color “Samian Red” after the brightly glazed red earthenware of the island of Samos. In 32 B.C Marc Anthony and Cleopatra sought refuge in Samos, throwing a series of legendary banquets. To please Cleopatra, Marc Anthony had his dishes served on Samian ware, a rich red terracotta that astounded their many guests. In this astounding example of Samian red glass, the tooled swirls in varying tones of iridescence ranging from bright gold to silvery blue, vividly illustrating the gaffer’s extraordinary skills.