Tiffany Studios New York “Flowering Water Lily” Table Lamp

This Tiffany Studios New York "Flowering Water Lily" leaded glass and bronze table lamp begins with joyous green pads, which serve as the base to the blooms that take center stage in this wonderful, watery composition are constructed of mottled glass with tints of yellow and orange. Large, white blooms in white-pink are colored so as to appear almost velvety to the touch, while the background, due to being executed in ripple glass, truly captures the appearance of a deep, clear pond. The glass shifts from cerulean blue to smoky black flint. The pink flowers against black background recall the famille-noir ceramics of the Qing dynasty, which were composed of multicolor flowers and leaves against black enamel. A band of green mottled glass, interrupted by an occasional bud, rims the aperture and lower border. Its depth of color, the brilliance of design, and relative rarity combine to make this Flowering Water Lily one of the most impressive of all Tiffany lamp shades, fully entitled to the dash number (indicating a special order) awarded it. The shade sits atop a patinated bronze "cat tail" base.