Tiffany & Co. and Edward C. Moore "Gourd" Silver Water Pitcher
Regular price
$175,000
This exquisite silver pitcher is adorned with applied trailing vines, along with a grasshopper, dragonfly, and butterflies crafted in silver, copper, and brass. It also features two mokume gourds, a motif rich in symbolism across various Asian traditions. The gourd, often associated with fertility, longevity, and good fortune, holds special significance in Taoist mythology, where it is carried by one of the Eight Immortals—filled with medicine or water to aid the poor and the sick.
The handle’s profile is inspired by the ruyi scepter, a traditional Chinese ceremonial object with a distinctive curved shape. In both Chinese Buddhism and secular culture, the ruyi is a powerful talisman symbolizing authority, prosperity, and fulfillment. Its name, meaning “as you wish,” reflects its role as a cherished gift conveying auspicious blessings.
Item #: T-21991
Artist: Tiffany & Co.
Country: United States
Circa: 1870's
Dimensions: 7.75" height, 6.25" width, 4.875" depth.
Materials: Silver, Mixed Metal, and Mokume
Gram Weight: 828 grams (26.62 troy ounces)
Signed: TIFFANY & CO., 3859 MAKERS 8282, STERLING SILVER, 925-1000, M, ET (French import mark)
Item #: T-21991
Artist: Tiffany & Co.
Country: United States
Circa: 1870's
Dimensions: 7.75" height, 6.25" width, 4.875" depth.
Materials: Silver, Mixed Metal, and Mokume
Gram Weight: 828 grams (26.62 troy ounces)
Signed: TIFFANY & CO., 3859 MAKERS 8282, STERLING SILVER, 925-1000, M, ET (French import mark)
Edward C. Moore first presented silverwork for Tiffany & Co. at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle, marking his debut on the international stage. This event also introduced Japanese arts and crafts to France through the Meiji government’s exhibition of lacquerware, ceramics, woodblock prints, arms, armor, and textiles. Inspired by these works, Moore began incorporating Japanese techniques and motifs into his creations. By the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle, Moore’s Japonisme had reached its peak. Among his masterpieces was a Japonist pitcher, earning the Grand Prize in its category. Siegfried Bing praised Moore’s work, noting: “Although their concept was not inherently original—their decorative principles were directly borrowed from the Japanese—their borrowed elements were so ingeniously transposed to serve their new function that they became the equivalent of new discoveries.” The millions of visitors to the Exposition marveled at the grace, harmony, and restraint in Moore’s silverwork, exemplified by this pitcher.
Edward C. Moore first presented silverwork for Tiffany & Co. at the 1867 Paris Exposition Universelle, marking his debut on the international stage. This event also introduced Japanese arts and crafts to France through the Meiji government’s exhibition of lacquerware, ceramics, woodblock prints, arms, armor, and textiles. Inspired by these works, Moore began incorporating Japanese techniques and motifs into his creations. By the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle, Moore’s Japonisme had reached its peak. Among his masterpieces was a Japonist pitcher, earning the Grand Prize in its category. Siegfried Bing praised Moore’s work, noting: “Although their concept was not inherently original—their decorative principles were directly borrowed from the Japanese—their borrowed elements were so ingeniously transposed to serve their new function that they became the equivalent of new discoveries.” The millions of visitors to the Exposition marveled at the grace, harmony, and restraint in Moore’s silverwork, exemplified by this pitcher.
