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Tiffany Studios New York Five-Light Tulip Ceiling Fixture
This Tiffany Studios New York "Five-Light" chandelier, features five golden iridescent Favrile tulip shades suspended along with loosely interlocking, heavy circular gilt bronze links. It can be said that Louis Comfort Tiffany’s greatest masterpiece was the grounds of his Long Island garden estate, Laurelton Hall. Along the ground’s mile-long blue gravel drive, Tiffany grew carefully tended beds of tulips. Tiffany so loved the flower that when he designed his studios’ renowned Four Seasons windows, exhibited at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris, he chose the tulip to be the symbol of spring. After the completion of Laurelton Hall in 1901, the four seasons windows decorated Tiffany’s living room. The monochrome simplicity of the design makes the ceiling fixture suitable for any low-ceiling room, from a small foyer to an intimate powder room.
- Product Details
- Curator's Notes
Item #: L-21360
Artist: Tiffany Studios New York
Country: United States
Circa: 1900
Dimensions: 13.5" diameter, 16.5" height
Materials: Favrile Glass, Gilt Bronze
Shade Signed: L.C.T. Favrile
Louis Comfort Tiffany first fell in love with the tulip as a young man during his trips to the near east. While journeying through Algeria, Tiffany learned from his guide the lore and history of the Near East. Tiffany studied the Islamic Arts extensively, which he described as "the finest architecture and ornaments in existence. Among his favorite stories was that of Farhad and Shirin, considered by many to be Persia’s Romeo and Juliet. A lowly stone cutter, Farhad had an unrequited love of the Princess Shirin and wanted to win her heart. Farhad roamed the hills playing songs of love on his flute to Shirin. The villagers, feeling sorry for him conspired for him and Princess Shirin to meet. Princess Shirin was led into the mountain’s forest by her courtesan and when she saw Farhad and heard his music, she fell in love. The sultan was discontent with this turn of events. To prevent Farhad and Shirin’s union, the sultan gave Farhad an impossible task. The sultan commanded Farhad to cut through a mountain and produce a stream. Farhad dug through the mountain for years, all the while meeting with the princess in secret. Just as Farhad was to finish, the sultan sent one of his courtiers to tell Farhad that Shirin was dead. In a fit of despair, Farhad threw himself off the mountain. When Shirin saw Farhad’s dead body, she too took her life, and from each drop of blood upon the earth formed a blood-red tulip.