Tiffany Lamps and the Women Who Created Them

The current featured exhibit at Winterthur Museum and Gardens is Tiffany Glass: Painting with Color and Light. When I visited recently, it was interesting to note the difference between this exhibit and the Tiffany exhibit and the traveling exhibit from the same collection (The Egon and Hildegard Neustadt Collection) that was held at the nearby Delaware Art Museum in 1999. (left, Wisteria Lamp)

That exhibit contained 40 Tiffany lamps, compared to the 20 in this exhibit. I just remember being enchanted with the spacious feel of the exhibition at the time and the sheer embarrassment of riches. That memory probably spoiled me for the Winterthur exhibit, which has the visitor turning corners and facing a lot of walls. This is probably not a good space for an exhibit of light and color. There are still several stunning pieces, such as the Wisteria Lamp and the Dragonfly Lamp, and the glass murals. (right, Apple Blossom lamp)

 An interesting commentary on the women who created these lamps features Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany girls. They  detail the design and managerial contributions of Ms. Driscoll as well as the role of the “Tiffany Girls”—the women under her direction responsible for making Tiffany lamps, windows, mosaics and other luxury goods.  

Whether it's art and design or historic homes, you need Carolyn Roland, Your Older and Historic Homes Resource in Delaware and Southern Chester County, Pennsylvania.