The Contributions of Clara Driscoll to Tiffany Lamps

!±8± The Contributions of Clara Driscoll to Tiffany Lamps

Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848 -1933), the founder of Tiffany Studios in New York, began his stained glass art creations with colorful picture windows and the debut of the Tiffany Lamp followed in 1895. It has been thought, for many years that these lamps, window panels and various Tiffany items had been created by Tiffany his self, independently. It was also believed that, following the closing of Tiffany Studios in the 1930"s, that the archives of Tiffany Studios glass works and designs had been lost.

However, by the many endeavors of art historians, scholars, and curators from the New York Historical Society who were able to locate several boxes of noteworthy records, Clara Driscoll has been recognized as a prominent creative force in the design of Tiffany Lamps.

Originally of Tallmadge, Ohio, Clara Driscoll (1861-1944) was primarily the supervisor in charge of the Womens' Glass Cutting Department of Tiffany Studios. These talented women who were hired from assorted schools of art, were instrumental in the development of these early Tiffany lamps that embraced the botanical and natural world.

Clara Driscoll's career with Tiffany Studio continued for twenty years during which she is believed responsible for up to 60 breathtaking designs of Tiffany lamps and windows. Her first design, as confirmed by her original letters and the recently published book "A New Light on Tiffany", was the Daffodil. Other elegant illustrations followed.

1. The Dragonfly Shade (1899) an incredible display of dragonflies, leaves and habitat set forth in brilliant purple greens and yellows.

2. Perhaps her most famous design, the Wisteria Tiffany Lamp came to life in 1901. Wisterias flowing flowers descending in white, colorful blues, yellows and oranges.

3. The Peony Lamp was designed by Clara Driscoll between 1900 -1904. Vibrant red peonies arranged alongside green leaves within a yellow and white natural environment.

4. Born in 1904 was the Arrowhead Tiffany lamp. This Tiffany Lamp Shade is colored in green, yellow, red, white, and blue. Its bronze base is a beautiful masterpiece which, is called, "Cattail Pond Lily base" designed before 1905.

The inspirational artistic expressions of many went into the creation and production of Tiffany products, as it still does today. We offer a variety of lamps including Tiffany table lamps.