NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY SHINES "A NEW LIGHT ON TIFFANY"Edited by Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
Peacock lamp, probably designed by Clara Driscoll pre-1906, 18˝ in. diam. New-York Historical Society, Gift of Dr. Egon Neustadt. "The inspiration for this exhibition was the recent discovery of Clara Driscoll's letters," said N-YHS Museum Director Linda Ferber. "Louis C. Tiffany's leaded-glass windows, lamps, and other luxury objects have long been hailed as icons of American design. The correspondence reveals that many of these celebrated works, long presumed to be designed exclusively by Tiffany in his role as artistic director, were actually conceived by Clara Driscoll and executed by her staff of young women."
A New Light on Tiffany celebrates the contributions of the Ohio-born designer Clara Driscoll (1861-1944), head of Tiffany Studios' Women's Glass Cutting Department. Driscoll's correspondence reveals that she was responsible for many of the firm's most iconic lampshades, including the Wisteria, Dragonfly, and Peony, as well as numerous other objects made with glass, bronze, and mosaic. In addition to designing, Driscoll managed a large department of young women, known as the "Tiffany Girls," who specialized in selecting and cutting glass for windows, shades, and mosaics. The exhibition will present the renowned works of Tiffany Studios in an entirely new context, focusing on the women who labored behind the scenes to create the masterpieces now inextricably linked to the Tiffany name. The exhibition occupies three galleries, each devoted to a specific theme. The first gallery focuses on the objects designed by Clara Driscoll—from the early and experimental Deep Sea lamp to the popular Wisteria model—and reveals steps in the design process previously unknown to scholars. In addition to lampshades, this section will include other Driscoll designs incorporating Tiffany's own glass, including mosaic-clad lamp bases, tea screens and mosaic desk sets.
The final gallery examines the activities of the Women's Glass Cutting Department, responsible for selecting glass for most of Tiffany's floral lampshades as well as numerous windows and mosaics. More than 30 lamps, along with design drawings, sheets of Tiffany glass, and tools, will clarify the process for making the intricate shades. Also discussed will be the tense relationship between the men's and women's departments, Louis C. Tiffany's steadfast support of his women workers, and the various labor issues that affected the work of the Tiffany Girls. "Clara Driscoll was the hidden genius behind many of Louis C. Tiffany's designs," noted curator Margaret K. Hofer. "We are thrilled to be telling the story of this remarkable woman, primarily through her own words. This exhibition and the accompanying catalog represent a great step forward in the scholarship of Tiffany Studios." The curatorial team for this exhibition is: Martin
Eidelberg, Professor Emeritus of Art History at Rutgers University, who has
published widely on 20th-century decorative arts, particularly on Tiffany and
turn-of-the-century design; Nina Gray, an independent scholar focusing on late
19th and early 20th century American decorative arts, and formerly Associate
Curator of Decorative Arts at the New-York Historical Society; and Margaret K.
Hofer, N-YHS Curator of Decorative Arts, who has worked with the Historical
Society's Tiffany lamp collection since 1993.
Symposium and Public Programs On Saturday, March 24th, 2007, in conjunction with the A New Light on Tiffany exhibition, the Society will present a one-day symposium, Women in American Decorative Arts, 1875 -1915 . A program of eight talks organized by Initiatives in Art and Culture, the symposium will focus on women's involvement in American decorative arts as work, as opposed to avocation, from 1875 to 1915. This symposium is scheduled to coincide with Women's History Month. Topics include: *Women's education in the industrial arts, particularly in the art hub of New York City *The growth of female labor in the decorative arts *The use of women as glass cutters by Louis Comfort Tiffany *The work of Clara Driscoll *Notable women metalsmiths, enamellists, jewelers and ceramists, as well as interior designers The Society will present the following programs during the run of the exhibition:
For a complete list of upcoming public programs, please see our programs calendar at www.nyhistory.org . Reservations are suggested; please order tickets online at www.smarttix.com or call 212-868-4444. Catalog A New Light on Tiffany: Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls, authored by the curatorial team and published by D Giles Limited, London, will accompany the exhibition, summarizing the new research on Clara Driscoll and the Tiffany Girls. An introduction is followed by three chapters focused on the life and career of Clara Driscoll: "Designing for Art and Commerce," "Managing at Tiffany Studios," and "Exploring New York City." The volume also features an appendix with brief biographies of all the women designers, selectors, and glass cutters associated with Tiffany Studios. Exhibition Support This exhibition and publication were generously supported by Robert G. Goelet, Barbara and Richard Debs, Mr. and Mrs. John Klingenstein, Donna and Marvin Schwartz, the Barrie and Deedee Wigmore Foundation, Sue Ann Weinberg, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Foundation, and Arlie Sulka. About the New-York Historical Society N-YHS holds one of the world's greatest collections of historical artifacts, American art, and other materials documenting the history of the United States and New York, and is home to both one of the nation's most distinguished independent research libraries and New York City's oldest museum. The Society's collections include more than 4.5 million American history-related documents, paintings, artifacts, and ephemera. Highlights of these holdings include: an exceptional collection of materials relating to slavery, the Civil War, and reconstruction; all of the original watercolors from John J. Audubon's Birds of America; an outstanding collection of 18th century newspapers; an extensive collection of Tiffany glasswork; and far-ranging materials relating to the founding and early history of the nation. The strength and depth of these collections provides a vital foundation for the Society's research and educational initiatives. For a full list of upcoming public programs, please visit www.nyhistory.org . Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who loves museums almost as much as she loves chocolate and sushi. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com and www.carladynews.com |
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The
New-York Historical Society, the city's first museum and cultural institution,
presents A New Light on Tiffany , a ground-breaking exhibition exploring the
turn-of-the-century New York women who created many of Tiffany Studios'
celebrated decorative objects. The exhibition, which will include over 50
Tiffany lamps, windows, mosaics, enamels, and ceramics, as well as pages of
newly discovered correspondence written by designer Clara Driscoll, will be on
view from through Memorial Day 2007.
Clara
Driscoll's letters, discovered last year at the Queens Historical Society and
Kent State University Library, have been a goldmine of exciting new
information. A first-hand account of the inner workings of Tiffany Studios,
they reveal previously unknown details about the design and production of
Tiffany lamps and other luxury objects. 
A
second gallery explores Clara's life in turn-of-the-century New York City, as
vividly described in her letters. An exemplar of the era's "New Woman," Clara
took full advantage of the city's cultural and leisure offerings, from the
museums and theaters to the parks and bicycle paths. 
A
free Acoustiguide tour, featuring dramatized readings of Driscoll's letters and
curatorial commentary, will be available via hand-held wands, cell phone, or the
web.