Periodically I’ll write about treasures that I’ve owned and sold in my long antiques career. Today I’ve chosen a couple of wonderful Tiffany Studios Favrile vases.

Tiffany Favrile cameo vase, front and back views

Tiffany produced very few cameo vases, probably because of the difficulty in producing them and the high price they would have had to charge. The purple and green color glass is “padded” onto the vase when molten hot. The vase is then annealed and cooled. The rest of the work is done to the cold vase at a leisurely pace, unlike working with the glass when hot. All of the details of the leaves and the grapes is intaglio-carved by hand. Only the most skilled craftsmen had the ability to artistically carve the details and achieve such a special result. There were no shortcuts taken in making this wonderful vase.

Outstanding Tiffany Favrile flowerform vase

Flowerform vases (also called floriform vases) were meant to look like growing flowers, so the classical Tiffany Favrile floriform vase has a skinny leg (the stem of the flower) and a beautiful cup (the flower itself). Some shapes are relatively common and some are special. They are as delicate and beautiful as the real flower. Not only is the shape outstanding on this particular vase, but it’s decorated in gorgeous, realistic colors. Many lesser Tiffany floriform vases are plain gold iridescent. This example is that one that I should have kept for myself, but unfortunately I can’t keep as many items as I would like or I wouldn’t have much of a business. This is probably my favorite of many Tiffany vases that I’ve sold.

Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog entry.

Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com